Is there a spot she can use in front of the townhouse? Without having a better idea of the set up, it's kind of hard to picture.
I live in a house, with a fenced backyard, and a patio. I had kind of debated where to have her go potty, and in the end, I just take her to the front yard a million times a day. She is too little to go down the steps from the patio into the yard, and there is just so much snow out there right now, which I would have to deal with every winter. Maybe in the future I can go that route.
I am very lucky with the pee pads that they are no longer in use. I used them in her gated washroom when I first got her and she picked up on the idea immediately, even though she hadn't used them before. Then it got to a point where she only used them if she had to hold it in for 8 hrs or more, and for the most part, she is never in that situation, so I've taken them away altogether. For how seldom she needs to use them, I think I'm okay just cleaning up the pee, if it should happen. I think pee pads can be okay for a little while, but the less use, the better. With her, I didn't have to do that thing where I gradually moved the pee pad closer to the door and then bring it outside on the lawn. She just knew to use the lawn, but I think that was probably because of the breeder I got her from.
What is your idea for the dog's potty in a year's time? Will she be going outside on a lawn, during walks, or still using the Potty Patch thing? Maybe a Potty Patch makes for an easier transition to real grass later on. I guess like someone already said, if you HAVE to use something like that, that's the best idea, but I like the idea of getting them used to whatever it is they will be using as a life long thing, as early on as possible.