By Sarah Light, staff writer

To celebrate the start of second phase of construction at the Tiger Hills residential development, the developers are hosting an open house at the site Saturday and Sunday.

Starting at 11 a.m. and going until 3 p.m. both days, the event will give people who are interested in finding out more about the progress of the development the opportunity to do so. The open house will include a hamburger cookout.

The Tiger Hills residential development, which is on 67 acres of property between the Albert Lea High School and Goose Lake, includes 145 lots. It is being finished in stages.

Of the lots for sale, five lots have closed and five additional lots are pending to close in the phase one area. Of the phase two lots, four have closed and two additional lots are pending to close, developers said last week.

&8220;We want everyone to know that things are going really good out there,&8221; said Greg Moen, one of the three Tiger Hills developers. &8220;We&8217;re actually ahead of our plan right now.&8221;

The developers, along with city, county and Albert Lea Township officials, broke ground for the development in October of 2005.

It was the first subdivision of notable magnitude to be brought to Albert Lea in the last 50 years, city officials stated at the groundbreaking ceremony.

The project came about after research was done into the JOBZ program, indicating that as many as 800 jobs would be coming into the area.

Because of this research, the developers felt there would be a need for new homes in the $150,000 to $200,000 range.

&8220;Our goal all along was to cater to what the city needs as far as housing,&8221; Moen said.

In addition to the two phases of development already underway, there will probably be three additional phases, developers Tim Ramaker and Moen said.

Within the subdivision, lot owners will be given the opportunity to build a home that suits their needs.

&8220;I guess one of the things we&8217;re proud of is that we have an area if people want to build under $200,000 and get into a nice new home, they can,&8221; Moen said. &8220;If they want to build $300,000 they can. If they want to do $400,000 they can.&8221;

People will build according to standard city regulations, and all houses in Tiger Hills are required to be stick-built. No pre-fabricated houses are allowed.

Some of the highlights of living in the subdivision, Ramaker and Moen said, include its prime location near the high school, Northbridge Mall, Wal-Mart, Home Depot and downtown Albert Lea.

But, at the same time, it is also is a setting filled with natural beauty, including wildlife and, when completed, a nature trail.

&8220;It&8217;s a taste of country with city amenities,&8221; Ramaker said.

When finished, the development will also be family-orientated, with a grassy, green area for a park and a pond and as many cul de sacs as possible, Moen said.

Developers stated it has been their goal to sell five lots per year, at a minimum, or to have at least 50 percent of the lots sold in Albert Lea to be in their development.

&8220;We never thought we&8217;d be selling phase two like we are,&8221; Moen said.

&8220;The general public is starting to see the true colors of this.&8221;

The developers said they anticipate the next phase of the project to begin in 2009.

In addition to the open house Saturday and Sunday, on Friday night there will be a private cookout for people who have already purchased lots within the development. The gathering will be a chance for the individuals to meet their new neighbors.

For more information about Tiger Hills development, call 377-2752.