Bilal9
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2014
- Messages
- 26,569
- Reaction score
- 9
- Country
- Location
US developer in North Carolina aims to force every owner to fly the American flag
ByDavid Millward, US CORRESPONDENT9 July 2023 • 4:45pm
A housing developer wants homeowners to fly the Stars and Stripes CREDIT: haveseen/iStockphoto
A US developer is building homes exclusively for “patriotic Americans”, who will be required to fly the Stars and Stripes at all times.
Houses at the 43-home estate, called 1776 Gastonia, will go on sale to over 55 year-olds, with prices starting at $450,000 (£350,000). It will be a community “where patriotism lives” according to the promotional brochure.
Buyers will be expected to abide by “1776 standards” including pledging to “cherish the country and embrace the constitution”.
Residents will be given a flag when they move into the estate in North Carolina, Brock Fankhauser, the owner and founder of Great American Homes, told local broadcaster WCNC.
“We’re handling the American flag like an architectural element. We are installing it similarly to a fixture. And so those that agree with what we’re doing will know it upfront. Those that may not agree with it will know about it upfront, and it will come as a secret to nobody.”
He added: “Our vision is to combine the elements of American patriotism, homeownership as the American dream, and the founding ideals of our country: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
The patriotic message is reinforced on the sales website, which features Mr Fankhauser, his sales team – and a dog – all wearing 1776 T-shirts.
‘Love of family and country’
Buyers are told Gastonia 1776 will be “built around a love of family and country, and the positive nature of looking forward while respecting the past.“Our maintenance-free homes and communities seek to capture the hopefulness of starting a new venture while recreating the American spirit of a true community of close-knit neighbours who share patriotic values.”
The message is reinforced by the street names in the development which include Paul Revere Drive and Constitution Lane. Despite having donated to Donald Trump’s 2020 election campaign, Mr Fankhauser insisted his project was apolitical.
“I’ve also said it’s very important for us to distance ourselves from any political movement, any political party, and any political figures. We are completely detached from that.”
How the flag-flying requirement will be enforced is unclear. It is thought the estate will include the requirement in its covenant which would be enforced by a homeowners’ association.
The associations, which are commonplace in the US, have sweeping powers and can take legal action against residents – including homeowners – who fail to abide by the rules.
(Bilal's note: "Patriotism is the Last Refuge of a Scoundrel")
