The cry for housing in Austin has been heard by another private developer.

Thursday, February 08, 2001

The cry for housing in Austin has been heard by another private developer.

Bigelow/Lennon Construction of Byron has proposed to build 25 single-family homes on 16.74 acres, which was annexed into the city at Monday’s City Council meeting in a 7-0 vote.

The site is located south of 16th Avenue SW and St. Mark’s Lutheran Home, between Main Street South and Fourth Street SW – southwest of the Austin Wastewater Treatment Plant. The property was annexed so municipal services will be provided to the development, including hard-surface roads, curbs, gutters and stormwater management.

At the council meeting, Zoning Administrator Craig Hoium said the development will be on the fringe of a flood-plain area, but none of the single-family lots will be in the flood plain. City Councilman Wayne Goodnature expressed concern in observing six lots abutting the flood plain and asked whether Hoium was sure the properties won’t flood.

"That is correct," Hoium answered, adding the city and state Department of Natural Resources "had numerous conversations with the developers and engineers doing the design work" on the proposed project.

Mower County Commissioner Dave Hillier, also present at the council meeting, told Goodnature and the other members of the council if the property is located on the present site of agricultural land, it "will be OK." Public Works Director Jon Erichson added a steep bank separates the flood plain from the development site.

Realtor Scott Ulland of Edina Realty’s Austin office, who will be marketing the development but was not present at the meeting, said the development’s close proximity to the Turtle Creek and Cedar River is viewed as an asset by real estate buyers who are looking for a nice view.

"We have a number of lots with beautiful trees and access to water to the back," Ulland said of the property.

The approved annexation is a first step in a long process, including a review by the Austin Township Board, notification of the right-of-way issue and final action by the council. The extension of infrastructure to the area has made the development a two-year project, Ulland said.

"Construction depends on how things roll," he said. "It’s controlled by the city and Austin Utilities."

Bigelow/Lennon hopes to be constructing homes in June, and when the time comes, the single-family homes will sell at a price of $150,000 and higher.