Huntingburg Mayor Denny Spinner thinks his city can be a trendsetter.
With Monday’s announcement of Hunters Crossing, a housing development on the north side of the city that stems from last summer’s Stellar Communities victory, Spinner, other city officials and project developers united for a housing project that could boost economic development and help solve some of Dubois County’s workforce housing problems addressed in a housing study released last month by Dubois Strong.
“Hopefully, we’ll be able to create a model that not only can be replicated here,” Spinner said of Hunters Crossing, “but also throughout the state of Indiana by identifying what are the pieces that you need to make this happen.”
While Dubois Strong, the county’s economic development group, released a housing study last month outlining problems and solutions for the county’s lack of attractive workforce housing, Huntingburg and Jasper were already deep into development of two separate workforce housing projects, one being Hunters Crossing, a development led by Boxer Girl of Indianapolis that will feature 120 new single-family homes on Chestnut Street between 12th Street and 17th Street as well as a nearby park; the other is Jasper Lofts, which will feature about 70 apartments in the former Jofco furniture factory at 402 E. 13th St, and is being developed by Miller-Valentine of Cincinnati.
“One of the things I don’t think people realize, is just how much vacant space we have,” said Darla Blazey, Jasper’s director of community development and planning. “For our community, I think turning Jofco from former industrial use to housing, it will be the first in our county.”
While both projects are being developed by private firms, Huntingburg, Jasper and the county stand to benefit from their construction in both dollars and development. The 47-acre subdivision, which is slated to feature mostly 1,500-square-feet homes with three bedrooms, two baths and two-car garages (no basement) will run at a price of about $150,000, which corresponds with the target price Dubois Strong named in its study. Spinner said Hunters Crossing will be a boon for Huntingburg’s tax base, as well as an economic opportunity generator. Spinner stated the development of Hunters Crossing could open doors for retail and restaurants that might not fit in on downtown Huntingburg’s historic Fourth Street street.
“It should bring in more traditional types of retail, commercial development in that area,” Spinner said.
Blazey envisions similar results for the Jasper Lofts project, which comes two years after the city of Jasper finalized its downtown and riverfront plan. Blazey said the development should help spur activity in Jasper’s nearby downtown. Her hope is that the new housing coupled with a downtown rejuvenated by the renovation of the Astra Theatre on the Square and the addition of faster Internet connections will help attract young people to the area. Blazey said the city has already included other amenities in its master plan such as making the area more friendly for bicycles and pedestrians.
“What we understand about the millennial generation is that, unlike, maybe their parents’ generation — where their parents would get a job and select a location because of the job that was being offered to them — is that many millennials are choosing location because of the amenities that it has to offer, the quality of life they perceive is there, and the job comes after that,” Blazey said. “Jasper is in a fortunate situation where we have great quality of life and good job opportunities available.”
Both housing projects should be beneficial to the county workforce since they are situated near job clusters, an important housing recommendation made in Dubois Strong’s study. The Jofco project sits within 12 minutes walking distance from Kimball International’s offices near East 15th Street and 10 minutes from MasterBrand’s offices in the same area.
Spinner said Huntingburg’s idea for a housing development received support from local businesses, with Jasper Engines CEO Doug Bawel speaking on behalf of the development when the city made its Stellar Communities pitch last year. Spinner mentioned that he had similar conversations with other local companies. Jasper Engines, MasterBrand and Stens in Jasper have all announced job expansion within the last two years.
“(Bawel) recognized (a housing development) is something he can leverage as a way to attract high-level employees to his business,” Spinner said.
Blazey said that the Jofco project could be the first of multiple industrial spaces that are turned into living spaces, and Spinner said the housing study only boosted his belief that Hunters Crossing is something Dubois County needs.
“This housing study has verified our beliefs, but now we have to put it in action,” Spinner said. “You can have a great plan, but a plan with no action is sitting on the shelf.”
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