Leaders Discuss Alberta's First 'Townhome Court' Development

TUSCALOOSA, AL — More residential development could soon be on the way to Alberta as the City of Tuscaloosa plans a public hearing on Aug. 10 for a new townhome development on 21st Avenue East.

The lot on 21st Avenue, which is just off of Kicker Road, has set vacant since the 2011 tornado and with more housing needed in Alberta, Council President Kip Tyner has been a vocal supporter of this development and others in his district.

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"What they are looking to do is to develop Alberta's first townhouse court," said Ashley Crites, director of planning for the City of Tuscaloosa. "It is a conglomeration of townhomes that face each other, shared space in the middle and parking behind. "

The proposal for the property calls for two townhome building developments on the property, with 20 total units and 54 bedrooms.

Tyner pointed out that the developer, Corbin Custom Homes LLC, intends to sell each unit as opposed to renting them out, with each unit priced at approximately $200,000. Corbin Custom Homes was also responsible for University Gardens in Cottondale, which Tyner praised.

"He’s planning on some more possibly, but this is a great start and we certainly know how bad housing is needed," Tyner said. "And I was really happy, too, in this situation that he was selling [the units]."

The city's Planning and Zoning Commission considered the petition in June, which called for rezoning the property from a residential detached district, to a residential attached district to allow for the multifamily development. The advisory committee then unanimously passed it on to the City Council with a favorable recommendation.

With the respect to the city's comprehensive plan — Framework — the plan fits into the desired development in an area the city wants to develop with a focus toward multifamily residential. It also is in line with Tyner's vision for the future of his district, which he recently spoke about at length in the city's debut of Mayor Walt Maddox's podcast "Tuscaloosa Talk."

During the podcast episode, Tyner said other developments — such as SWJ Technology's North American headquarters locating to Alberta and a new $4 million Chevron gas station currently under construction — showed that his district is poised for sustained growth in the coming years.

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