If you’re wondering what will happen to South Huntsville, where site preparation work has been going on for months, here’s the answer.
This development, called the 1805 Development, evokes the year Huntsville founder John Hunt arrived in the city. According to developer Luke Allen, it will consist of rental housing. The development is on the west side of Memorial Parkway near Hobbs Road, one of the busiest areas in the city with fast food restaurants and a Walmart just outside the Redstone Arsenal.
Clearing for the hillside project has been going on for months, but only recently has a banner been hung announcing the pending arrival of the 1805 development. Recently, construction has started.
“This is an exciting project,” said Allen, who lives in Huntsville.
Rendering of rental homes in the 1805 development under construction in South Huntsville. (developed in 1805)
The development will consist of 175 single-family homes for rent, ranging from one to four bedrooms, Allen said. The development also includes a clubhouse, pool, dog his park and a ‘smart his tech’ package with amenities such as Google Fiber and a ‘smart’ thermostat.
“They are single-family homes,” Allen said. “Most of them have a garage attached to a fenced backyard, so you definitely get the feel of a traditional single-family home when you drive in. It feels like a normal neighborhood. I guess.”
Home construction is underway at 1805 Development south of Huntsville. (Paul Gattis | pgattis@al.com)
Beyond property boundaries, this development has a variety of urban conveniences. With a Walmart across Hobbs Road plus his ALDI grocery store across the Parkway, this development is just a mile from Gate 3 of Redstone Arsenal.
“This is a unique concept,” Allen said. “It’s a new product for Huntsville. You can’t find it, or your mortgage rate isn’t as it is, you want your own space but don’t have to jump in the elevator or climb 3 flights of stairs to get your dog out You have a fenced backyard and your own house, it’s not connected to anything so there are no shared living walls, but it’s only a rental, so you don’t have to worry about long term mortgages or what’s going on there. You don’t have to worry about what’s going on.”
Huntsville’s growing population gave Allen reason to believe that the residential rental development would succeed. A temporary assignment at the Redstone Arsenal also made the idea popular, Allen said.
He also touted the fact that tenants are not responsible for regular home repairs.
“We definitely feel like the demand for this unique product is the current supply of housing is the influx of population growth in Huntsville that we’re feeling. There will be enough demand for the product,” Allen said. “This has several aspects that make it different from traditional apartments that can be leased for short periods.
“And if you’re coming here for a few years with the FBI or (Space Command) or whatever, you can just fly into the house and not worry about repairs. If you have a phone call and your problem is solved, hopefully it will be the solution to some of our housing needs here in Huntsville.”
Allen said the project is progressing rapidly. The first homes will be handed over in April and the development is expected to be completed by the middle of next year.
