As patriotism hovers at record lows, one North Carolina community is trying to break the mold, requiring its residents to sign a pledge upholding American values and to fly an American flag outside their homes.
“I think it’s safe to say right now our nation is a little bit sick,” Brock Fankhauser, founder of 1776 Gastonia, told Fox News. “I think the medicine that it needs right now is patriotism, and we’re going to start at a zip code level.”
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National pride has been at or near historical lows in recent years, with only 39% of adults saying they were “extremely proud” to be an American, according to a Gallup poll conducted June 1-20 with over 1,000 respondents. In January 2001, 55% said they were extremely proud to be American, spiking later that year after the 9/11 terrorist attacks to 70%.
1776 Gastonia, a 55 and up housing development being built 30 minutes outside Charlotte, North Carolina, has been branded as a retirement community that promotes American patriotism and the founding ideals of the Constitution. Great American Homes, the company behind the development, will require residents to pledge their allegiance to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as well as to support the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
Residents must also promise loyalty to each other and to commit to the future of the neighborhood. An American flag will be provided with the purchase of each home and must be displayed.
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“To come after people with the heavy hand and penalties doesn’t strike me as consistent with founding ideals,” he continued. “So we are heavily reliant on the mutual pledges that people make to each other.”
1776 Gastonia has planned to list its 43 homes for sale on July 10, though they still need to be built. Nearly 200 inquires had already come in over 100 days, according to Fankhauser.
Fankhauser says his 1776 Gastonia housing development seems to be in high demand as nearly 200 people have inquired about the community. He says his other communities outside of the 1776 brand typically only get about 10 inquiries before the homes are listed for sale. (Courtesy: Brent Cline)
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Fankhauser, the North Carolina developer behind 1776 Gastonia, hopes the community’s covenants will help ignite a spark of American patriotism while the country is extremely divided. He says members of any political party are welcome in his patriotic neighborhood. (Getty Images)
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“We have very limited power” to increase national pride, Fankhauser said. “But at the end, I’d like to be able to say that I did something to ignite a spark of American patriotism.”
To hear more from 1776 Gastonia’s founder, click here.