By Adam Smith

The North Jefferson News



Despite a nationwide slowdown in home sales and an ongoing mortgage crisis, Fultondale and Gardendale seem to show no signs of slowing down in terms of new home growth.

On Thursday night, the Gardendale zoning board approved 130 new homes to be built in the Turnberry Ridge development in the 3200 block of Decatur Highway.

Gardendale building inspector Robert Ryant said the new homes will consist of 75 town homes and 55 garden homes. He described the overall housing growth in Gardendale as steady.

“Last month we didn’t have many permits,” Ryant said. “This month, we’ve had $2 million in permits. We’re above the national average in terms of building houses out here.”

Ryant said the last quarter of the month normally is a slower time for housing permits and construction in the city, but that hasn’t been the case this year.

Similar numbers are being seen in Fultondale where housing developments like Fulton Springs, Black Creek Station and Chapel Hills are experiencing a housing boom.

The Black Creek Station development will consist of about 460 homes on more than 200 acres, though some homes will have larger lots.

According to a press release from developer J. Harris, about 30 additional homes will be built in the Chapel Hills community that will range in size from 1,900 to 2,200 square feet, with a price range between $200,000 and $300,000. The release described Chapel Hill as being the fifth-largest residential community in the greater Birmingham area.

Fultondale building inspector Darryl Aldrich said Fultondale has seen an increase in housing starts over the last 30 to 60 days. He said the Pine Hill development, located behind Fultondale High School, will see houses built by August of next year.

Aldrich said the only thing that would have slowed development in 2007 is the lack of available lots to put homes.

“We’re exceeding five years ago as far as housing starts go,” he said. “It’s due to the fact that the northern part of the county is the place to be. If you work in Birmingham, you don’t have far to go.”

Fultondale Mayor Jim Lowery said north Jefferson County’s growth can be attributed to commercial development and strong public schools.

“We still have builders coming around who want to build more, which is an indicator that things are going well,” Lowery said. “Everything we’re building right now is selling. If we’ve slacked off any, we haven’t been able to tell it.”