by Jim Brewer
2005-10-08
Real Estate Development

Lexington, Hidden Hills, Chatham Ridge at the Park, Burnet Commons, Poplar Ridge,Willoughby Townes, Camden Place, SouthRidge and Zion Crossroads Industrial Park are but a few of the developments stamped with the seal of Southern Development, owned by Frank Ballif of Charlottesville. Underway or soon-tocome developments include Charleston Park in Waynesboro, Poplar Forest in Orange and Brookwood. Coming soon in Fluvanna County is, Monticello Village, an age restricted retirement community.

“Our goal at Southern Development is to build communities that will stand the test of time,” Frank emphasized. “We are always focusing on new and different types of products to meet future challenges of our community.”

Southern Development has been particularly effective in building on and developing land few others would undertake.

“I like infill projects,” Franks stated. “For me it’s an opportunity to reinvent Charlottesville and take advantage of land where growth should be.”

A hugely successful infill project from Southern Development was Burnet Commons off Elliot Avenue. Marketed by Real Estate III, Burnet Commons broke ground in October 2003 and by the end of April 2004, each of the 36 homes was under contract.

Said Martha Campbell of Real Estate III, “This had to be a record for a sell-out in a community. Burnett Commons satisfied a real need in the market place for single family detached homes at an attractive price.”

In the Willoughby Townes project, Ballif was able to take land that was an open dumpsite for over 30 years and turn it into a community.

“We worked closely with the City as well as with the neighbors and turned Willoughby into a win-win-win situation.”

“Frank Ballif is a true visionary,” stated Jeff Gaffney, Chairman of Real Estate III. “He studies the market in real estate development and the building industry, he finds the voids and he fills the voids. And he does it very well.”

“Real Estate III has done a great job for us,” Frank remarked. “We certainly thank Glenda Howard, Martha Campbell and the entire Real Estate III team for their diligent work and their amazing sales record pace.”

Frank thinks that developers often get a bad and undeserved rap from the public.

“A common fallacy is that developers are the bad guys,” Frank said. “But that’s not true. We don’t create the demand. We serve the demand. Then we add our personal touches to the product and hope the market likes it.”

Frank pointed out that in the Willoughby Townes development, four of the units were designated as affordable housing.

“We worked closely with the Piedmont Housing Allowance (P.H.A.) and the City Council to create the four units. The P.H.A. will administer the sale of these units.”

Camden Place began site work in late 2004. The 15 lots of the first phase nearly sold out before a single foundation was laid. A second phase of 94 lots has been submitted to the City of Charlottesville for approval. Frank hopes this project will be underway soon. Martha Campbell and Glenda Howard of Real Estate III will once again form the real estate team marketing this Southern Development project.

“I really like to build on something I’ve developed,” Frank stated. “I enjoy taking a project on from start to finish.”

For more information about the Southern Development projects underway or soon to be started in the City of Charlottesville, call Glenda Howard (817-6080) or Martha Campbell (466-8670) with Real Estate III.

Brewer, Jim. “Frank Ballif: An Eye to the Future” The Daily Progress Homes Weekly insert May 2005.