Growth Fuels New Developments in Prattville, AL

Projects help meet the needs of the region, which has become a prime destination.

By Bill Lewis on September 19, 2022

Allison Powell/Prattville Chamber

If you want a downtown apartment in a repurposed historic cotton gin, Prattville-Autauga County has that. If your tastes run more toward a suburban house and yard in an amenity-rich master-planned neighborhood, you can have that, too.

A combination of small-town charm and big-city convenience makes Prattville-Autauga County a destination for growing businesses, young professionals and other talented workers as well as families looking for good schools and retirees searching for convenience and affordability.

To meet their needs, builders are taking innovative approaches to new housing developments in Prattville. Local schools, meanwhile, are taking an innovative approach to making sure students have the job-ready skills they need to be successful members of the workforce.

“Prattville has experienced a substantial amount of growth and increase in population throughout recent years and is an ideal location for any new development,” says Gracie Hastings, marketing coordinator at Stone Martin Builders.

The company has launched two new master-planned neighborhoods in the area. McClain Landing will feature about 300 homes. Glennbrooke will have around 1,700. An additional planned community will have 99 homes.

“We do have another new community coming later this year that will be from our Thrive series,” Hastings says. “These homes will help more people and families of Alabama flourish in a gorgeous, stylish, all-new space of their own.”

Homeowners in Stone Martin’s master-planned neighborhoods will enjoy a rich package of amenities including pools, clubhouses, pickleball courts and fire pits.

Residents looking for a more urban lifestyle can choose The Mill at Prattville, which will include 127 modern apartments with one, two or three bedrooms in a revitalized landmark.

The Mill combines historic authenticity with modern convenience. Many original architectural elements have been incorporated into the apartment designs, including exposed brick walls and wooden support beams. Oversized windows maximize natural light and stunning views of historic downtown, Autauga Creek and the picturesque millpond dam.

Amenities will include a fitness center, a clubhouse, landscaped green spaces, and pavilions.

Innovation in Schools

Innovation in the local schools is putting students on a fast track to success in careers with local employers such as James Hardie Building Products, International Paper and others.

A groundbreaking ceremony kicked off the expansion of the Autauga County Technology Center (ACTC), a career-tech campus for all Autauga County high schools. The project will add four new shops to be used for the ACTC’s fire science, engineering, welding and automotive programs. It is expected to be completed at the end of 2022.

“It is imperative that we involve our business partners as we improve programs offered at the Technology Center,” says Tim Tidmore, superintendent of Autauga County Schools.

“Our dual-enrollment partnership with Central Alabama Community College will allow our students to continue receiving college credit while completing high school requirements,” he says. “I believe it won’t be long before our Career Tech students will be graduating from high school and from Central Alabama Community College at the same time.”

The Technology Center has a strong relationship with businesses that provide students an opportunity to earn while they learn.

“As a matter of fact, during the 2021-2022 school year, our work-based learning students worked 24,147 hours, earned $226,943 in wages and had a $1,588,601 economic impact on our communities,” Tidmore says.