LANDIS — Town officials and developer representatives gathered at the intersection of Mt. Moriah Church Road and West Ryder Avenue in Landis on Tuesday to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new apartment complex slated to bring more than 50 units to the area.

According to Steve Ross, manager of Dynamic Developers of the Carolinas, the complex’s 51 units will consist of 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom apartments. 

“The majority of them are 2-bedroom because that is where most of the need is in the area right now,” Ross said. “It will have three separate buildings and the bigger units are set up for families. It’s a really good design with a lot of square footage for those units. We expect it to be a success all the way around.”

Ross mentioned that the timetable for completion will be approximately one year now that the groundbreaking has taken place.

“It could run over a little bit, but we are expecting 12 months,” Ross said. “The good thing is, we are going into summer, the perfect time to be doing grading for sites. We feel like that will keep us on schedule.

“Weather is a big factor. Materials can be a big factor. They were last year, but I don’t expect them to be this year. I expect there to be less of a material shortage this year as we move beyond COVID.”

Ross added that there are bonuses for the development team to complete the project in 12 months, further incentivizing that timetable. 

Mayor Meredith Smith said that Dynamic Developers of the Carolinas is proving to be a great partner with various projects around Landis. 

“They are prompt; they call us, and they communicate with us,” Smith said. “That is huge when it comes to development in any facet, whether it is industrial, homes or whatever it is.”

For the mayor, the project represents an advance of Landis officials’ vision for the town’s future.

“Our vision is always to bring in more people, citizens in general, to find a happy place to live,” Smith said. “We have worked really hard in the last six years to change the trajectory of what Landis looks like.”

Smith pointed to a growing downtown footprint, proximity to Interstate 85 and other thriving economic centers as attracting appeals to living in Landis. 

“You can connect over here off of Cannon Farm Road and be in Huntersville through Mooresville,” Smith said. “We are in a prime location. You can be in Salisbury in 10-15 minutes as well.”

It’s not just about building more housing but about finding the right fit.

“We work really hard to go off of recommendations from (our planning board),“ Smith said. “All of our planning department comes as citizens of our town, and they take great pride in what they send to us as a board. 

“So when those things come to us, and we look at the plans, and we look at what will develop in our area, we want to make sure at all times that it is right for our citizens and the aesthetics around. When these were brought to us, it looked right and it felt right. The developers were wonderful to work with.”

Smith believes that the proximity to Landis Elementary School will make the apartments a desirable location for those starting families of their own. With several projects slated for the area, Smith said she is trying to stay proactive in communication with the school system about a growing need for student space.

“I’ve talked with our superintendent and stay in touch with our school aboard all the time about development that is coming so they understand,“ Smith said. “You have schools here, but you also have a lot of kids who will live in these areas.

“Our county commissioners are going to have to work with us a little bit on some schools and make sure we have placement for all these children.”