Joe Roy, a partner who put the Antiquity project together, says he picked all the street names for the subdivision to reflect the sense of community he hopes the neighborhood will have and to have local history, “a purpose rather than just making up a bunch of names.”

“Having done several developments and noticing that people name them by tree or plant type, I wanted something that was unique and we found some street names in Edinburgh, Scotland,” says Roy. Many early settlers in this area were Scottish.

“Our community and the homes are a throw back to how people used to live. More culture, more entertainment, more dependent upon your neighbors, more walking than driving, more local activities, more outside living,” says Roy.

“Of course, we have not planned dwellings and a community that relates to 4,000+ years ago, but in Edinburgh Scotland, from which most of our names were derived, we found a more modern example from which to emulate, including some of its street names,” the Cornelius resident says.

Antiquity eventually will include at least 700 homes, townhomes and apartments, plus shops and offices. Home construction is continuing. No commercial buildings are up yet, though, on the 128-acre site.

“Antiquity will have a lot of cultural significance in years to come,” says Roy, with an outdoor amphitheater and performances.

Work has begun on Catawba Avenue to extend the road into the development; it is expected to be open by the end of the year, Roy says. That entrance will be where the commercial segment will be located, and hopefully the commuter rail, he says.

“Something in commercial will start next year, not in huge way,” says Roy.
Roy says he got the name Antiquity from reading some Christian materials referencing the “antiquities” from biblical periods.

Here are some street names in Antiquity and how the names were derived in Edinburgh:

Advocates Lane: From the house of Sir James Stewart of Goodtrees, Lord Advocate of Scotland, 1692-1709 and 1711-13. The Lord Advocate is the chief legal officer of the Scottish Government and the Crown in Scotland.

Assembly Row: From the assembly, or dancing, rooms or great halls.

Chapel Way: From the old Episcopal Church, demolished before 1884.

Crew Cottage Court: From Crewe house or farm. Today, Crewe Toll is an area in the Scottish capital.

Gardners Way: The communal garden within Gardners Crescent is of importance in the history of the development of the west side of Edinburgh. In 1722, it was purchased by an  organization known as “The Society and Fraternity of Gardeners in the Shire of Midlothian” that rented land including the area occupied by the Hall and the existing Gardners Crescent. Records indicate Gardeners’ Hall was constructed soon after this date, but in 1731 Gardeners’ Hall was sold. The ownership of the Hall continued to change until 1821 when William Gardner purchased the Hall and demolished it. In “The Place Names of Edinburgh” by Stuart Harris, reference is made to William Gardner commenting that “the only connection between the two names seems to be that William Gardner developed Gardners Crescent, evidently named for himself.” — Conservation Statement on Gardners Crescent, Edinburgh For The Friends Of Gardners Crescent

Lady Glencirn Court: Named for the Countess Elizabeth of Glencairn (1725-1801). a highly respected member of Scottish society, noted for her religious zeal in an age that is not. Elizabeth Cunningham was the daughter of Isabella and Hugh Maguire, a carpenter and fiddler. Her mother’s cousin, James Macrae, made his fortune in India. When he returned to Scotland he paid for a new home for the Maguire family. He also paid for the children’s education. Elizabeth married William Cunningham, the Earl of Glencairn (pronounced glen-karen). She never forgot her childhood poverty, and set up a school to teach girls to spin. She helped poet Robert Burns by introducing him to influential people in Edinburgh. She also bought 124 copies of his book, and encouraged other people to buy it. The title Laird, meaning land owner, can be used by male or female — a wise old Scottish custom. Still, many females, used the title Lady instead.

Riddles Court: Riddles Court, dating back to 1590, is currently owned by the City of Edinburgh Council, and used by the Workers Educational Association as their head office, with lecture rooms for adult learning and a café for young people also based in the building. In 1598 it was used to host a banquet attended by James VI and Queen Anne. It was eventually named after George Riddell, a wealthy tradesman who helped renovate parts of it in 1726. In 1751, the philosopher David Hume moved to the venue, where he is said to have done much of his thinking.

Writers Way: Acquired by the Society of Writers to His Majesty’s Signet as a home for its library in 1699.

Streets with names such as Innkeepers, Potters, Candlemaker or Lamp Lighters are derived from the industry of the residents.