Six high-end townhomes on Chattanooga's North Shore are planned for part of a high-profile site that formerly held the Town & Country Restaurant for nearly 60 years.
"That neighborhood has matured and grown," said Matt McGauley, chief executive of developer Fidelity Trust Co. "There's high demand to be in that location."
The tract, located on Woodland Avenue near Frazier Avenue, will hold the units priced from $595,000 to $750,000 each, he said.
This rendering of the Bridge Tender townhomes on the North Shore shows a view of the two-car attached garages from the Walgreens parking lot. / Rendering by River Street ArchitectureAttached two-car garages will sit on the ground level adjacent to the Walgreens pharmacy that was constructed a little more than a decade ago on the Frazier and North Market Street corner, McGauley said. From Woodland Avenue, the units will rise three more levels, he said.
The Town & Country Restaurant, which had opened in 1947, was closed in 2005 to make way for the pharmacy, which helped spur the redevelopment of the North Shore.
McGauley said the tract on Woodland wasn't needed by Walgreens, and property owner Bill Hall carved out that parcel for use as residential one day.
"The time is right for the residential piece," he said.
Hall, who is working with McGauley on the project, said the units will be "the ideal use of the space and its prime location."
The nearly $4 million project will be called the Bridge Tender after the cafe by that name which was part of the Town & Country site.
"The name is a wonderful tribute to our family restaurant and the place it has in the hearts and minds of so many long-time Chattanoogans," Hall said.
Darlene Brown of Real Estate Partners said the six townhomes, which have from 2,400- to 2,800-square-feet of heat and cooled space, said the project is at the start of the pre-sale phase and interest is high.
"Bridge Tender is a 'park you car and leave it' living opportunity," she said. "With only six townhomes, it has appeal to anyone seeking an easy transition from a traditional single-family home."
McGauley said the base plan calls for two-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath units. The top level is seen as an entertainment floor, he said.
"The views up there are stunning," McGauley said about the townhomes which to be ready around October.
Ryan May, who is working with Brown, said the top floor has large flex space that connects to a sizable outdoor living area.
"With the open design, it is possible to reconfigure the space a great deal to the specifications of the owner," he said.
River Street Architecture is the designer of the units and owners can choose from a modern or transitional design package, officials said.
Embark Project Services is the development's general contractor.
Contact Mike Pare at mpare@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6318. Follow him on Twitter @MikePareTFP.