Proposed Housing Development Positive Step

Wichita housing developer, Manske & Associates is looking at the possibility of constructing ten new homes in Beloit. The developer has been working with representatives from Mitchell County Community Development, the Solomon Valley Economic Development Housing Task Force and the City of Beloit. They have submitted an application to the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation to participate in a special housing tax credit program to encourage the development of income based housing.

The total cost estimate for the development is $1.8 million and calls for new homes to be built at 3rd and Mill and in the Zimmer Addition in Beloit, KS.

Manske & Associates has a very long and positive record of developing housing in communities all across the state of Kansas. The homes proposed for Beloit will be single family houses with 3 bedrooms, two baths and a two car garage. They will be approximately 1,275 square feet and some will include an unfinished basement.

The application for the housing development program has been submitted to KHRC and will be reviewed and scored against other projects being considered throughout the state.

Just the other day someone asked what a housing means to economic development. Of course there is the initial benefit of the jobs created for construction of the homes and the purchase of materials. There is also an increase in property value created with the addition of new homes.

Beyond the construction phase of the project there are many other economic benefits to creating additional housing in a community. Rental housing in Beloit is extremely tight and adding 10 homes with 3 bedrooms each would help relieve some of the pressure on the housing market. This would add to the number of people living in our community as they move into the new homes. Some will be new residents. Others will be moving out of other homes in Beloit and freeing them up for other families to move into.

Having more families in Beloit would increase the demand for retail goods and services, sales tax revenues and possibly add more children to our school system. For the City and County it would generate more property taxes and utility revenues.

The housing project will be owned locally. Manske & Associates only serve as the developer. The local owner of the project will benefit from the revenues generated by the rental and sales of the homes.

In all there are many ways that a new housing development benefits the local community. We are hopeful our application is approved by the KHRC.