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Micky Hoffman, developer and owner of Portland construction company Hoffman Brothers, is a big fan of an old saying: If you鈥檙e not going to do it right, don鈥檛 do it at all.

鈥淲e build a house here with the idea in mind that this house is going to be here for 100 years,鈥� Hoffman said in reference to the 20-home subdivision he is building on 2.5 acres in Beaverton.

Located at 4415 S.W. 96th Ave., will consist of an intricately woven community of small, European-themed homes; elaborately landscaped gardens; winding paths and communal park land.

Hoffman broke ground on the subdivision two years ago and has since brought it to life, slowly and painstakingly.

鈥淢y focus is to take the elements of the outdoors and bring them indoors by really keying up on windows and exposure; but also standing in each corner of the home and imagining the home next door, and trying to take the best elements of each of the homes and not have them oppose each other,鈥� he said.

He offered an example: a house he is designing near a wooded area. He said the home would emphasize the natural surroundings with large, open windows facing the trees. And if a certain view from a specific window seems better suited for the house next door, then 鈥渋t goes in the other house,鈥� he said.

Hoffman also takes input from buyers and builds the homes to cater to their individual preferences. He is designing a home for a middle-aged couple to grow old in. That house will feature main-level living; wide doors and hallways; and large, walk-in showers.

The big idea, he said, is to increase creativity and craftsmanship in an industry dominated by impersonal, mega-size, cookie-cutter subdivisions. He hates to even refer to his project as a subdivision.

鈥淚鈥檓 trying to build a community, and in allowing people more options they tend to become more involved and connected with their home and they鈥檒l stay here longer and they鈥檒l become a better community member,鈥� Hoffman said.

He likes the idea of people walking out to their mailboxes and engaging in conversations with neighbors.

But the project is moving slowly. Hoffman doesn鈥檛 have financial backing from a bank. He said most contractors, like himself, can鈥檛 get money from banks these days, so he鈥檚 using his own money and money from private investors. He said that鈥檚 been a challenge because people get nervous when they don鈥檛 see houses going up at a quick pace.

鈥淏ut when that happens, there鈥檚 also banks involved that are financing the whole thing,鈥� he said. 鈥淪ince the banks aren鈥檛 in as a partner, the construction ends up being burdened by the financing end of it, so it鈥檚 just coming along more slowly.鈥�

So he builds them as they sell. So far, Hoffman has built three homes 鈥� the first one sold this past summer. He uses one as a model/office and has another up for sale. When that one goes, he said, he鈥檒l build two more.

While the economy hasn鈥檛 contributed much to his efforts, he said he has received a lot of good feedback and he expects interest to pick up this spring. It鈥檚 just a matter of re-educating people about their priorities between size and quality, he said.

At between 1,900 and 2,500 square feet, Hoffman鈥檚 homes are modest in size, but not in scope.

Each home is and rated. They use energy-efficient fixtures in an airtight envelope, Hoffman said.

For instance, heating and cooling systems and all air ducts are installed inside. So, any air lost through an expansion joint isn鈥檛 lost to a cold garage, crawl space or attic, but simply floats into the rest of the home.

Hoffman also hired a landscape designer, Sherry Brandt, to design the backyard gardens, which will be connected by nearly a mile of pathways. He鈥檚 including lots of Magnolia trees, Hibiscus and other random vegetation for year-round color. With a waterfall in the center, he鈥檚 been told the gardens are already 鈥渨edding ready.鈥�

Hoffman said the yards also won鈥檛 require lawn mowers, weed whackers or leaf blowers. He estimated that each yard would require no more than 15 hours of upkeep annually.

The architecture itself harks back to historic European design. Homes feature steeply pitched roofs and timbered bay windows of Tudor style, as well as front porches, balconies and symmetrical design of 鈥淔rench Provincial鈥� styles.

鈥淭he details, the designs, all these things that you typically find in more expensive homes 鈥� you can find them in these homes,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e just smaller.鈥�

And smaller homes come with smaller price tags.

Hoffman鈥檚 homes are priced between $350,000 and $450,000. They are a two-minute drive from goods and services, and three blocks from a bus route downtown. He thinks Watermark will be the perfect combination between urban and suburban living.

And he鈥檚 not settling for less.

鈥淚t starts with supply and demand,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou have to demand it in order to change the supply.鈥�