Developer Spring Street Partners announced Monday the start of construction on St Anns Alley, an in-town community of 34 single-family homes in the booming West Columbia River District.

St Anns Alley is bounded by Center, Spring, Herman and Augusta streets. The new community takes its name from the St. Ann’s Rescue Mission, a home for boys, that sat in the area during the late 1800s.

The homes are all two or three bedrooms and two and a half baths and range in size from around 1,100 square feet to just over 1,600 square feet. Each house will have its own yard and two parking spaces. Allison Ramsey Architects of Beaufort (www.allisonramseyarchitect.com) has designed four basic models with varying interior layouts and color schemes.

Each house is uniquely designed by plan and color for each lot to ensure the character of the neighborhood. Each home is also designed for maximum living space and features 9-foot ceilings, fiber cement siding exteriors, and extensive trim and quality finishes.

St Anns Alley’s designs draw inspiration from the existing architecture of West Columbia, said Architect Cooter Ramsey. “Since this is an urban infill project within an existing historic neighborhood we wanted to fit in, but also improve upon what’s there. We incorporated some of the local details, colors, and materials used by some of the historic neighboring buildings.”

The community is being built in stages and the first seven houses are expected to be ready for homeowners to move in by early summer. Prices for the initial homes range from $232,950.00 to $249,000. Marketing and presale for St Anns Alley is being handled exclusively by the Wheeler & Wheeler Real Estate team licensed with Coldwell Banker.

“We think it is a unique environment,” said developer Joe Taylor. who formed Spring Street Partners along with fellow developers Mark James and Tyler Baldwin. “To the best of our knowledge, it is the only new, single-family detached housing that is within walking distance of the restaurants and other attractions of the vibrant West Columbia River District and the Statehouse,” Taylor said. The neighborhood features a park, landscaping, ample parking and walkways.

Mungo Construction, Irmo, is the builder for St Anns Alley, and Civil Engineering of Columbia is handling the site work.

“I am so excited about this project. It will help to push the redevelopment activity centered around the Riverwalk and State Street further up Meeting Street into our more established neighborhoods and will keep our positive momentum going,” said West Columbia Mayor Tem Miles. “These will be great homes in our wonderful city. I am also excited for the commercial use that it will bring to Center Street.”