Developers say new subdivision to spur growth north of city
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
A subdivision of more than 250 homes is planned for the Meridianville area in a project developers believe will spur growth north of Huntsville.
Site preparation is under way for the first phase of Bainbridge subdivision, which will include 64 residential lots and a commercial area. The 95-acre project stretches along the west side of U.S. 231/431, between Meridianville and Monroe roads.
"We think this will be a good market and spur other development," said Mark Hunter, a managing member of Bainbridge Development Co. LLC.
The development company is affiliated with Huntsville-based Hunter Homes Inc. Mark Hunter, his brother, Max Hunter, and Shawn Fairburn own Hunter Homes.
Mark Hunter said lot sales could begin Sept. 1, depending on weather conditions and other factors. A fully furnished model home will be built at the site.
The first phase also includes putting in a sewer line that will serve the entire development.
Hunter said homes in Bainbridge probably will range in size from about 1,700 square feet to about 3,900 square feet. "The lot count is still up in the air," he said.
The developers are still considering tenants for the commercial area. "It will be done tastefully," Hunter said, with "community friendly" businesses.
Rich McAdams, a member of the Madison County school board who represents the Meridianville and Hazel Green areas, said finding room in the local schools for children moving into the new homes may be a challenge.
The system's capital plan includes a new school for fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders, to be built on Steger Road off U.S. 231/431. The new school, which would be about two miles from the subdivision, would alleviate overcrowding at Hazel Green and Lynn Fanning elementary schools and Meridianville Middle School, McAdams said.
He said some of the funding for the school was to come from a 3-mill property tax increase, but voters in unincorporated areas of Madison County overwhelmingly rejected that plan June 1.
"The county school system is just about maxed out on what we can borrow with existing revenue," McAdams said. "The capital committee is meeting next week to start prioritizing and figure out how do we do the best we can with the resources we've got."
He said the school system is growing by 450 to 500 children each year - enough to fill a new elementary school. Although each new house generates additional property tax revenue - about $320 per year for a $200,000 home - it's not enough to keep up with the $1,300 the county system spends per student each year.
"In the meantime," McAdams said, "we'll have to add more portables and add to existing schools when we can."
Bainbridge isn't the only development slated for the area. Enfinger Development plans to build a residential and commercial project on 400 acres just north of Steger Road, on the east side of U.S. 231/431.
Sandra Steele, president of Enfinger Development, said the company isn't ready to say how many homes will be built or when.
But Bainbridge may speed up the project's timetable, she said.
"We're very excited about Hunter's development because it will spur more growth to the north," Steele said.
Hunter said Bainbridge developers are paying for road improvements like acceleration and deceleration lanes along the highway.
The main entrance will come off U.S. 231/431, Hunter said, and there will also be access to the subdivision from Meridianville and Monroe roads.
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