NATCHEZ &8212; Upscale patio homes will soon be built on Duncan Avenue, if developer Dick Thompson has his way.

Thompson plans to build 20 to 25 patio homes in a subdivision on Duncan Avenue between Homochitto Street and Hardings Bayou, he said Friday.

The 1,800 to 2,300 square foot high-end patio homes will share walls and driveways, and they will be low-maintenance, Thompson said. The subdivision will be built in three stages, and each house will have two to three bedrooms.

Each group of houses will have an electric gate and will have &8220;top-of-the-line everything,&8221; Thompson said.

He will build a spec, or example, house first, but he said he thinks he will have a buyer before it is built.

&8220;I hope to pre-sell most of these,&8221; Thompson said.

The first step is to install water and sewer lines, Thompson said. He said he has met with City Engineer David Gardner to iron out details on the plans. He will meet with the planning board on July 28, he said.

Thompson said he hoped to start construction in the next 60 days, but it will be two to five years until the whole subdivision is finished.

The homes will be shadowed by old oak trees, he said.

&8220;We&8217;re going to try to disturb the surrounding trees and vegetation as little as possible,&8221; Thompson said. &8220;There are 250-year-old oak trees. We&8217;ve already saved two live oaks and one red oak.&8221;

No investors are involved in the project.