By Wes Tomlinson  

For the Enquirer 

Hartselle recently cleared the way for easier access to one of two new subdivisions that could add more than 500 patio homes and town homes to the city. 

The Hartselle City Council authorized an engineering agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation for work at Alabama Highway 36 and Lando Cain Road that will improve the intersection and allow better traffic flow to the new Cain Park subdivision, as well as to a planned Mapco gas station. 

The Cain Park subdivision has 113 lots under development in its first phase. 

“In phase two and phase three of the construction at Cain Park, there will be over 300 lots developed,” Hartselle city planner Jeremy Griffith said. 

In Magnolia Preserve subdivision, located off Garner Road, 46 lots have been developed in the first phase, and another 72 are planned for development in the second and third phases, Griffith said. 

“All but one lot has had houses built,” Griffith said of the first phase in Magnolia Preserve. 

Davidson Homes in Huntsville is building both subdivisions. 

Griffith said both Cain Park and Magnolia Preserve will feature patio homes, and Cain Park will also offer townhouses. 

“New townhomes are something we haven’t seen in a while,” Griffith said. 

The new subdivisions are part of what Royce Moore with MarMac Real Estate in Hartselle said has been a robust housing market in the city.  

“There are multiple offers as soon as a house goes on the market,” Moore said. 

Mayor Randy Garrison said houses in Magnolia Preserve are being sold before construction is even finished. 

Moore said 33 houses are on the market with a Hartselle zip code, plus an additional 31 houses within city limits. 

Griffith said the housing demand is not a new development. Hartselle’s population went from 14,255 in the 2010 census to 15,455 in 2020 – an increase of about 8 percent. 

“We’ve experienced a lot of growth in the last couple of years,” Griffith said. “The Hartselle area is very popular right now for developers; it’s close to Huntsville and has good schools.” 

Garrison said Davidson Homes told the council about its vision for Cain Park. 

“I’m sure they feel like they can sell all those houses or else they wouldn’t be constructing the subdivision,” Garrison said. 

A third subdivision that is also located off Garner Road, Fox Ridge, is being developed by Harris and Graham Inc., of Cullman, and is in the final phase of construction. 

“It was an existing subdivision, and we came in and bought it from the guys that had already started it,” explained Cliff Harris, owner of Harris and Graham Inc. 

Harris said they have already sold some lots in Fox Ridge during the second phase, and houses have been built. 

“When we’re finished, we’ll probably be ready to sell more lots in May or June,” Harris added.