Cambridge Square in Ooltewah to add 100 homes

photo Cambridge Square in Ooltewah

The developers of Cambridge Square will begin construction next year of the residential phase of the Ooltewah development, adding 100 new homes over 34 acres.

The townhomes and single family houses will offer customization options and pricing from $200,000 to more than $1 million, according to Jim Cheney, marketing director for Barry Payne Development.

The homes - which will boarder the eastern boundary of the Honors Golf Course - will be built in the vacant lots directly behind the Cambridge commercial property, which developers are already calling a success.

"We're going to set a significant precedent with this," Cheney said. "People are going to experience something here that they haven't before in a type of development that isn't present in the area at the moment."

Construction for the homes is expected to begin in 2015, pending zoning approval which will be discussed at the Dec. 8 meeting of the Chattanooga/Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission.

The planned property will feature streetscapes heavy on horticulture, public green spaces, parks, a pavilion, pool and more, Cheney said. All houses will be constructed by Barry Payne Homes.

To offset the nearby retail spaces and lack of yard space for the homes, Cheney said the development will focus largely on walkways and common areas to provide a comfortable, community feel. Creating a small trail area near the development has also been discussed, he said.

"The advantage is people can step out their door, walk down the street, get dinner and a drink, then be right back home without ever having to take a car," he said.

Due to the rapid growth in the area, Hamilton County Commissioner Chester Bankston said he expects construction on Ooltewah-Georgetown Road will be necessary to handle increased traffic.

Specific roadwork decisions will be based on a traffic study - which has not yet been done - predicting growth and problem areas on the road, he said.

"It is already on the books to do that, we just don't have a time frame yet," he said.

Cheney said it has not yet been determined whether developers will assist with the roadwork necessary to sustain the growing population. But the developers are communicating with the county about the potential impact of the new development.

"Ooltewah, in general, is growing at one of the fastest rates in the state, and as a result is going to need to consider what the long-term infrastructure needs will be - not just for Cambridge Square but in general," he said.

However, he said, developers do not intend to build beyond the demand or capacity of the area.

"We are not in a rush to build these houses," he said. "We want to do this right and get feedback from consumers and the community. We want to be in line with the market expectation."

If the first phase of the residential development is successful, a second phase expanding on the community is expected, Cheney said.

"This is another case of a lot of growth in our sector," Bankston said. "It puts us in a better position to where we don't have to consider raising tax dollars."

Although Cheney anticipates the future of development and growth in Ooltewah to appear similar to the Cambridge Square residential development, he is aware the housing option is not for everyone.

"This is not a traditional suburban concept - it's not a community concept that works for everybody," he said.

However, he already has a list of buyers interested in purchasing homes in the Cambridge Square community, and said pricing and further details will be released early next year.

"I think this fits in line with what the extension of Chattanooga wants to see more of," Cheney said. "I anticipate houses coming out of the ground by fall 2015."

Contact Gabrielle Chevalier at gchevalier@timesfreepress.com.

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