News Nearby: Developer Looking to Build 16 Townhomes on Briarcliff Road

A developer hopes to build 16 townhomes on about 2.5 acres near the intersection of North Druid Hills and Briarcliff roads.

Minerva, based on Henderson Mill Road, wants to develop the land it purchased for about $550,000 from the owner at 2212 Briarcliff Road, the company said at a meeting it held with nearby residents last week.

The company chose the area due to its proximity to downtown Atlanta and major employment centers including Emory University and the Centers for Disease Control, said Stacy Patton, a company representative.

"You all are in a very unique area," she told a full room of concerned residents at Westminster Presbyterian Church on Wednesday. "Even if you get in traffic, you can get anywhere from here."

The tract of land, which currently only includes a house and a backyard carriage house, is a small rectangular sliver. Three townhomes would face east along Briarcliff, and the remaining 13 would face south in a row behind the three on Briarcliff. The western third of the tract, which includes a stream, will not be built upon.

Each home will have two-car garages and will be priced at about $350,000 and up, Patton said.

"We're leaning toward classical, four-sided, brick buildings," she said.

Residents expressed a number of concerns, particularly related to water runoff in the area around the creek, which overflows with heavy rain.

The development is one of several Minerva is pursuing the in the North Druid Hills-Briarcliff area. The company purchased a lot across the street from Mellow Mushroom near Lavista and Briarcliff roads last week, Patton said, and plans to develop that as well.