By GAYLE WEBER

gweber@dailynews.net

A relatively maintenance-free housing development is in the works on the southeast side of Smoky Hill Country Club.

Paul-Wertenberger Construction and Advanced Real Estate have partnered to build and sell the first phase -- 12 free-standing garden homes -- of Clubhouse Gardens.

"Hays has never had garden homes before," said Doug Williams, a managing broker with Advanced Real Estate. "They're more densely clustered than a normal real estate development."

The first phase of homes will be constructed around an existing house on the western half of the property. The construction of a model home should be completed by the end of January, Williams said. And streets -- to be named Torrey Pines Drive and Turnberry Lane -- should be installed in the next few weeks.

Because the homes will be in close proximity to each other, Williams said they likely would not appeal to young families.

"They probably are more inclined to appeal to people whose kids are gone, people who are retired, people who belong to the country club," Williams said.

The houses likely will start in the $300,000 range.

The development will have a homeowner's association, and each home will be similar in exterior appearance.

"They're going to be highly customizable (on) the inside," Williams said.

Owners of each home will be a member of the association, which will enforce covenants in the development.

"There will be restrictive covenants which govern the development and prohibit certain things like someone bringing in a 20-foot camper and parking it on the street," Williams said.

Williams said one garden home already has been sold, and others have expressed interest despite the shaky housing market.

"Locally, our real estate market certainly hasn't experienced what we've had nationally," Williams said.

Williams said he hoped all 12 garden homes would be sold in the next 18 months to two years. And what the second phase of the project looks like will depend on how the first homes sell.

"If we find that (garden homes are) popular and that's what people want, we'll stick with that ... " Williams said.

Otherwise, the eastern half of Clubhouse Gardens would become duplexes similar to those on Chaumont Drive.

Williams said there is a potential of 32 or 34 units on the property because the area will be populated densely with homes.

The homeowner's association will take care of landscaping, lawn care, snow removal and other maintenance issues throughout the development. There also will be common areas outside of personal properties that will be taken care of by the association.