Walker County, Georgia’s single family home development strong, despite concerns from residents

Originally posted by Andrew Wilkins of the Chattanooga Times Free Press

After a record-breaking month in February, Walker County’s planning office issued 39 permits for new single-family home construction in March, as a major housing development in Rossville continues to rise.

According to Walker County officials, 91 new single-family home construction permits have been issued so far this year.

Of those, 66 were for Rossville, where the Hawks Ridge subdivision is being built. Developer Mike Price, owner of Chattanooga-based MAP Engineers, previously told the Chattanooga Times Free Press the subdivision will eventually include about 500 homes, including sidewalks, 26 acres of community space, a clubhouse and pool.

In February, 45 new single-family home construction permits were issued, the most issued in a single month, following seven being issued in January, according to information from the Walker County planning office.

Greg Vital, cofounder and president of Morning Pointe Senior Living, said in a phone call that his company’s new $14 million assisted living facility at 2989 Happy Valley Road near Hawks Ridge will be completed this winter.

He said that part of the county is growing — and more projects are planned in the future.

“We continue to see people migrating to Tennessee and North Georgia as a great refuge for our quality of life and the services around Chattanooga,” Vital said. “So not only does Tennessee benefit but North Georgia does as well.”

Some people who move here bring their loved ones who need health care services, Vital said, as well as people who were born and raised here. Despite the economy, people are still aging and needing assisted living services, he said.

Vital said development has been started on about 70 acres of the 275-acre former Happy Valley Farm property, including the first phase of residential development and 10 acres of his assisted living care facility.

He said about 60 acres of the former Happy Valley Farm has been sold to a builder, but that construction hasn’t begun yet. Also in the works over the next five to 10 years, Vital said, is a master plan including more residential development, as well as commercial or mixed-use projects on that property.

In 2022, 142 new single-family home construction permits were issued throughout the year. The largest number of permits issued in a single month was 20 in March. Last year, Chickamauga had the most new single-family home construction permits issued in 2022 with 42, and LaFayette has the second most with 39.