Nebraska City embarking on housing strategy
Workforce housing development support by ARPA funds
By News Channel NebraskaNEBRASKA CITY - Nebraska City’s population peaked in the year 1890 at nearly 12,000 people and has stagnated at around 7,000 residents ever since, but the city is using its American Rescue Plan Act funds in hopes of starting a new growth trend.
Eric Casper of JEO Consulting Group and interim city administrator Marty Stovall discussed a plan for 79 single-family lots and 48 multi-family units on land at the old Grundman Airfield.
Casper said the concept makes sure there are a variety of homes that residents of Nebraska City would be able to afford.
Casper: “The natural lay of the property helps with both the utility layouts and there will be a variety of different homes that may have some walk-out basements and also some slab-on-grade homes. So we’ll have a variety of different housing types that can be adapted to the concept that we’ve come up with.”
Stovall said the city council will be looking for a construction plan that sets out construction in phases. He suspects the first infrastructure phase will be connect Morgan Drive with 11th Street near CHI Health St. Mary’s Hospital. He noted, however, that the city council may opt for projects that establish more buildable lots right away.
He said the city is currently working out its options for a $2 million street and storm sewer project to connect Morgan Drive.
Casper said the reaction to the concept at the open house was affirming.
Casper: “I think there has been a little concern about who will come in and help build some of these homes, but, with the city’s help here, kind of taking the lead on creating the infrastructure for the citizens, we’ll have a great product in the end.”
The concept includes green space and a park setting near the existing homes on Morgan Drive.
At the open house, Stovall commented on the decades-old strategy by Nebraska City government to require developers to pay for infrastructure improvements like streets and sewers.
Stovall: "Yeah, it's been the policy for, let's say the last 50 years, but it's been a policy that hasn't worked for 50 years."
He is hopeful the city will break ground in 2023 on the first phase of the project.
