The Rise of Spartan Manor
This new luxury community in Athens, Georgia, presents a rare opportunity to be a founding homeowner in a sought-after corner of the Classic City — and to build the custom house of your dreams.
BY INHABIT EDITORS
For many, finding the perfect neighborhood — not to mention just the right house — can feel like the story of Goldilocks. Everyone wants a neighborhood that’s not too big, but not too small; not too busy, but not too far from everything; and with plenty of privacy, but close enough to hop over to a friend’s home for an impromptu coffee. Finding the sweet spot can feel like an impossible challenge, and that’s even before considering the available housing options. But fear not, there’s another option: Start from scratch.
Tucked away in the sylvan glades between Watkinsville and Athens, Georgia, Spartan Manor presents a rare opportunity to build from the ground up. This spacious community comprises 26 lots, ranging in size from 1.5-acre parcels to a 4.57-acre cul-de-sac property. Here, you won’t find cookie-cutter prototypes with alphabetical model names: Each Spartan Manor buyer brings their own architect and builder to craft a custom house suited to their needs and specifications, with the gentle oversight of an architectural review board to keep the big picture cohesive.
Developers Brad Stephens and Oliver Pryor knew they had a hit on their hands after the immediate success of nearby Spartan Estates, which led to unveiling this second phase of the development. Though similar in community feel and location, Spartan Manor has bigger lots and is expected to host larger houses, with a minimum build requirement of 3,200 square feet for a one-story house and 3,800 square feet for a two-story house.
"We wanted to create a community that reflects and enhances the land and location on which it sits," remarked Pryor. "We’ve tried to preserve the simplicity and quiet by creating large lots with substantial setbacks, while also promoting community and activity by requiring sidewalks throughout and providing easy access in, out, and around the neighborhood."
It’s very unusual to have a completely new neighborhood in the "Classic City," as Athens’ centuries-old history leaves little room for expansive new development. Meanwhile, many of the newer suburban districts in surrounding counties are so far from Athens itself that it can turn into a day trip just to visit the city proper. Spartan Manor, on the other hand, is just a super-short drive to all the restaurants, shopping, and legendary music venues that make Athens so beloved. Catch a show at the 40 Watt Club and make it home before bedtime, even if you stay for the encores.
In nearby Watkinsville, there’s Wire Park — a ten-minute drive from Spartan Manor — which is a mixed-use development that opened its doors at the end of 2022, with Oconee County’s first brewery. There's also great food available, including Lalo's Tacos & Cantina and a branch of Mama's Boy, an Athens' breakfast favorite with build-your-own biscuits. It's also home to the Yard at Wire Park, a 30,000-square foot indoor baseball training facility, shops, and an outdoor pavillion and playground. Wire Park has become a community gathering place, with weekly events including outdoor concerts, movie nights, live screenings of UGA games, and seasonal fun like Oktoberfest and trick-or-treating.
There’s also plans for Oconee Mercantile, a similar mixed-use development, to open nearby, with plans for a brewpub and boutique retail in the complex. As befitting a town known as the "Artland of Georgia," Watkinsville boasts multiple galleries and cultural opportunities. And for lovers of 24-hour breakfast, the local Waffle House is practically in your backyard, just a three-minute drive away.
"After living in the immediate area for over nine years, my wife and I fell in love with the location and took advantage of an opportunity to purchase a large tract of land," Stephens explained. "Developing Spartan Manor has been a labor of love, and one in which ultimately provides my idea of the perfect backdrop and landscape for my permanent residence. Working in development, we knew that others living in Athens or moving here from out of town would desire exactly what we had."
REALTOR®
Melissa Williamson
REALTOR®
Mary Catherine Smith
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Spartan Manor offers large lots and the chance to bring your own architect, creating unlimited possibilities for personalized design and functionality.
Once the plot of land is chosen, buyers collaborate with their preferred architect and contractor to customize their dream home. Above are some possible elevations for Spartan Manor, imagined by four different designers (top to bottom): 1. Moonlight Houseplans / Brent Nutt, 2. Brookstone Construction / Raymond Harrington, 3. Alpha Fine Homees / Neal Chawala, and 4. Frank Heery.
A range of lot sizes is available, each offering substantial acreage and carefully designed to fit into this lush, secluded community with sidewalk access and surrounded by mature trees.
Surrounded by mature hardwoods and gently sloping topography, Spartan Manor is as scenic as it is convenient. Though technically just outside of the loop, Spartan Manor is so close to central Athens that it might as well be inside — a degree of proximity to downtown that’s hard to imagine while inside the lush, quiet, and almost hidden enclave. Its prime location in Oconee County is just 10 or less minutes from Athens’ bustling Five Points neighborhood and less than 15 to Sanford Stadium. (Go Dawgs!) Spartan Manor is within the Oconee County public school district, which was ranked number two in the state in 2023 and number one in the state in 2022 by SchoolDigger.com. The private Athens Academy, a National Blue Ribbon School for students in preschool through 12th grade, is located less than a mile away.
Spartan Manor is conveniently sited between Athens, Georgia, and the suburban splendor of Oconee County — a ten-minute drive brings you to downtown Athens, University of Georgia, City Hall, and the the city's many iconic music destinations, including Murmur Trestle, a part of the new Firefly Trail.
The Athens Area Home Builders Association honored Spartan Manor at their 2024 Classic Awards, where it won the Gold for Community Development-New Homes.
Spartan Manor offers large lots and the chance to bring your own architect, creating unlimited possibilities for personalized design and functionality.
Corcoran Classic's Melissa Williamson (left) and Mary Catherine Smith (right).