Bourbon Hill at Griffin Farm subdivision and event venue underway in Hawesville

“I want to have events for the community during the weekdays,” Johnson said. “Weekends will mainly be for weddings. During the weekdays I would like to have some events, so people can gather together and enjoy some fellowship with dinner nights and date nights.”

There are two lakes on the property. Around one, a seating area will create a private setting for the event venue and rental cottages. The other lake will be open to subdivision residents, who will be able to fish there. Five lots border the water, which will be stocked and complemented with ornamental fountains.

The subdivision has minimum house sizes of 1,400 square feet on six smaller lots and 1,600 square feet on the remaining lots. The neighborhood will have an open layout. Privacy fences will not be allowed under the HOA, but homeowners may install matching wrought-iron fencing.

“They are completely custom houses,” Johnson said. “The two that we have already signed and have under contract are looking at 1,900 square feet, and the other one is about 3,600 square feet, including the basement square footage.”

The subdivision’s main entrance off Madison Street leads to two interior streets that end in cul-de-sacs. A sign at the entrance shows the layout of the subdivision, cottages and event venue.

He said they are hoping to break ground on the first house between the middle and the end of this month. Plans and selections for the two lots with deposits are nearly complete. Construction is set to begin as soon as utilities are installed.

“I try to sell an affordable product but also a nice product,” he said. “I’m big on using quality materials. I think it’s important.”

He bought the land for the subdivision about two years ago and agreed to keep the Griffin name. Preparing the site took longer than he hoped, he said, and it was about a year and a half before he was able to get started.

Johnson said GN Excavating broke ground on the subdivision about two months ago. He said the company finished its work about two weeks ago, installing the storm sewer, curbs and roads, and seeding the area with straw before rain moved in.

Progress slowed slightly because of rain and as CTR Homes completed the final touches on the salon they purchased in Lewisport. Johnson said he has been in communication with representatives at Atmos and Kenergy, and the plan was to get back to work on water, sewer and gas lines the week of June 8.

He said CTR Homes has been very busy getting the salon remodeled. Johnson and his wife, April, purchased Attractions Hair Design from longtime owner April Bryant and held a grand reopening on Saturday, June 13, for people to tour the salon and see the new offerings. The couple changed the name to Attractions Salon & Spa.

“One of the great amenities coming to the subdivision is that the City of Hawesville has agreed to allow us to put in streetlights,” he said. “There will be five or six streetlights in the subdivision. To me, that’s a big deal. I like for things to be safe at night and for things to be lit up and that way people will be able to see better on the roads as well.”

The city will cover the cost of the streetlights because, under Kenergy’s rules, they must be city-owned rather than paid for by the HOA. Johnson said he worked out that arrangement with Mayor Rob McCormick.

“He was all in for putting those in,” he said. “I’m still picking out the design, but they will be the 14-foot-tall, black streetlights with the globes on top of them.”

The subdivision addresses a growing demand for additional housing in Hancock County.

“That’s the big deal,” Johnson said. “We need places for people to live. We’re just trying to provide the best we can to help get them there.”

Residents have repeatedly called for more housing during Hawesville town hall meetings on revitalization. Many say they want their grown children to have enough housing options here to raise their own families in the area so they can stay close to their children and grandchildren.

Johnson gave an update on other projects CTR Homes has been working on over the last several years.

“We have three lots left in Lewisport at Hancock Park,” he said. “We have three lots in Hawesville that we can build on today that overlook the river. As far as the senior living, that got put on hold. Hopefully in the near future, when my partner gets back in town, we can get that fired back up too. We still intend to do that.”

Future plans to build accessible apartments in the county include designs such as 3-foot hallways, 3-foot doors, single-level layouts and two-bedroom, two-bath designs for older residents who want more space and comfort.

Southern Girls Properties, a business run by April Johnson and a partner, remains active with seven rental properties in Lewisport and a lot in Hawesville. Updates are posted on the company’s Facebook page.

The Johnsons chose the name CTR from the first initials of their three children: Colin, 21; Taylor, 19; and Raylee, 16. They describe themselves as family-oriented and have encouraged their children to become involved in the family businesses.

Johnson said his son recently earned his plumbing license and has taken on a larger role in the company’s plumbing work. His daughter Taylor is building a nail tech career and has already developed a solid client base.

Their youngest, Raylee, helps with scheduling at the salon and recently launched her own home-based baking business, Sweeties, after filing the paperwork herself with the state.

“She did the work, and I just bought the ingredients,” Johnson said.

He has his own crew for framing, flooring, vinyl work and cabinetry, and CTR also installs cabinets for Winsupply of Owensboro. Johnson Plumbing handles the plumbing, and he regularly hires local subcontractors such as Don’s Electric and Schwartz Heating and Cooling.