ASHLAND — A new Ashland housing development will begin construction this fall and will include the additions of 45 contemporary homes and another street.
Wayne Schlabach of XL Builders will handle the construction of the homes.
In December of 2019, City council approved a tax incentive for any developer who wanted to come to the area and build an apartment complex with 12 or more units — who aren’t receiving any additional government subsidy or tax credit. The city of Ashland would provide the developer with a 10-year, 100% reduction on property taxes for the project. Also, if a developer builds a subdivision with 12 or more new houses, the city would also provide a 10-year, 100% property tax reduction.
Mayor Matt Miller received a phone call last winter from an individual who was interested in purchasing the shopping complex of Discount Drug Mart and Miller’s Hawkins Market.
“We set up a time to meet and talk about what their plans were,” the mayor said. “At some point in the discussion, the gentleman asked me, ‘So Mayor, you’ve told us about all these things going on in the city of Ashland – – is there anything the city needs right now?’
“My response to him was, ‘One of the biggest needs in our community is a need for more housing; not just apartments, but for homes.’”
The developer and Miller met a second time, this time with Wayne Schlabach from XL Builders out of Fredericksburg in attendance as well. He proposed a rough concept of his plans to construct 45 new houses on the 20-acre parcel of land behind the shopping complex.
Wayne will build the houses and then a local real estate agency will sell them for him. The average size of the homes are 1,500 square feet and will feature cathedral ceilings and an open floor plan. The exteriors will be slightly varied but follow a basic concept.
Plans are also underway to construct a street off of Mifflin Avenue for access to the new neighborhood.
“Since I’ve shared this information publicly, I’ve already received countless calls, email messages and Facebook messages from people wanting to know who they need to contact and how they can get on a waiting list for one of these houses,” Miller said. “I know there is a lot of interest here in our community for these new homes.
“It is certainly a seller’s market right now and when quality houses do become available, in many instances they sell practically before the real estate agents can get the sign up.”
This housing development will be within walking distance from several restaurants, grocery stores as well as Ashland High School’s Community Stadium. The complex will also be in close proximity to Ashland’s newly-planned second fire station.
“You don’t just build single family houses and sell them. You’ve got to put in the streets. You’ve got to put in the utilities, all the infrastructure that goes along with it; and typically you don’t make your money back until some of the last houses are sold,” said Councilman Dennis Miller. “That’s a heck of a wonderful investment in this city.”
