36-Home Gated-Community Coming to Downtown Blue Ridge

News

The group developing the gated community:  Kendall Chris, Chase McHan and James Klippel

Kendall Chris Construction is planning a 36-home gated community to be built on the 14 ½ acre old Stiles property between the west end of Depot Street and 515.  The company is working with Chase McHan, son of Fannin pediatrician Dr. McHan and James H. Klippel Residential Designs.  Mr. Klippel also designed homes in the area of  Big Canoe which won the 2006 Street of Dreams residential community design contest.

Each custom-built home will be on approximately ⅓ acre lot.  There will also be some townhomes.  Square footage of residences will vary 1800 and 2400 with each home having three bedrooms. Prices range in the low $300,000 depending on view and architectural preferences.

The homes are supposed to be full-time residences rather than homes more suited toward vacation rentals. Within the subdivision, there will be walking trails and green space. Developers hope that the subdivision will be a mixed community with both retirees and young families. Entrance to the subdivision will be from Depot Street.  There will not be access from 515.

According to Mr. Klippel, the architect who will be designing the homes, the style will be rustic craftsman using local materials.  In fact, trees located on the site which must be removed, will be artfully incorporated into the homes.  Home features will also accommodate persons with restricted mobility.

Chase McHan is proud that he can bring a development that creates charm and connection to the community.  Mr. McHan states that the current C-2 zoning of the property means that he could have put in a strip mall or campground, instead he is putting in houses that bring people into the town instead of keeping them shopping on 515.

When the developers presented their plans to the City Council, the Council discussed potential problems with storm run-off and sewer lines.  At this time, businesses along West Main Street are having significant storm-water run-off problems every time it rains.  This development will sit upwards on the slope from West Main Street.  The developers are to pay for connection from the subdivision to the city sewer lines.  However, many places throughout the city, old and narrow sewer lines have been inefficient in serving the growing downtown population.  The Council noted a possibility that West Depot Street must be improved to help with traffic for the development.

This development marks the second multi-home residential development coming to Blue Ridge this summer.  Lehigh Homes and Developments will be building a twelve unit multi-family residential complex on the old Temple Baptist property on West Main Street.  There is also discussion about an 85 unit boutique hotel and residences coming to the Methodist church property which is also on West Main Street.

 

1 Comment

  1. Robert Pinion April 28, 2016 at 1:33 pm

    Thank God we along the 515 corridor have been spared commercial development! A gated community with Depot Street access is an answered prayer!

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