AUBURN – The Auburn City Council accepted an infrastructure bid for a city-led housing development that is $500,000 lower than the engineer’s estimate.

Graham Construction of Omaha was among nine bidders for grading, street paving and storm sewers for the 32-acre Westgate development. The company’s $2.7 million bid was $900,000 under the high bid. The project calls for grading of 50,000 cubic yards, seeding 18 acres and adding 130 tons of rip rap.

The city intends to create 29 residential lots and five multi-family lots on land purchased for $950,000. The city plans to use tax increment financing to collect revenue off of the sale of dwellings to provide funds for the next phase of development.

 

A recent housing study says over 40 percent of Auburn houses were built prior to 1939.

City Administrator Crystal Dunekacke said she expects the construction contract to come before the city council at its next meeting.