Two proposed housing developments moving forward in Centerville

Two proposed residential developments are moving forward in Centerville, with construction expected to begin this year on one of them.

Construction on Savannah Place, a $15 million residential development in the Yankee Trace community, could start in the third or fourth quarter this year, according to developer Charles Simms of Charles Simms Development.

Savannah Place is a 44-unit subdivision of duplexes in 22 buildings on about 14 acres of land.

Centerville City Council approved the project Monday.

Mayor Brooks Compton endorsed Savannah Place, saying it would fit well with the existing Yankee Trace development.

“We’re very pleased about that one,” he said.

MORE: City approves more than $60M in residential developments

The subdivision would be located south of the Commons at Yankee Trace and north of the Yankee Trace golf course.

Each of the 22 buildings will include a one-story unit, marketed toward empty-nesters, conjoined with a two-story unit. The units would also include a two- and three-car garage, plus two extra spaces in the driveway.

As part of the Yankee Trace Master Association, residents of the new community would have access to the same amenities, like walking trails, club houses, tennis courts and swimming pools, as the neighboring communities

MORE: Construction to begin on Centerville adult living facility

Simms said units would range from 1,900 to 2,600 square feet in size, with average prices around $350,000. Simms also developed The Highlands at Yankee Trace, a community similar to what’s being proposed with Savannah Place.

The second development, Gateway Lofts, a multi-family project is seeking city approval on revised plans.

Ryan Pearson of EDGE Group, representing the Hallmark Communities for the Gateway Lofts project, presented new plans to city council for the second time this year. Pearson said his group found out about two days before they were to submit their final development plans for the project, that a significant portion of the area couldn’t be developed within their price range.

RELATED: $15M housing development proposed at Centerville’s Yankee Trace

Since then, the developer has started over, reducing the size of the total number of apartments from 444 to 396, as well as the total number of parking spaces, buildings and height of the buildings.

“We’re very fortunate to have a developer who wants to commit millions of dollars to the city on a first-class multi-family development.” Compton said. “I think it serves a need in the community that they’re filling.”

Pearson also said the group has worked with condominium owners on Chardonnay Drive to address their needs during the development.

“We’ve done a lot of things to make this plan come together, worked a lot with condo owners and I think Hallmark has gone above and beyond what we would normally see in the development world in working with the property owners,” Pearson said.

One-bedroom units at the Lofts range from 600 to 650 square feet on the low end, to 800 to 820 square feet.

Two-bedroom units will range from 870 to 1070 square feet.

Pearson and Hallmark Communities will now have to submit final development plans for the project to both the planning commission and city council members again in the coming months.

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