New Townhomes Meet Redevelopment Goal

GARDEN GROVE, CA-Brandywine Homes of Irvine plans to develop a 53-unit townhouse project here on a 2.67-acre parcel that the City of Garden Grove has been trying to redevelop for several years. Brandywine, which acquired the development site from the Garden Grove Agency for Community Development, will create a project called Century Village that marks the third acquisition in Garden Grove this year by the Irvine-based firm.

The Century Village site is located in the heart of Garden Grove’s civic center, adjacent to historic Main Street, and will help to re-invigorate Garden Grove’s housing market, city officials say. Brandywine Homes will start construction within two months and new homes are expected to be open for sale by June 2011.

“This is a perfect project for Brandywine because we specialize in building new neighborhoods in fully developed environments,” said Brandywine president Brett Whitehead. “Most builders cannot take on these kinds of projects because they are too small, too complex and involve intensive and creative design.” Brandywine’s purchase price for the site was $4 million, with the company to pay $3 million initially and then the remaining $1 million after the project is completed.

The new townhome community will occupy almost half of the 6.4-acre Century Triangle, which was originally envisioned as a five-story mixed-use community with retail and residential units. Several developers have backed out of the project due to uncertainties in the real estate market and in April the city entered into an agreement with Century Village Group LLC, the financial entity of which Brandywine Homes is the managing member, to modify the zoning from commercial to medium-density housing.

Jim DellaLonga, project manager for the city’s economic development department, describes the development as “a significant milestone for the City of Garden Grove,” pointing out that the city has little, if any, raw land for new homes and communities like Century Village. The project “will help us lure back people who have left for lack of affordable new housing,” he said. In addition, the proceeds of the sale will allow the city to acquire other significant parcels, especially along Harbor Boulevard’s International West resort area, DellaLonga said.

The new community, located on the west side of Taft Street between Century Boulevard and Garden Grove Boulevard, is designed to appeal to both first-time and move-up homebuyers. It will feature four distinct floor plans ranging from 1,705 square feet to 2,247 square feet. The homes are projected to sell in the mid-$400,000 range.

More than 20% of the units will feature a three-car garage, a rare feature for a townhome development, and all units will have front porches and balconies. There will be a community park just beyond the entrance with a water feature, sitting areas and green space for the residents’ use.