Mt Laurel gaining momentum after slow start

Sales are picking up at Mt Laurel in Shelby County, Alabama. The Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) has about 100 homes built and a growing town center. Sales were slow for a couple of years, but increased to five per month and have held that rate since August, says developer Elton B. Stephens of EBSCO Realty. The biggest factor has been a new sales manager and more advertising. The continued growth of the neighborhood — which offers prospective buyers a clear view of the development concept — may also be a factor, Stephens says. Plus, the economy is improving. Mt Laurel, designed by Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company in 1998, looks good with its Arts and Crafts homes, mature trees, and stone walls. The 442-acre site has steep topography because it is located at the base of a mountain which marks the southern tip of the Appalachians. Unlike most developers, EBSCO Realty launched its own construction company, which Stephens says has created “a second profit center. We’re making money on both building and development.” It also gives Stephens direct authority over the quality of construction and the materials used, a key factor in achieving the desired look. “It helps to keep control,” Stephens says, adding, “I understand why other developers don’t want to get into the building business. It is tough. But if you find the right guy to run it, it’s a lot easier.” Arts and Crafts style The most popular houses are three-bedroom, 2.5-bath Arts and Crafts cottages in the $300,000 to $400,000 range. The materials are brick, stone, and fiber cement siding. “It really looks totally different from the TNDs that I have seen. It’s mostly earth tones, rather than the pastel colors.” Mt Laurel is selling at a 15 percent premium per square foot compared to surrounding developments — a statistic which Stephens attributes to the quality of the construction. A signature aspect are stone retaining walls visible throughout the development. The stones are collected from land owned by EBSCO, and laid by crews that were trained by a stonemason. Although the walls look expensive, Stephens explains that the “stone is free and the crews are fast.” Besides, the retaining walls save money on grading. Unlike most developers in the region, Stephens avoids taking trees out if possible. As a result, Mt. Laurel streetscapes have a timeless quality. EBSCO is actively developing Mt Laurel’s mixed-use components. The company just broke ground on a 16,500 square foot two story retail/office building. An elementary school is under construction — an arts and crafts design by Lathan Associates Architects which Stephens calls “the most beautiful new school in Alabama.” A private Montessori school is operating out of temporary buildings, and the institution has plans to build a permanent school. Stephens is talking to the county about donating a lot for a branch library in the town. Six flexible-use townhouses were recently sold (and mostly leased to commercial tenants) and five more are under construction. “I never thought that people would go for that here in Birmingham, but people love the idea of live/work with the 12-foot ceilings.” The town center also has a 32,000 square feet retail/office building completed, and a stone fire station. The town center is home to 14 businesses, including a drugstore, a hardware store, and a restaurant, but the biggest occupant is EBSCO Industries, a publishing conglomerate owned by the Stephens family. “The town center has become a second campus for EBSCO,” Stephens says. “The headquarters is four miles away with 900 employers and they are running out of room.” The presence of EBSCO is a big help, because the town center opens onto a road with a low traffic count — only 3,000 cars per day. On the plus side, there are conventional subdivisions in the area, and these residents “will do anything to keep from driving to Highway 280,” Stephens says. Mt Laurel is having an impact on local attitudes toward development, he says. It is the site of frequent planning tours, and now the county commissioners are talking about smart growth, says Stephens. “We spent a year and a half fighting the county on streets. Now they are using us as a model. Shelby County just passed a law that says all developments must have sidewalks. That would not have happened if Mt Laurel had not been created.”