25 new townhomes planned for Blue Ridge area

UPDATE: A previous version of this story incorrectly reported the property was 15 acres and about two-thirds of the property was being developed. The property is five acres. Since this story was published, the Vestavia Hills City Council has continued the annexation process, with a final public hearing set for September.

The Taylor Burton Co. is planning to build 25 townhomes in the Blue Ridge area, just below Alford Avenue on Blue Ridge Boulevard.

Burton said the property being developed is about five acres. The townhomes will be about 2,000 square feet and will have three bedrooms and two bathrooms, and will be two stories with a basement.

The original plan called for 38 townhomes, which drew concerns from the Vestavia Hills City Schools system before Burton changed those plans. 

The property is located at 2245 and 2249 Blue Ridge Blvd. and the 90-day annexation process into the city of Vestavia Hills began on April 11. Previous concerns over drainage have also been addressed, as the development will have a full drainage system on site, Vestavia Hills City Engineer Christopher Brady told the City Council at the April meeting.

During the 90-day process, the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council hear any public objections to the property and prepare it for final approval at the end of that period.

The townhomes will be priced in the low $400,000 range, which Burton said sounds expensive but is due to the current market. While he would have liked to have the homes be a bit cheaper, the current housing market dictates they be priced slightly higher, Burton said.

The company plans to install sidewalks, and residents can look forward to very little traffic on Blue Ridge Boulevard, Burton said. 

Being energy-efficient has become a growing desire for homeowners, and the new townhomes will be well insulated and efficient, Burton said, in addition to having stairs that lead to the main level and other amenities.

Most of the roughly 400 townhomes the company has built in the past 20 years have been occupied by young professionals, Burton said. With a flight of stairs providing access to the main level, it “typically dictates” there won’t be many older residents, Burton said. The townhomes are also not usually sought by families with children, meaning little impact on the Vestavia Hills school system, he said. 

The site shouldn’t be too difficult to develop as not much grading will be required, Burton said.

The new development did not yet have a name or rendering in early May. Burton said the townhomes likely will be available spring 2023.