Brabson Hill is a new townhome development near the historic Brabson House in downtown Chattanooga

A new $2 million townhouse development is in the works in downtown Chattanooga on one of the central city's highest points.

Construction on the Brabson Hill project is expected to start by late summer with phase one's four units up within a year, said Chris Crimmins, vice president of Chattanooga Land Co.

Crimmins said the 2,300-square-foot townhouses will go up at the corner of Lindsay and Fifth streets near the historic Brabson House.

The two-story units will be smaller versions of the Cherry Street Townhouses that Chattanooga Land built last decade.

Bill Sudderth, the company's president, said people told them they liked the Cherry Street homes but wanted a smaller two-bedroom version.

"Nationally, the trend is toward smaller square footage and homes that live large with more features," he said.

Crimmins said the units each will sell in the $400,000 price range.

The site also holds enough room for four more townhouses, though that will depend on demand, he said.

Chattanooga Land has held the three-quarter of an acre location, which was attorney Jerry Summers' former office, for years and has wanted to redevelop it. But, the Great Recession came in late 2008 and officials decided not to move forward at that time.

"The timing is better," Crimmins said. "It's a great, quiet residential neighborhood in the heart of the city."

He noted the homes will be near the central business district, UTC and Erlanger.

The units will be two levels over a garage. Each will have porches off the main living level and master bedroom to take advantage of views over the city, according to the company.

The Brabson House, on the National Register of Historic Places, was built in 1856 and used as a headquarters by both armies in the Civil War. D.B. Loveman, owner of the department store of the same name in downtown Chattanooga for many years, owned the Brabson in the early 1900s.

In addition to the Cherry Street Townhomes, Chattanooga Land developed Jack's Alley; the 1931 Coca-Cola bottling plant site that's now home to the Easy Bistro, Mellow Mushroom, Ben & Jerry's and the Marriott Courtyard; the Market Center Office Building at M.L. King Boulevard and Broad Street; and the second floor business level at Loveman's on Market.

Contact Mike Pare at mpare@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6318.