January 2008: the Crofts and Town Run Commons - Niche Communiities

Peter Corum watches the sun rise from the wraparound porch of his custom designed farmhouse-style home, situated atop a hill at The Crofts, his new gated equestrian community just outside of Shepherdstown, WV. Sunlight has set ablaze a copse of maple trees across a meadow that is also his front yard. Renowned in local business circles for his drive, energy, and insistence on “thinking outside the box”, Corum seems energized by the rising sun.

“There is opportunity in every market, especially real estate. When others are building cookie cutter vinyl developments, we are creating communities that are in harmony with the land and building homes that maintain the character of the region.” You won’t find many developers who live in their own communities, but Corum and his partners, Tim Hafer, a Re/Max Realtor® and Ed Slonaker, a wealth manager with Morgan Financial, live at The Crofts.

Peter and his wife, Andrea, built their dream home here at The Crofts, which includes a 33-acre playground for their two young sons. “We wanted the beauty of the country and the benefits of a subdivision, “ said Corum. The Crofts is by definition a niche community—meeting the specific needs and characteristics of families. The 169 acres was originally part of a 1,786 acre parcel of the property granted in 1734 from Lord Thomas Fairfax to John Vanmetre. The community contains just 16 estate lots ranging from 5 to 10 acres with a 9.5 acre park in the center and about 4 miles of riding/walking trails. The Crofts is benefiting from the continued growth of the equestrian industry in the county and surrounding States.

Corum and business partner Tim Hafer found another real estate opportunity near Shepherdstown, a picturesque 13-acre parcel of land next to Morgan’s Grove Park. The location, coupled with Slonaker’s interest in developing “green buildings” and Corum’s interest in the arts and humanities, synergized into Town Run Commons, A Creative Community. Town Run Commons is the first mixed-use development in Jefferson County and a future home where artists can both live and work.

“We are blessed to live in a community with many natural and cultural resources,” says Corum. “It’s why we call it home.”

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