A new planned community is moving forward near Huntsville, Alabama, just as the U.S. Space Command prepares to relocate to the metropolitan area from Colorado.
The city of Athens, Alabama, approved zoning for Higher Living, a neighborhood of 255 single-family homes from Alpharetta, Georgia-based DDB Capital Fund. The 122-acre project will also feature amenities, including a pool, pickleball courts, walking trails, green spaces and event gathering areas.
“Our plan balances housing, open space, and connectivity so the community performs for residents and stakeholders alike,” said DDB Capital managing director Derek Distenfield in a statement.
Distenfield told Homes.com the plan was in the works before the Sept. 2 announcement from President Donald Trump that the U.S. Space Command would move from Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Huntsville, whose roles in U.S. space exploration earned it the nickname Rocket City. That move is expected to bring 1,600 jobs to the region, according to reports.
“Space Command families will certainly be part of it, but the real driver is regional growth,” Distenfield said by email. “Huntsville is attracting jobs in aerospace, defense, advanced manufacturing, and technology. Athens is perfectly positioned to serve that demand with great schools, strong neighborhoods, and the kind of community people want to raise families in.”
Distenfield said the company plans to begin dirt work in the first quarter of 2026, with the first homes expected to be ready for sale by the end of that year.
A September report from Homes.com director of analytics for the region, Toby Jorgensen, said that more migration to the area was expected beyond the jobs Space Command will bring. “There is also expected to be additional residual job growth that will lead to even more demand for housing, such as jobs in the IT infrastructure, logistics and cybersecurity sectors,” he said.
The influx of new residents is also expected to absorb some of the 4,800 surplus apartments and multifamily units in the area due to elevated construction activity.
“The current outlook places Huntsville on a more balanced path through the remainder of 2025 and into 2026. However, it remains to be seen how many new units will enter the pipeline once the new Space Command headquarters starts bringing new job growth to the area,” Jorgensen wrote.