The Kingston, a 14-unit condominium project under way in South End, is promising buyers skyline views within walking distance of the trolley line.

MECA Properties, which has spearheaded much of the new development in South End over the past 12 years, is developing the $3.6 million project.

The four-story early 1900s-style brick building will have 12 residential condos on the upper floors and two commercial condos on the ground level at 1700 Camden Road -- on the corner of Camden and Kingston Avenue.

Tony Pressley, president of MECA Properties, said both commercial condos have sold, along with four residential units.

The one- and two-bedroom residential flats range from 950 to 1,150 square feet and list for $199,900 to $264,400.

MECA announced The Kingston in November 1999 but later decided to hold off on construction because of several competing projects and a full plate that included renovation of Spaghetti Warehouse's vacated space in an old South End mill and construction of commercial condos along South Tryon Street.

Also, Pressley said, the delay gave the city time to launch improvements along the nearby rail line that will carry the trolley.

"There was no sense of urgency," he said. "We had time to wait and listen to the marketplace and fine-tune our projects based on lessons learned from watching the others under way."

Market research persuaded MECA to go from a loft-design with exposed ductwork to more traditional rooms with 10-foot ceilings, Pressley said.

In addition, he said, "we redrew the plans to enhance kitchens and baths." Kitchens now include custom cabinets and granite countertops, and bathrooms feature tile flooring and tub/shower surrounds plus cultured marble countertops.

For more money, buyers can choose from such optional upgrades as stainless steel appliances and garden tubs.

Narmour Wright Associates designed The Kingston, and Doerre Construction Co. is building it.

Pressley said proximity to the trolley-light rail corridor was a key consideration in the decision to proceed. Regular trolley service is due to start between South End and uptown next summer, and light rail service is to start in 2006.

The Kingston is expected to be completed by next fall.

MECA Properties redeveloped the 13-acre Atherton Mill complex at South Boulevard and Tremont Avenue in the early 1990s as shops, restaurants and live-work condos.

Later, it created the Design Center of the Carolinas by converting two former mill and manufacturing buildings off Camden Road near the trolley line to offices, studios and showrooms for interior design and home decor tenants.

"The housing component is the last piece we need to make this a sustainable, thriving area," Pressley said.

He's participating by purchasing a residential condo in The Kingston.

• Dougherty Clements & Hofer leased 8,579 square feet in the Roxborough Building at 1901 Roxborough Road in SouthPark.

The law firm plans to move from the Two Fairview Building in SouthPark and begin operating from the new offices on Jan. 1, said Lee Teague of Equis Corp.

Teague and his associate Dan Millard at Equis represented the tenant in the lease, and Mark Decherd and Kimball Wood of Trammell Crow Co. represented the landlord.

• Hopkins & Hopkins Construction Co. of Charlotte has joined Crescent Resources' featured builders at NorthView Harbour and SailView on Lake Norman.

Hopkins & Hopkins' NorthView Harbour homes will range from 3,000 square feet up, with prices starting in the $350,000s. At SailView, its homes will range from 3,500 square feet up and begin in the $450,000s.

NorthView Harbour is on the north side of Lake Norman in Sherrills Ford, and SailView is on the west side of the lake off Highway 16 in Denver.