ORLANDO-The Townhome Division of the Cornerstone Group is planning to begin construction within a month on Solaris at MetroWest. The 216-unit unit development will rise on a 10.8-acre site at 6007 Raleigh St.

When completed, the project will contain 18 two- and three-story buildings, each of which will have 10 to 15 units of single-story flats with direct-access garages and three-story townhomes. The project will feature four floor plans ranging in size from 1,080 sf to 1,644 sf. Prices for the units will range from $200,000s to $300,000s. Among unit amenities are balconies or terraces and attached garages. Building amenities will include a fitness center and pool. Central Townhome Division of the Cornerstone Group vice president Mike Brinegar tells GlobeSt.com that the project has an estimated sell-out value of $60 million.

Solaris offers several features not found in other area projects. The exteriors of the buildings will be solid, all-concrete structures, a deviation from other townhome projects which are built of wood. Using concrete instead of wood has many benefits, such as greater noise and storm protection. Concrete homes also cost less to insure, due to the greater level of protection. "We're using all concrete block construction whereas most communities use wood frame on the upper floors," Brinegar says.

The architect on the project is Boca Raton-based Quincy, Johnson, Jones, Moyett, Williams, Acevedo, Vaughn Architects Inc. Sales of the units began this month, with the project expected to be completed in December 2007.