Work to begin on $35M housing project near Emmaus

Demand for housing below the $300,000 price range is strong in one section of Lehigh County, according to a homebuilder embarking on a project that would bring more than 100 new residential units to the market.

Kay Builders of Lower Macungie Township is starting work on Jasper Ridge, a $35 million project that includes 80 townhouses and 44 twin houses in Upper Milford Township, said Rick Koze, the company’s president.

He said work would begin on the first set of houses within 30 days. Schlouch Inc. of Blandon is handling the site work, he added.

Prices will be $299,000 for twin houses and $260,000 for townhouses, with square footage from 1,700 to 2,200. He described the two-story townhouses and twin houses as spacious with masonry facades.

So far, he has presold about 24 houses. Based on that pace, it should be a three-year project, he said.

“It’s pretty close to Emmaus … You have a view of the whole Valley; you feel like you are in the country,” Koze said.

On a hill on Mill Road off Route 29, the project is in the East Penn School District.