BOARDMAN, Ohio – The developer behind a complex of newly completed townhouses on South Avenue is optimistic the concept will take hold in the Mahoning Valley, as it has in other metropolitan areas.
“Hopefully, we’ll be able to sell,” said Nisarg Patel, a principal of Goldeneye Developers LLC, which recently unveiled the Enclave at Boardman – a collection of 12 townhouses at 6412 South Ave. “It’s a tough market, but we hope to sell some before winter. We’re excited about it.”
As of now, however, interest in the new units has been slow in coming, Patel acknowledged. “We don’t see any demand right now.”
The developers, along with representatives from Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, participated in a ribbon-cutting Aug. 8 hosted by the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber.
Should demand materialize, the project would begin a second phase, Patel said. Eventually, the plan is to build 48 townhouses at the site. “It all depends on demand and the health of the economy,” he said.
The townhouses are constructed in two rows of six-unit blocks, said operations manager Harsh Patel.
Each townhouse is 1,260 square feet and consists of two floors, three bedrooms, a living area, kitchen, two full baths on the second floor, a half bath on the first floor and a one-car garage.
The townhouses at the end of each row have basements, he noted, while the four middle units do not. Each end unit is listed at $255,000 and the middle townhouses are on the market for $245,000.
Construction on the first 12 townhouses was completed toward the end of 2023. Principals declined to provide any investment figures on the total cost of the project.
Harsh Patel said the location for the Enclave is inviting for younger people, especially since it sits amid one of the most active sectors for nightlife and entertainment in Mahoning County.
He emphasized amenities such as restaurants, retail establishments, entertainment venues, grocery stores and other services are well within walking range or are just a few minutes away by vehicle.
“Everything you need – Sam’s Club, Walmart, Lowe’s – it’s a perfect location to live,” he said. “This is kind of the heart of the Youngstown area. There’s a lot of opportunity for new business and new jobs here.”
The developer recently hired Howard Hanna to list the townhouses.
“In Youngstown, we don’t see too many townhomes. We have more one-level condos,” said Leslie Daniels, sales associate for Howard Hanna, who is listing the properties. “But any other city you go to, they’re huge.”
Daniels noted that many in the Mahoning Valley are not familiar with the townhouse concept but interest has picked up over the past couple of weeks.
“It can be a great thing,” she said. “In all the other areas, all the townhouses are in very busy locations.” For example, these units would be perfect for physicians enrolled in residency programs looking to stay in the region, recent college graduates and young professionals.
Enclave’s developer is also engaged in other projects in the region. In March, Liberty and Steel LLC, a group headed by Nisarg Patel, broke ground to build Town Place Suites by Marriott at Motor Inn Drive in Liberty Township. The $10 million to $11 million, 96-room hotel is expected to be finished by summer 2025.
Pictured at top: Nisarg Patel, Harsh Patel and Revabhai Patel stand in front of the newly built Enclave townhouses in Boardman.