View Available Homes in Mcmullen Cove
McMullen Cove, a 1,600-acre master-planned community, will include 1,004 homes among 16 neighborhoods branching off a mile-long boulevard that will run to the head of a valley. The property lies less than a mile from the edge of Hampton Cove, a development of more than 1,400 homes (1,700 when completed) and the largest residential development in the county.
McMullen Cove is an Enfinger Steele Development project.
"We're blessed with all kinds of natural beauty," said Jeff Enfinger, a state senator and co-owner of Enfinger Steele Development.
McMullen Cove is surrounded on three sides by mountains and one side by the Flint River. "It's the prettiest piece of property I've ever worked with," Enfinger said.
Plans call for eight miles of walking trails, four lakes, two miles of mountain streams and natural waterfalls. More than 1,000 acres would be left as green space, with 28 percent of the site to be developed. One trail would go to Sublett Point, which gives a 360-degree view and overlooks the Flint River.
"This is the most (greenspace) we've ever been able to protect" in a development, Enfinger said.
That natural setting will come at a price. Homes will list from $200,000 to $800,000. Sandra Steele, president and co-owner of Enfinger Steele Development, said more than $250,000 will be spent to develop the trail system. The entire amenity package, including picnic areas, two Olympic-size pools and a 5,000-square-foot clubhouse, will cost more than $3 million.
The development is a joint venture among Enfinger Steele Development; members of the Acuff family, who own an 840-acre spread outside Huntsville; and members of the McMullen family, who own 760 acres inside the city and north of the Acuff tract.
Enfinger, along with uncles John Hays and Jim Hays, developed Hampton Cove.
During the next few months, the McMullen Cove land will be annexed into Huntsville, Enfinger said. He expects a master plan to go before the city's subdivision committee, then the full Planning Commission, sometime this fall, maybe as late as November.
Construction of the first phase is expected to begin next year, with lot sales starting next spring and homes possibly complete by Christmas 2005. Enfinger expects 125 to 175 homes to be built in the first phase.
Enfinger, who's been involved in development for 25 years, said he isn't worried about launching such a massive project.
"We believe in the long-term future of Huntsville," he said. "We feel confident about Huntsville's opportunities with BRAC."
A Base Realignment and Closure Commission, or BRAC, panel is scheduled to review all U.S. military bases worldwide in 2005. That review might result in closing some bases and expanding others, and Huntsville leaders are hoping Redstone Arsenal will gain jobs.
Enfinger said he believes there's little competition for the upscale planned community he's envisioned.
"We'll be trying to sell a lifestyle to people," he said.
A healthy market
Enfinger's development is being launched at a healthy time for the local housing market. Sales in the Madison County area were stronger in 2002 and 2003 than they had been in the past 11 or 12 years, said Stephen Perkins, director of the Huntsville Area Association of Realtors. "And '04 is shaping up to be another top-tier year," he said.
The number of homes sold in Huntsville last year was 2,179, Perkins said. Through May 31 of this year, 948 homes were sold.
Perkins said Realtors are seeing a lot of activity on all of their listings.
"What I'm hearing from members is that the recent increases in mortgage rates is motivating some people who were just thinking about buying to go ahead and do so. I think that's part of the reason for the resurgence."
The market niche for the type of housing that Enfinger plans is still wide open, said Robert Simons, a Realtor with Averbuch Realty Co. and president of Multiple Listing Service of the local association. The demand "is not being met on that side of the city" now that Hampton Cove is nearly fully developed, he said.
Simons, who specializes in Madison, Monrovia, Hampton Cove and south Huntsville homes, said the Hampton Cove lifestyle concept has been successful and "if (Enfinger Steele) is able to create that atmosphere (with McMullen Cove,) it should do well. It'll be great to have more inventory."
The construction of a new Huntsville High School was a major factor in deciding to develop another large, east Huntsville project, Enfinger said.
"Without a renovation or reconstruction of Huntsville High, it would have been more difficult" to consider such a long-term project as McMullen Cove, he said.
He said he realizes there could be objections to parts of the development, which will border the Flint River, but noted that 72 percent of the land will be left in its natural state. Also, developers have been working with the Huntsville Land Trust and city planners to develop a nature preserve running from U.S. 431 to U.S. 72. About 250 acres along the Flint River are designated for the preserve.
"Setting that property aside would further the goals of the city's open-space plan," said Marie Bostick, a city planner. That plan, adopted by the Huntsville Planning Commission in November 2002, identifies for preservation a Flint River corridor from U.S. 431 to U.S. 72 and ranks it the No. 1 area to protect.
