When I was reporting my story about new construction that ran last week, I had a long and interesting conversation with Gayl Van Natter at Bennett Homes about the urban village concept in Gig Harbor the builder started selling in September. And why sales, which she called disappointing, aren’t coming together as she had expected they would.

The homes at Harbor Crossing built by Bennett Homes are priced starting in the mid-$400s and range in size from 1,800 to 2,600 square feet. (The Dwelling Co. also is building homes at Harbor Crossing.) Because they are meant to mimic an urban setting, the homes are close together – 10 feet between them – and some have shared access to driveways and minimal yard spaces. They are a few blocks from a new Costco and YMCA and other retailers, so the expectation was that buyers would seize the opportunity to live and play in one place.

But Van Natter said locals aren’t taking to the urban village idea.

“The people who come from Gig Harbor go through our models, love them, but just can’t wrap their brain around them being so close,” said Van Natter, who added that perhaps proximity to the water would make the urban-ness an easier sell.

Also, she said, buyers tend to associate Gig Harbor with larger properties. Van Natter said that completion of the hospital, as an additional amenity and a supply of workers who might become home buyers, should help. But, so far, all buyers have come from out of state.

“I think the product is way ahead of it’s time in Gig Harbor,” said Van Natter, who emphasized that the company continues to expect great things from its harbor-area projects.

What do you think? Is this kind of close-knit neighborhood out of place in Gig Harbor? If so, aren’t there homes in highly desirable North Tacoma on similarly small lots and quite close together? Do people want to walk to Costco and the Y? Do people want urban-type settings as much as builders think they do?