Home construction is booming in east Holdrege this fall. Find out more about the new Windhaven low-income home project.
November 1, 2015
There’s a home construction boom in east Holdrege this fall.
Holdrege Development Corporation Executive Director Capri Chapman said the construction of four duplexes on Valerie Circle will mark the completion of the Lincoln Place development.
The Holdrege Development Corporation received a $750,000 grant in 2009 from the Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund to create the Lincoln Place addition, which has resulted in the construction of 12 single-family homes and six duplexes.
Six of the homes were purchased with the help of $25,000 in down payment assistance. As long as the homeowner lives in the home for 10 years, they don’t have to pay back the grant.
Of the eight units in the duplexes currently under construction, Chapman said five units are still available for purchase.
PCDC was instrumental in securing the initial grant for this project.
Board Member Michele High, who was a new board member at the time, was just learning about the housing shortages in Holdrege and how it was hindering employers ‘efforts to recruit workers.
At the same time, she learned about a new grant opportunity through the Nebraska Department of Economic Development that would help rural communities with housing shortages.
The grant had to be submitted by an economic development organization. So, PCDC joined forces with the housing experts at Holdrege Development Corporation to apply for the grant. Holdrege was one of three Nebraska communities to receive the grant.
High said the grant helped purchase the 80 acres of ground for the project and funds some of the infrastructure costs. It also provided administrative funds and helped reduce lot costs.
High said it took eight months of work, more than 20 meetings and community-wide support to write the grant.
“It only worked because everyone was willing to help out a little bit,” High said.
Now that the first phase of the project is coming to an end, High said it makes her proud to have been a part of the process.
“It’s pretty awesome,” she said. “It’s just another example of why it’s really wonderful to be part of the Holdrege community and the Holdrege business community because we have a lot of leaders who look toward the next generation for their planning.”
PRAIRIE VIEW
With Lincoln Place nearing completion, the second phase of the grant project is ready to take off.
Paving and utilities were completed this summer on the Prairie View Addition that is east of Lincoln Place.
Nine of the 15 lots have been sold, and owners are preparing to start building any time. Chapman said there are still six lots available ranging in price from $28,500 to $38,600.
Prairie View lots are designed for single-family homes with no income restrictions.
Chapman said Prairie View should appeal to buyers because it’s “freshly” developed, has large lots, has green space and walking trails and a great view of the sky divers at the airport.
WINDHAVEN
The HDC received a $3.8 million federal grant in April for the Windhaven Estates project on the south side of the Prairie View Addition.
Chapman said they have awarded a bid to McElhinney Builders to construct the 16 units (eight duplexes) that are part of Windhaven. Construction is expected to begin in October.
Chapman said Gene McEnhinney, the company’s owner, is familiar with tax-credit projects and worked successfully with the community in the past to construct the recent Sunrise East and Sunrise Lane projects.
The target market for Windhaven rentals is working families. All renters would have to apply for residency and fall under certain income guidelines to live in the new Windhaven Estates. Monthly rents would range from $425 to $615.
Chapman said there are 18 families or individuals already on the waiting list for a Windhaven unit. However, families cannot officially apply for residence until the homes are completed.
Windhaven will provide the following units: 4 four-bedroom two-story homes (two duplexes) 4 three-bedroom single story homes (two duplexes) and 8 three-bedroom two story homes (four duplexes).