Ark Valley News - Houses start in new neighborhoods

Houses start in new neighborhoods
Last Updated: March 16, 2023

And so it begins.

The City of Valley Center in February issued the first new home building permits in two of the new residential developments that are in various stages of construction in the city.

One permit was issued for a new home in the Arbor Valley neighborhood and a pair in the nearby Marquez Acres, which are in the road construction zone north of Ford (77th North) between Broadway and Seneca, starting what has been anticipated as a housing boom in Valley Center.

"I keep reading that there are still housing shortages all over Kansas," Mayor Lou Cicirello said. "… I was really excited when all this came through. The interest rates going up kind of gave me some concern. But I still see homes going up for sale and I still see homes being bought."

The building permits were issued Feb. 10. One was for a home at 515 S. Arbor Valley Way valued at $340,000. The second was for a home at 2780 E. Ford, also valued at $340,000. The third was for a home at 2790 E. Ford valued at $290,000.

When complete, the Arbor Valley development, which will sit on about 72 acres, will have more than 60 homes valued between $200,000 and $400,000.

The other neighborhoods include the second phase of Prairie Lakes, which will have more than 180 homes between $200,000 and $400,000; Trails End with 145 houses at the same price point; Cedar Ridge Estates, east of Seneca and north of Ford, with more than 25 homes between $500,000 and $2 million; and Sunflower Valley, a mix of multi-family and single-family residences south of the intersection of Ford and Dexter.

"I don't think these homes are going to have a problem selling, and I'm excited," Cicirello said.

The city has been busy lately � with five housing developments underway and another in the beginning stages near 93rd and Meridian; a major road reconstruction project (Ford) nearing an end with another (Meridian) on its heels; a water treatment plant being planned; and an electric utility being studied.

"I can't thank city staff and Mr. (City Administrator Brent) Clark enough," Cicirello said. "I don't know how he balances it, but he does. It's something I watch because I am concerned. I don't want to see any of these land developments go belly up and end up having to reactivate the land bank. I don't want to see any of the Ridgefields happen again."

The Ridgefield neighborhood in the northwest part of the city fell victim to a housing slowdown in 2016, and the developer essentially gave the city several undeveloped lots. With an aggressive new homebuyers incentive, the city sold all of the lots by 2020.