A call to meet the rising demand for more housing in Fort Dodge is being answered through a partnership with the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance, area banks, local contractors and land owners.
"There is a need for new housing in Fort Dodge," Tom Chalstrom, chairman of the GFDGA Housing Initiative Committee said during a ceremonial groundbreaking at the future site of one of the homes along North Soldier Creek Drive Monday evening. "This is a unique opportunity for the community. We are developing a call to action in terms of a larger plan for housing."
With the plan, new homes will be constructed in The Woodlands and Soldier Ridge Estates on lots deeded to the GFDGA by landowner Lisa Wilson. Two of the houses, which will be single story homes, are already under construction on lots 14 and 15 in the Woodlands along North 27th Street near Ashwood Lane. They are being built by Doyle Construction. Two additional, two story homes will be erected by Kolacia Construction on lots 1 and 2 of Soldier Ridge along North Soldier Creek Drive.
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Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance Chief Executive Officer Dennis Plautz speaks during a groundbreaking celebration of four new homes which will be built in The Woodlands and Soldier Ridge Estates Tuesday afternoon. Alliance ambassadors Kraig Barber, Teresa Naughton and Connie Lind-Fraher listen in the background.
Dennis Plautz, chief executive officer of the GFDGA, said the creation of jobs with companies like Cargill and CJ Bio America will also bring a greater need for housing in the Fort Dodge community.
"We've got real opportunity for labor in this community," said Plautz. "And we have an acute need for housing with all of the hiring that will be taking place in the next 18 to 24 months."
The construction of the four new homes will create "market ready housing" in the the community, Chalstrom said.
"What this can do is create market ready housing," Chalstrom said. "Based on the past 10 to 12 years that hasn't been occurring and what we can do is show that new housing can be built and sold in this community."
Plans to build homes have been in the works since early this year, Plautz said. Construction for the homes was bid out to contractors who are Alliance members and special financing plans were made possible through local lenders Wells Fargo, Northwest Bank, CSBank, First State Bank, Citizens Community Credit Union, First American Bank and Great Western Bank.
"Every single bank based here is participating," said Chalstrom. "It's been a very viable process and it would not have happened without the Growth Alliance. Without the collaborative efforts of these parties none of us would be standing here today."
Construction of the homes is expected to be complete by fall. The completed houses will be sold for $225,000 to $270,000. Any profits from the sales will be shared by Wilson and the builders.