HUNTSVILLE — A crowd gathered Friday to celebrate the grand opening and ribbon-cutting of the first rental property to be built in the Oak Grove at Farley Farm housing development – The Cottages at Oak Grove Dairy.
It is sometimes hard to remember that prior to the 1950s, Huntsville was mostly farmland. But if you drive South Memorial Parkway past Hobbs Road, about a mile north of the Tennessee River, the entrance to Farley Farm is still marked by the old Farley silo, and a renovated homestead now serves as a community clubhouse for hundreds of new homes priced in the $200,000 to $400,000 price range.
Tucked near the entrance to the farm, The Cottages at Oak Grove Dairy consist of 316 one- and two-bedroom completely detached cottage style rental homes.
“We just finished the brand-new clubhouse, and we will be opening a new 24/7 fitness center in the coming days,” said Erica Doran, regional director for Range Water Real Estate who is managing the property. “This ribbon-cutting marks the completion of the first of three phases before the community is finished.”
The open house featured a generous spread of cold cuts, fruits and cocktails with music on the back patio overlooking the heated swimming pool.
Co-developer Steve Strazzella, managing principal of Ritmo Properties, said the cottage concept is the brainchild of his partner Jonathan Meyers who introduced him to the product while building a similar community in Dothan.
“We stood on this farm in November 2019 pre-COVID, that is how it started,” said Strazzella. “It was quite a journey getting through COVID but once that seed was planted it has continued to grow.
“We are very grateful for the residents who enjoy what we do and for the support we received from the city of Huntsville in welcoming to us and helping make it happen.”
He said Ritmo is building cottages all around the Southeast.
“They all look very similar to what you see today but we can tailor them to the community” he said.
Meyers said management takes care of their rental tenants just like they do as homeowners, but tenants have a lot more flexibility by renting.
“This ‘house’ that you get to rent, this cottage, is unique,” he said. “We build a lot of homes and high-rises across the country, but this is the kind of product where somebody can rent a home and feel like a homeowner.”
That is because the entire community is surrounded by a traditional pedestrian neighborhood with connecting sidewalks, front door parking and neighborhood gathering spots.
“The city is struggling for affordable inventory and the Cottages at Oak Grove Dairy fits the bill wholeheartedly,” said City Council President John Meredith. “We need more of this type of product here, so I say, ‘think about bringing it west next time’.” The audience laughed at his reference to representing the city’s District 5 in west Huntsville.
Three schools serve that area: Farley Elementary, Challenger Middle and Grissom High School and there is easy access to the river at Ditto Landing and a series of Greenway trails.
Katie Patterson, executive director of the South Huntsville Main Business Association, also spoke at the ceremony. She and Doran are both Huntsville natives and Grissom graduates. Patterson said she is proud to see the revitalization reach that far south.
“Hopefully people will see the possibilities and work together to become community partners in the revitalization,” said Patterson. “We are glad to have some more housing because shortages is a problem with so many people coming into the area.”
Richard Bigoney, membership executive at the Chamber, took a dig at Patterson and Doran.
“I too grew up in Huntsville, but I am a Huntsville High graduate,” he announced to laughter and boos. “The two biggest challenges at the Chamber is workforce and housing, and this helps us with that.
“With 20-30 people moving here a day, just drive around Huntsville and you see a lot of activity. We are growing rapidly.”
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