The groundbreaking for a new apartment complex in Kenbridge was recently held.

Units in the first phase of the Maple Grove apartments will be available for rent this fall, and pre-construction pricing is available on a first-come, first-served basis, developers said.

The first phase will consist of four two-story townhouse units with two upstairs bedrooms — each with its own bathroom — and a complete laundry.

The ground floor will include a full kitchen with stainless steel appliances and granite countertops, a dining area, living room and back porch.

“This design offers flexibility and privacy for couples, a small family, or the ‘mingles’ market — two single persons sharing a rental unit,” said Steve Israel, who with his wife, Pat, and their business partners Joe and Leona Ragan developed the apartments.

A unique feature will be the single-car garage, Israel said.

In addition, local Virginia Marble products will be used in the bathrooms, which will feature vessel sink vanities, he said.

“Kenbridge Supply will be providing foundation and other materials, and Cardinal Homes Inc. will build 16 modules which comprise the four townhome units,” Israel said.

Cardinal Homes will build the four apartments comprising 16 modules, four per apartment: two first floor and two second floor.

Deliveries of these modules will begin in June and once all 16 are delivered by July, they will be set by crane within a couple of days, Israel said.

“We are trying to use local subcontractors as much as feasible to keep the work supporting local families,” Israel said.

Ronnie Williams, of Precision Pipes, will do the underground utilities and site work; Daylon Powell, HVAC; and Shannon Hall and Ray Skelton, final electrical and plumbing.

Twigs and Berries and Tony Matthews will do landscape and lawn maintenance, Israel said.

“All local folks who will benefit from this project,” he said.

Israel’s 2 Star Construction Co., with Spencer Moore as production manager, will finish out the interiors and exteriors.

The town rezoned the tract from single-family to multi-family for the project and worked out details for Maple Grove LLC to install a new 6-inch water line on North Maple Street to serve the complex.

The apartment complex was prompted because the region is seeing two major projects locals hope will enhance the region and make it more attractive.

The Virginia Commonwealth University Health System is adding South Hill’s Community Memorial Healthcenter to its operation, with plans to make an $80 million investment of staff, facilities and equipment to the community. Groundbreaking for the new 166,700-square-foot facility was held in October.

The hospital will be renamed VCU Community Memorial Hospital and will continue to draw from central and southern Virginia and parts of North Carolina.

At the same time, at Nottoway County’s Fort Pickett — which already houses the state’s National Guard — an embassy security training facility will be established.

Maple Grove is intended “to capture a new market of folks moving to the Kenbridge area, who want newer and more updated rental properties,” Israel said. “Other potential residents might be those Lunenburg young people who want to return to the area after college, to enjoy and build our community.”

Phase two will be Americans with Disabilities Act compliant, with one-story units expected to be available in 2017.

For availability and pre-construction offerings, call or text Sid Smyth at (434) 955-0708 or sid@longandfoster.com

The Israels retired to Kenbridge in 2006. He said he began his building career in 1978 in central Florida as a trim carpenter, then became a construction supervisor for a luxury builder before starting his own company in 1982. As a general contractor, he said he built homes and one small subdivision. Israel said after they retired to Kenbridge in 2006, he did renovations to his own home and his daughter’s Kenbridge house and found himself slowly pulled back into construction. He started his construction company, 2 Star Builders LLC, in 2012.

Joe and Leona Ragan, too, recently retired and purchased a residence in Kenbridge. Ragan started a vending machine business in 1966 and expanded it to offer breakroom and office supplies, specializing in Joe Ragan Coffee.