Governor Pillen Will Visit Bertrand May 23 To Celebrate New Housing

Bertrand has a handful of housing options now available for potential new residents thanks to the work of community volunteers, state grants, and the Phelps County Development Corporation.

Governor Jim Pillen will be in Bertrand on May 23 at 3 p.m. to celebrate a ribbon cutting of the new Sunset View Villas, a five-plex apartment complex. Refreshments will be served, and tours will be given after the ribbon cutting.

Construction on the apartments is expected to be completed in time for the ribbon cutting, and renters are scheduled to move in June 1.

The Village of Bertrand Housing Authority directed the new apartment complex project, which started when the housing authority reached out to the South Central Economic Development District about the need for more rental housing. The wait list for Bertrand’s 35-year-old apartment complex of 12 one-bedroom units was long and growing.

PCDC awarded the housing authority a $30,000 forgivable loan to purchase and clear the dilapidated property at 510 Marshall Street to get the project started. The housing authority then applied for and received a grant for $525,000 from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. 

Bertrand Housing Authority Director LaDonna Bennett said McElhinny Builders, Inc. constructed the apartments. Each unit is 927 feet and features 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, a kitchen/family room area, and generous closets. Washers and dryers are provided for each unit, and a private back patio will overlook a spacious lawn. Rent prices range from $1,075 to $1,250.

Applications to rent the new units opened on March 4. Six applications were submitted for the five units. Five were accepted to move in, and one was added to a waiting list. The new tenants include previous Bertrand residents who are moving back to the town, a new couple moving in, and a new Bertrand school teacher.

“We are so excited that this project is almost complete and will be filled on June 1, Bennett said. “We want to thank Gene McElhinny with McElhinny Builders, Inc. for the great job they have done. I want to thank the Bertrand Housing Board, and Bertrand Village Board for their insight into the needs of the community. They have done a great job and are filling a need for more rental units.”

Bertrand Community Builders

Bertrand Community Builders, an investment group formed to solve community issues like housing shortages, is offering its first home for sale at 402 Knight Street. Volunteers gutted the dilapidated home, and contractors were hired to remodel and create a like-new three-bedroom, one-bathroom house with a finished basement. It sits on a larger corner lot and has a detached two-car garage and utility shed. The asking price is $229,900. 

The next project involves remodeling a home that was moved from Johnson Lake to a lot at 213 Minor, where a dilapidated house was torn down. This lot overlooks the Hi-Line Golf Course.

LeAnn Jochum, deputy director of SCEDD, said both housing projects started with a SCEDD meeting to review housing data, population and demographic trends, and housing needs. As part of planning for the NAHTF grant, they invited community members to give their input on housing needs at three meetings.

“Key facts shared included a declining population trend, 33 vacant unavailable homes confirmed and shown on a vacancy map, and that no new homes had been built in the village since 2008,” Jochum said.

PCDC helped the Bertrand Community Builders obtain a $200,000 rural workforce housing grant for these housing projects. Bertrand Community Builders added $100,000 in matching funds with the goal of creating two new homes in the next two years. 

For more information on the new/remodeled homes, follow Bertrand Community Builders on Facebook or email Bertrand.Community.Builders@gmail.com.