Construction crews broke ground this week on Fox Hollow Estates, a 112-home residential development whose name, according to nearby residents, appears to commemorate the animals that no longer live there.

The subdivision, located on a formerly wooded tract just outside Cedar Run Township, takes its name from the foxes, deer, and other wildlife that occupied the land for generations prior to being cleared earlier this year.

“It’s kind of poetic, I guess,” said longtime resident Marlene Price, standing at the edge of the construction site. “They named it after what they chased out.”

Developers say the name was chosen to reflect the area’s “natural heritage.”

According to marketing materials released by Evergreen Communities LLC, Fox Hollow Estates is designed to “blend modern living with rustic charm,” offering residents “a peaceful retreat inspired by the surrounding landscape.” The surrounding landscape now consists primarily of graded dirt, utility trenches, and stacks of lumber.

“We wanted something that honored the character of the land,” said project manager Jason Whitaker. “Fox Hollow felt right.”

Whitaker confirmed that foxes were present on the property prior to clearing.

“They were here,” he said. “Not anymore, obviously.”

Residents say the land was cleared over a six-week period beginning in late winter. During that time, heavy machinery removed trees, underbrush, and what residents described as “everything that lived there.”

“You’d see deer running across the road, confused,” Price said. “Like they didn’t know where to go.”

Several residents reported seeing foxes near their homes for weeks afterward.

“They were displaced,” said local resident Ron Matthews. “They didn’t just vanish.”

The animals eventually stopped appearing.

Despite the changes, Evergreen Communities has leaned heavily into the wildlife theme in its promotional materials. Brochures feature illustrations of foxes, birds, and wooded trails, while street names within the development include Fox Run Drive, Timber Ridge Lane, and Meadow View Court.

There is no meadow.

Asked whether the company considered the irony of the name, Whitaker said most buyers respond positively.

“People like the idea of nature,” he said. “It sells.”

Fox Hollow Estates is not unique. Across the region, new subdivisions frequently bear names referencing the natural features they replace, according to planning officials.

“It’s very common,” said township planner Laura Simmons. “Creek names where the creek’s been piped. Tree names where the trees are gone.”

Simmons said naming typically occurs late in the development process.

“By the time the name is chosen,” she said, “the wildlife’s already moved on.”

For nearby residents, the name feels less charming.

“It’s like a memorial,” Matthews said. “But nobody asked the foxes.”

Another resident said the branding made the loss feel permanent.

“It’s one thing to lose the woods,” Price said. “It’s another to see it turned into marketing.”

Some residents have adopted an unofficial name.

“We call it Former Fox Hollow,” Matthews said.

Developers say environmental considerations were taken into account and that all regulations were followed.

“We preserved what we could,” Whitaker said.

According to project documents, a narrow tree buffer remains along one edge of the property.

“That’s their habitat now,” one resident said, pointing to the strip.

Evergreen Communities also plans to install a retention pond, described in marketing materials as a “natural water feature.”

“It’s a hole with water in it,” Price said.

Potential buyers touring the site this week expressed enthusiasm for the development’s location and aesthetic.

“It feels peaceful,” said one prospective homeowner. “I like the name.”

Asked whether she had seen any foxes, the buyer laughed.

“No,” she said. “But it’s nice to imagine.”

Sales representatives did not mention the land’s prior use during tours.

“They focus on the future,” Matthews said. “Not what was here.”

Environmental sociologists say naming practices often serve to soften the reality of development.

“It creates a narrative of continuity,” said Dr. Helen Monroe, who studies land-use and identity. “As if nothing was really lost.”

Monroe said the names function as symbolic preservation.

“You remove the ecosystem,” she said, “then preserve it linguistically. It allows people to feel connected without confronting the impact.”

Construction at Fox Hollow Estates is expected to continue through the fall, with model homes opening later this year. Evergreen Communities says demand has been strong.

“People are excited to live here,” Whitaker said.

Residents say they do not expect the animals to return.

“They’ve already found somewhere else,” Price said. “If they were lucky.”

As trucks rolled in and workers began laying foundations, a sign at the entrance to the site flapped in the breeze.

Fox Hollow Estates, it read.

Coming Soon.

“There used to be foxes right there,” Matthews said, pointing past the sign. “Now there’s a logo.”

Editor’s Note:

Evergreen Communities LLC did not provide documentation detailing wildlife displacement mitigation beyond standard zoning requirements.