Editorial

Housing shows good signs of turning around

Friday, October 3, 2003

Signs are beginning to appear that McCook is about to break out of the slowdown in housing construction. The hope rests in three projects, now at various levels of development on the west, north and eastern sides of McCook.

The project that is the farthest along is Double D Duplexes, the development facing East Seventh between I and H streets.

Bill Davis Jr., who is a partner in the project with Bill Sr. and Gwen Davis, said good progress is being made on the northernmost duplex, with completion expected by the end of October.

Construction is also progressing on the duplex to the south, with crews from McCook Contracting, LLC, doing the work. There has been considerable interest in the project, with the Davises reporting that they have purchase commitments for three of the four living units currently under construction.

If demand warrants, the developers plan to build three more duplexes, making a total of ten new living spaces by the time the project is completed.

Meanwhile, across town, Midwest Contracting of Kearney is beginning preparatory work on the site for Villas at Heritage Hills. Eighteen housing units are planned in the development, which will overlook the fourth hole of the Heritage Hills Golf Course.

In the first phase of the project, Darrel Potthoff said the contractor would be putting in water lines, sewer hookups and fire hydrants. In the earthwork, the contractor will also be preparing for the building of Coppermill Court, the street with a cul-de-sac which will serve the two-level villas.

Potthoff, who is partnering with Thom Widawski on the project, said there is considerable interest in the development, with six or seven strong prospects to purchase villas. The homes will overlook the golf course, with units placed to allow a southerly to southwestern view.

A third project in the planning stage is The Outback, a housing development proposed by Claude Cappel for northwest McCook between Q Street and the Henton Addition. The project is planned in two phases. One would be modulars and stick-built homes near the mobile home development; the other would be for those 55-plus in age, with a gated community among the possibilities.

Cappel, who owns 30 acres of land West of Q between the bus barn and West Tenth, will be meeting with the McCook City Council about the project later this month. Cappel says that session will determine when and whether he will proceed on the project.

The housing activity -- both planned and in progress -- is good to see. Despite increasing housing demand, new construction has been limited in 2003. The new projects give hope that will change in the final months of this year and the start of the next.

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