| NEWS ARTICLES
March 8, 2008
ECEDA: Build them and they will come
By MARIANNE KOBAK - Business Editor
Saturday, March 8, 2008 12:14 AM PST
ELKO - Houses may be under construction, but after Friday's meeting of developers, contractors and employers, it became apparent there is still a critical need for affordable housing in Elko County.
The Elko County Economic Diversification Authority had its best meeting turnout ever for its Friday roundtable discussion on the county's workforce and housing needs, said ECEDA Executive Director Elaine Barkdull Spencer.
Almost 100 people filled a room at the High Desert Inn to network and let others know what they're developing, how many employees they need and what services they could provide.
“We're the hot spot for development at this time,” Barkdull Spencer said.
Developers from as far as Reno, Pahrump, Lovelock and Utah attended the meeting.
The Riverside Condominiums along 12th Street is developed by a Utah company. One of the developers, Dave Mitton, said his buildings will begin construction next week. The condos are 1,270 square feet with decks and patios and start at $160,000.
“We've been building planned communities for two decades and we pride ourselves on an affordable product and quality construction,” Mitton said. “We'll have 252 units when we're done. ... Hopefully it fills a need for you.”
Another out of town developer, Ken Krater of MTK Limited of Reno said his company's development of 1,400 acres near Spring Creek may start its infrastructure later this fall. Krater said the development plans on 3,700 dwelling units of single and multi-family.
“There's a need for affordable housing here,” said Bill Eyserbeck, a contractor from Pahrump. He and his father are moving their business to Elko because construction has hit a slump in southern Nevada and is needed in the north. Their company offers 12 models that range from 1,125 to 4,400 square feet.
Local developers gave overviews on what projects should start in the future and a few reported on ones with buildings going up.
Annette Kerr of Ruby View Estates, along East Jennings Way, said six of her lots are already sold and 20 lots are left for housing. She also has about eight acres of commercially zoned land and three of them are ready for building.
Jim Winer, developer of The Pointe at Ruby View - located on high ground northeast of Ruby View Estates, also has lots sold. The development will break ground on its 20 patio homes in a couple of months, he said.
Representatives of several area employers - Wal-Mart, Gold Dust West and local mines - said their employees need more housing as long as its affordable.
Barkdull Spencer said “the interest at the meeting resembled the momentum of economic development in the area.”
“We hope and anticipate some of these people will start networking with each other,” she said. “We wanted to offer them the opportunity.”
20080308
Return to the News Articles Archives Page
|
