Spokane Valley homebuilder Markham Homes Inc. has started construction in the 24-lot first phase of the Centennial Place subdivision, on 9 acres of land north of Mission Avenue in east Spokane Valley, says Bill O'Dea, the selling agent for the homes.

The first phase will be followed by a 23-lot second phase, says O'Dea, an agent with Windermere North Spokane LLC. Markham Homes will be the exclusive builder for the subdivision, which Burlington, Wash.-based Landed Gentry Development Inc. is developing, he says. Landed Gentry received approval from the city of Spokane Valley earlier this spring to create the lots.

The selling price for the homes, including lots, will start in the $160,000s, O'Dea says, bringing the total value of the Centennial Place development to more than $7.5 million.

"We have had good success in selling homes that start in that price range," says O'Dea, who also works with Markham Homes in subdivisions in the Deer Park, Five Mile, and Nine Mile areas.

Centennial Place is located on the west side of Flora Road, and the first phase of lots will be accessed via an extension of Baldwin Avenue and new interior streets.

Landed Gentry currently is completing street construction within the subdivision, O'Dea says.

"Markham Homes is refining new floor plans and pricing," he says.

Homes will be on lots ranging from 5,500 to 10,000 square feet of space, with duplex structures planned on the largest three lots, he says.

The homes will range in living space from 1,200 square feet to 2,000 square feet, O'Dea says. Most homes will have two or three bedrooms, although buyers of the larger floor plans will have the option of having four or five bedrooms, he says.

Most designs will be Markham Homes' proprietary floor plans, although the builder strives to modify each plan to suit the buyer, O'Dea says.

The start date for the second phase will be subject to sales, as Markham Homes pre-sells nearly all of the homes it builds, O'Dea says, adding that Markham Homes' target market is young professionals and families.