Tiny houses to be built at Trammell Square in Atmore

Published 9:45 am Thursday, June 15, 2023

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Rob Faircloth has fond memories of racing up and down the isles of his father, Rob Sr.’s grocery store, The Faircloths, with his younger sister, Lisa.

It’s that sentimentality that led to Faircloth purchasing the property at Trammell Square recently.

Faircloth said plans have been drawn up for some cottages to be used as rentals.

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Recently, a large portion of the buildings were torn down and taken away. The portion was left standing is going to be turned into a restaurant, he said.

“My son (Elliott) and Terrance (Breckenridge) are doing that,” Faircloth said. “We have not committed to anything yet. We’re still in the planning phase. We’re trying to get it cleaned up, and get it to where we like it and go from there.”

Faircloth said the plan is to build tiny houses on the property, including one and even two-bedroom houses.

“I don’t know if it’s a good idea for Atmore, but we were trying to come up with something to make it look good,” he said. “We’re still kicking it around. We’ve got it planned out. I’ve taken (the plans) to the city and talked to them about it, but we haven’t committed.”

Faircloth said the idea to purchase the Trammell Square property came as a result of needing another project.

“I wound up selling the Gather building to the McElhaney’s, and so I just had to have something to do,” he said. “I have to have a project. I had an idea about the cottages and buying my family property back.”

Faircloth said decisions are in the process of being made for the building that’s still erect, adding that they plan on closing it off to get it ready to be turned into a restaurant.

On the cottages, Faircloth said there’s not time frame on them being built.

“We still haven’t committed to do that, it’s just what we’re thinking,” he said. “I’m not in a hurry. We’re going to take our time.”

Faircloth said this is a special opportunity for him because he spent his childhood there.

“We lived in the attorney’s building right there on Main Street,” he said. “I grew up in that house. The grocery store is right off the back door. Me and my younger sister would run up and down and race, and knock stuff off of the counters.

“We just kind of did in honor of Daddy,” he added. “It’s been sitting there, an eye sore. People have been nice to me about buying it, and thanked me for buying it. Hopefully, when it’s all said and done, it’s something we’ll be proud of.”