82 planned new houses start at about $300K each

As officials and developers work to address housing needs, more details are now available about proposed home and lot sizes and prices for five Wayne County unfinished subdivisions.

$26 million will be invested to build eighty-two single-family homes, with support from Wayne County’s new Housing Accelerator Program.

Half of the homes will be in Cambridge City and Centerville, and half will be in Richmond.

Meers Estates is in an unincorporated area north of Cambridge City. It’s off Shirlin Drive, just west of Indiana 1 and north of East Delaware Street.

Willowbrook Place in Centerville is just west of Mattie Harris Road, with roads including Willow Way and Willow Drive.

Economic Development Corp. of Wayne County is developing and managing the grant program, which provides $10,000 per home ($820,000 total) to developers toward infrastructure for unfinished platted subdivisions.

Those homes and their proposed asking prices include:

Meers Estates – Cambridge City

• 17 homes
• Lots approximately 15,000 square feet. $30,000
• Homes from 1,200 to 2,000 square feet. $280,000 to $325,000

Willowbrook Place – Centerville

• 24 homes
• Lots approximately 12,000 square feet. $30,000
• Homes from 1,300 to 2,000 square feet. $280,000 to $325,000

Garwood Acres – east Richmond

• 6 homes
• Lots approximately 17,000 square feet. $50,000
• Homes from 2,000 to 3,000 square feet. Up to $450,000

Sandbridge Hills – east Richmond

• 15 homes
• Lots approximately 15,000 square feet. Up to $55,000
• Homes from 1,500 to 3,500 square feet. $250,000 to $450,000

Hidden Valley – west Richmond

• 20 homes
• Lots approximately 14,000 square feet. $37,500
• Homes from 1,500 to 2,500 square feet. $350,000 to $450,000

Grants will support needs such as public streets, sidewalks and utilities in existing unfinished subdivisions. Wayne County government partnered with EDC to start the incentive.

Sarah Mitchell, EDC’s economic development manager, said the program was strategically designed to expedite the availability of new homes by focusing development efforts within existing subdivisions.

“These areas require minimal zoning and subdivision approvals and infrastructure extensions to complete the subdivision or initiate the next phase, allowing for faster construction timelines and reduced development costs,” Mitchell said in a news release.

She said the initiative reflects an ongoing commitment to address local housing needs, support workforce retention and enhance the overall quality of life for residents throughout the county.

Nine applications were submitted, and EDC officials said five eligible applications were identified after a thorough review.

Wayne County Commissioner Brad Dwenger said he’s excited that several areas within the county will benefit from the initiative.

“With 82 homes, our program ensures the availability of move-up homes, crucial for keeping the real estate market active and vibrant across Wayne County,” Dwenger said in the release.

Eligible projects needed to be within communities participating in county-wide economic development through the Consolidated Economic Development Income Tax Fund.

Funding for the program came from the Consolidated EDIT Fund as well as the Wayne County EDIT Fund, both of which use taxpayer dollars to support economic development activities.

Applicants needed five years or more experience in developing housing units. For-profits, cooperatives, public entities and nonprofit organizations were eligible to apply.