COAL GROVE — A California development company is building a gated community along the Ohio River in Coal Grove.

And according to its research, the company said the development — called Limestone Community — is the first of its kind in Lawrence County and possibly the area.

“We designed it for families, family gathering and family moments,” said Reginald Charles, the president and CEO of R&C Capital Group, a private investment company based in Northridge, Calif. “We want people to be comfortable and feel safe in their surroundings.”

A construction start date has not been announced yet for the gated community off County Road 181.

He said Coal Grove was picked as a site after doing market research that showed there was an opportunity to build upscale housing.

According to the company’s Web site, Limestone Community “shall be a premiere residential development featuring a wrought iron gated entry, with 24 hour surveillance cameras, manicured landscaped grounds with the Ice Creek stream flowing into Solomon’s Pond” and will have “gated entrances, tree-lined streets, walking and bicycle paths, concierge service and dozens of amenities,” including “basic concierge service, landscaping with grounds keepers, maintenance attendants and onsite management office to handle standard living conditions and rubbish service.”

Charles said his research showed that there wasn’t this type of housing in the area and that there were many people who live in Coal Grove but work eight to 20 miles away.

But he said the main thing is security.

“Single mothers should feel safe in their home, empty nesters should feel safe,” he said. “I think with what we offer it will be a very tranquil place.”

Its first phase will consist of 36 town-homes ranging in size from 1,700 - 2,250 square feet; most of these residences will be along the Ice Creek stream line and Solomon’s Pond. There will be 16 single-family residences ranging from 1,500-4,100 square feet. Prices start at $135,000 and can go up to $500,000.

Limestone Community will sit on 140 acres and the grading to level the property has already begun. The work began two years ago and land has been purchased and permits are in place. Charles said that he didn’t want to release too much information about the project until everything was in order.

“Before we made a lot of promises we couldn’t keep, we wanted to be sure of what we could actually do,” Charles said. “We didn’t want to say we were going to bring in a waste water treatment facility until we had the permit in place. We have the site plans in place.”

Charles said he would like to also build office condominiums with retail buildings for businesses like Coffee, Bean and Cheese and Panella Bread.

For more information, www.limestonecommunity.com or call (740) 532-3881.