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Huntsville Housing Authority selling off Councill Courts

Posted by cstephens May 18, 2009 15:11PM

HUNTSVILLE, AL -- The Huntsville Housing Authority on Monday voted to begin to sell off Councill Courts.

With drawings of a bustling plaza where public housing once sat across from Huntsville Hospital, T1 Development Group on Monday pitched a four-story project called Resonant Pointe.

The first floor would include restaurants and retail, the second floor would hold offices, and the top two floors would be filled with small, affordable condos.

The authority board voted with little discussion to allow staff to negotiate with T1 Development and sign a contract for the sale of 1.3 acress. The board did not set a final price.

T1 Development has offered $28 per square foot. That would work out to roughly $1.6 million for the undeveloped lot at the corner of Gallatin Street and St. Clair Avenue.

Michael Enscott, the head of T1 Development, estimated that construction of Resonant Pointe could cost between $10 million to $15 million.

Last fall, the authority tore down the first 56 of 196 units at Councill Courts. Those 56 sat on more than three acres. The authority will keep the remainder of that parcel to build a four-story building for low-income seniors.

To the west of Gallatin Street, the remaining 140 units of Councill Courts are still occupied. The authority plans to raze those buildings soon and sell the 15 acres for private development.

Michael Lundy, the authority's executive director, said Monday those 140 families will be relocated by the year's end. Lundy also told the board that he would contract later this month with Bill Poole Realty to handle the sale of the 15 acres.