The Trolley Place development in downtown Trenton is a textbook example of the kind of work Grosse Ile-based Rivertown Construction likes to do: Find an underutilized parcel near a downtown area and build dense, quality townhouses to help service the city center.
"We're trying to target good downtown areas," says Linda Perry, president of Rivertown Construction. "We want to offer houses that are in a good residential area that is a short walk from downtown."
The 12-unit Trolley Place development at Maple and 5th streets is a quick stroll from downtown Trenton. The first phase of the project, which is complete, features condos with gourmet kitchens, brick exteriors and spacious floor plans. The 1,500-square-foot units are priced at $170,000.
However, the project is competing for customers in a glutted condo market. That's forcing the developer to think outside the box to bring in buyers, offering options like lease to own. Such a program allows potential customer to lease the unit of their choosing for a year before deciding whether they want to buy. If they do take the plunge, part of the rent from that lease will go toward their down payment.
Source: MetroModeMedia.com