Investors, planners and local officials gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking of Cullman’s newest subdivision Thursday morning — even though rain and mud prevented a groundbreaking ceremony at the actual site of the new homes.

The Ellsworth Subdivision will be located off Main Avenue SW in the southern part of Cullman near AL-69, and will feature more than 200 homes that are estimated to be in the $190,000-$250,000 range.

Birmingham-based Prominence Homes will be building the houses, while Birmingham’s Sain Engineering will be handling the civil engineering. The subdivision is being developed by Retail Specialists, LLC, which has offices in Birmingham and Atlanta.

Retail Specialists General Counsel Steve Leara spoke about the project and the firm’s previous work with Cullman during the groundbreaking ceremony, which was moved to Cullman City Hall because of the recent wet weather. 

“We’re extremely excited to be working with the city and our builders and our engineers to build what will hopefully be an outstanding development, the first of many developments here in Cullman,” he said. 

The city has worked with Retail Specialists in the past several years to attract new retail development, but this is the first time that the firm itself has developed real estate in Cullman, Leara said. 

“It’s been a great partnership, and this is just the next phase of our partnership with the city,” he said. “This is going to be the first of what will hopefully be several new residential projects in the city, not only just single-family residences but hopefully some multi-family projects in the not-to-distant future.”

The houses in the subdivision are planned to built in four phases, and if the weather cooperates in coming days, dirt work on the property should begin this week and the homebuilders will likely begin their work around 90-100 days from now, Leara said.

“That’s our plan and we’re chomping at the bit to get going,” he said. 

Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs said everyone involved in the new subdivision has approached its construction in the right way, from following the proper annexation and planning procedures to speaking with the people who live near the property to clear it with them, and new homes are a need for the city’s residents. 

“We look forward to the new homes,” he said. “It’s needed, obviously.”

Tyler Hanes can be reached at 256-734-2131 ext. 138.