Developers do their best to size up the market when they start a new residential project, but finding buyers is never a sure thing.

Renaissance Development listened to its sales and marketing team when it launched Park Phillips townhomes early this year on Sharonview Road across from the Mountainbrook neighborhood.

Bissell-Hayes Realtors told them that buyers in that area of south Charlotte most likely would want something resembling a suburban home with downstairs master bedrooms, spacious kitchens and two-car garages.

So what happened?

Fourteen of 23 townhomes in the $13.8 million first phase have sold in advance of the spring completion date, and Renaissance is so certain the rest will sell that it's preparing to start a $4 million second phase in February or March.

"The first units to sell were the two biggest ones -- about 3,800 square feet each," said Renaissance principal David Young. They were priced in the $700,000 range.

The story is unfolding as Bissell-Hayes predicted it would when the residential real estate firm conducted market research for the project, said Missy Stewart, who's handling sales.

The townhomes, on about 5 acres behind the Phillips Place retail-residential development, are attracting downsizers and empty nesters who want to remain in the SouthPark area.

The size of the units, with 10-foot ceilings downstairs master bedroom suites, walk-in closets and storage space, allows such buyers to keep most of their furniture and possessions, Stewart said.

The only surprise, she said, has been the popularity of optional upgrades such as stainless steel Viking appliances, granite countertops, custom cabinets and tile in bathrooms.

Guessing that future buyers will want the same upgrades, Young said, Renaissance is including them in the nine unsold townhomes in the first phase.

Those units -- 2,626 to 3,407 square feet -- are priced from $599,000 to $719,000.

The next phase, expected to be completed by next fall, will include six units ranging from 2,626 to 3,793 square feet and list for $489,000 to $729,000.

Residential "infill" projects such as Park Phillips are popular in established neighborhoods with vacant tracts that can be developed with higher-density condominiums or townhomes.

Park Phillips units are being sold as townhomes; each buyer owns the building and its yard. Condo buyers own only the space inside the units and share ownership of the buildings and land through an association.

The townhomes are being constructed much like a suburban single-family house, with a crawl space between the ground and floor instead of on a concrete slab.

Each unit, although attached, has its own distinct character with exteriors featuring textured brick with limestone, stucco and copper accents.

Young formed Renaissance Development with Terry Birch in 2000 to focus on upscale infill development. Young also is president of Tri-Square Construction, an 18-year-old Charlotte firm that renovates older Myers Park and Dilworth residences and builds custom homes.

Birch is an infill development specialist who has spearheaded condo conversions and renovation projects in Dilworth and Myers Park.

Via II Architects is the project architect, and Superior Construction is the general contractor.

• Trains Ltd. opened in 7,200 square feet at 3100 South Blvd. The store, which stocks model trains and accessories for hobbyists, is owned by Rich Peabody. It's across South Boulevard from Belle Acres, a private club, and south of Crosland's new 3030 South residential development.

Richard Ziegler of Ziegler & Co. represented Trains and building owner Dothan Booth. Booth moved his "By Gone Days" architectural antiques store to a smaller space at Queen Park Business Center on South Boulevard near Scaleybark Road and the public library branch.

• Gymnasium Associates LLC sold a 16,100-square-foot-building at 8404 N. Tryon St. to Peak Properties I LLC for $1,545,000. Peak Fitness occupies the building. Reed Griffith of the Brackett Co. arranged the sale for Gymnasium Associates.

Doug Smith