ANDERSON — New home construction in the Apple Downs subdivision on Anderson’s south side continues at a pace the developer hoped would be realized for 2018.

The Anderson City Council on Thursday approved three-year residential tax abatements for the construction of four new homes with a total estimated value of $967,750.

Earlier this year Mike Leslie, general manager for Bridgenorth Homes, which is building in Apple Downs, said seven new houses were constructed in the past nine months of 2017.

The residential tax abatement program is important to both the builder and the buyer, he said. “It saves the buyer money and makes them more interested in building new.”

Leslie said the Anderson program is used in advertising homes in Apple Downs.

Bridgenorth Homes builders are hoping to construct 14 homes in the subdivision this year. The developer has constructed five new homes there this year.

“Thank you for investing in Anderson,” Councilman Greg Graham said. “We hope you enjoy your home building experience.”

Three of the homeowners are current residents of Anderson and the fourth is moving from Fairmount.

Karen and Robert Milan are constructing a $253,000 house in the 6300 block of Bluegrass Drive that is expected to be completed by October.

Abby and Craig Sutherland are having a home built in the 6400 block of Colt Lane with a value of $288,555. Construction work is expected to start by the end of the month.

Fairmount residents Brittney Skinner and Robert King are building a $221,395 home in the 6500 block of Bluegrass Drive and Barbara and Thomas Powell are having a $204,800 home constructed in the 6500 block of Turf Way.

During 2017 the City Council approved residential tax abatements for the construction of 16 homes worth $3.9 million.

Through the first six months of the year residential tax abatements have been approved for the construction of eight new houses, five of them in Apple Downs.

Figures provided by the Anderson Economic Development Department indicated eight residential tax abatements were granted in 2016 with a total value of $1.6 million. Four new homes were constructed in 2015 with a value of $1 million.

The city’s residential tax abatement program has been in place since 1991. It was implemented during the administration of Mayor J. Mark Lawler and has been approved annually.
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