Downtown development

Site preparation begins for luxury condo project

Thursday, August 19, 2004

By MARIAN ACCARDI

Times Business Writer accardi@htimes.com

Bulldozers have started turning dirt on the site of downtown Huntsville's latest major development.

Site preparation is under way for 301 East, a $10 million luxury condominium project at Holmes Avenue and Green Street. The seven-story building will have 26 residences - five units each on the second through sixth floors and a 3,400-square-foot penthouse on the seventh floor. The 67,385-square-foot building will also have 2,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space.

"There's really not another building in town like this," said Derek Thornton, operations manager for 301 East. The neo-traditional building will have steel and concrete construction with a brick exterior, he said. "It's built to last."

Thornton calls the structure "a true urban building," with under-building parking instead of a sprawling parking lot.

"We're trying to create population density and maximize that space," Thornton said.

All six residential floors offer a choice of floor plans from 1,300 square feet to more than 1,700 square feet. The condos will sell for about $250,000 each; the price tag for the penthouse is $1 million.

Thornton expects the project to be ready for occupancy in 14 to 16 months.

301 East is the first development project of Huntsville-based Thornton Properties LLC, which is owned by Steve and Judy Thornton. Steve Thornton is co-founder of Avocent Corp. Thornton Properties' office is across the street from 301 East at 222 Holmes Ave. in the Times Building; 301 East's sales office will also be based there.

Cater-cornered from 301 East, the 12-story Times building is undergoing a renovation of its third through seventh floors and basement. Plans there call for offices and possibly a pub or restaurants.

Each 301 East condo will have 10-foot ceilings with crown molding, hardwood floors in living areas, tile, marble bathrooms with whirlpool tubs, kitchens with hardwood cabinets, stainless architect-series appliances and granite countertops. Other amenities are 24-hour security, in-home video surveillance, high-speed elevators, concierge services, terraces with ornamental railings, gated covered parking, unobstructed views of the city and a rooftop patio.

The contractor is Pearce Construction Co., and Bill Peters of Bill Peters Architects Inc. is the designer. Mark Brubaker at Randy Roper Interiors did the interior design.




Downtown development Site preparation begins for luxury condo project Thursday, August 19, 2004 By MARIAN ACCARDI Times Business Writer accardi@htimes.com Bulldozers have started turning dirt on the site of downtown Huntsville's latest major development. Site preparation is under way for 301 East, a $10 million luxury condominium project at Holmes Avenue and Green Street. The seven-story building will have 26 residences - five units each on the second through sixth floors and a 3,400-square-foot penthouse on the seventh floor. The 67,385-square-foot building will also have 2,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space. "There's really not another building in town like this," said Derek Thornton, operations manager for 301 East. The neo-traditional building will have steel and concrete construction with a brick exterior, he said. "It's built to last." Thornton calls the structure "a true urban building," with under-building parking instead of a sprawling parking lot. "We're trying to create population density and maximize that space," Thornton said. All six residential floors offer a choice of floor plans from 1,300 square feet to more than 1,700 square feet. The condos will sell for about $250,000 each; the price tag for the penthouse is $1 million. Thornton expects the project to be ready for occupancy in 14 to 16 months. 301 East is the first development project of Huntsville-based Thornton Properties LLC, which is owned by Steve and Judy Thornton. Steve Thornton is co-founder of Avocent Corp. Thornton Properties' office is across the street from 301 East at 222 Holmes Ave. in the Times Building; 301 East's sales office will also be based there. Cater-cornered from 301 East, the 12-story Times building is undergoing a renovation of its third through seventh floors and basement. Plans there call for offices and possibly a pub or restaurants. Each 301 East condo will have 10-foot ceilings with crown molding, hardwood floors in living areas, tile, marble bathrooms with whirlpool tubs, kitchens with hardwood cabinets, stainless architect-series appliances and granite countertops. Other amenities are 24-hour security, in-home video surveillance, high-speed elevators, concierge services, terraces with ornamental railings, gated covered parking, unobstructed views of the city and a rooftop patio. The contractor is Pearce Construction Co., and Bill Peters of Bill Peters Architects Inc. is the designer. Mark Brubaker at Randy Roper Interiors did the interior design. Copyright 2004 al.com. All Rights Reserved.