Townhomes to Replace Canton Street Green Pipe Farms

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Early in 2014 the green pipe farms on Canton Street in downtown Alpharetta should begin to be replaced with townhomes.

After the Monday, Nov. 18 Alpharetta City Council meeting, it appears 75 townhomes will be rising along Canton Street north of Milton Avenue. Properties on either side of the roadway in the Historic Downtown Alpharetta District were approved by City Council.

Both sets of townhomes will be required to be constructed in the Georgian Revival style as part of the incentive zoning allowed for the historic district. 

"We think that finally the market has turned around."
Ethan Underwood, attorney
The Georgian at the Garden District

Olmstead Park Townhomes to Build 21 Units

First up was Olmstead Park Townhomes, a 21-unit development on 2.39 acres of property on the east side of Canton Street, bordered by Church Street to the south and Lilly Garden Terrace on the north

The same site plan was approved seven years ago, but the zoning reverted when a building permit wasn't obtained by June 2008.

Buildings will front Church Street, Canton Street and Christine Drive, which is a road that runs behind the property and is accessed by Lilly Garden Terrace. The homes will be priced around $400,000 and have approximately 2,200 square feet of living space.

Ground should be broken in mid-January or February 2014 on this development.

Ray Appen, owner of two parcels to the north of this development, asked about the status of paving both Lilly Garden Terrace and Christine Drive. Both public roadways will be upgraded and paved to city standards by the developer, he was told. Appen's property also had been zoned R-10MHD under the incentive zoning.

Council Approves 54 Townhomes in The Georgian

Zoning for the Georgian at the Garden District also was approved in 2006, with 54 townhomes allowed on 5.4 acres under the incentive zoning that allows for higher densities but requires specific styles and materials to be used in construction.

A different applicant came to City Council in 2011 and received approval for 43 semi-attached homes, but that development also failed to be built. So on Monday night, a request came before the council to approve the original plan for 54 townhomes.

The City Council approved the request, which requires four-sided brick and a minimum of 2,200 square feet of living space. Ethan Underwood, attorney for the applicant, said while the architecture will follow the required Georgian Revival style, the developer will vary the facing and color of the brick.

These townhomes will be priced in the mid-$300,000 range.

"We think that finally the market has turned around," Underwood said.

As for going back to a 54-unit development, Underwood said there are places for density. He said downtown is the best place for the higher density to create and support a walkable community.