Sidney's growing apartment-housing needs

The need for housing is on the increase with the posibility interest of more companies moving to Sidney. Rentals are at a premium and the area has not built a new major apartment complex in the last 50 years.

Existing apartment complexes in Sidney were built in the 1940s through the 60’s, and the majority of these are rent controlled. At a time when the city was in slow growth, developers were given assurances through government incentives that they would produce revenue from the project. One incentive was through rent control, rent based on gross income. But with more companies looking to move to Sidney nowadays, the biggest question asked is “‘who are we going to hire and where are they going to live,'” said City Manager Gary Person. “More available housing will help to attract companies and produce jobs.”

Lodgepole Creek Apartments is a new complex that will be built on Fort Sidney Road. Groundbreaking for this project is expected to take place at the end of June, with excavating then the installation of infrastructure. Building of the three story, 24 unit apartment buildings will begin in August.

Completion of the first structure is expected in February, the second in March and the third in April of 2014.

Shaw Construction, a Denver-based firm, heads up the project, which is managed by Jeff Jensen from Windsor and Troy Peterson from Ft. Collins with 22 years experience in the construction trade.

This will be Jensen and Peterson’s first project in Sidney. Their hope is to be part of future projects here.

“This is a great project, great market and certainly a big need for this in town.” Peterson said.

Chief Building Official Bradley Rowan expects little problem with the construction or with the contractor getting permits to build.

“It was taken out of the flood plain and there are building requirements to be able to build,” he added. “My job is to make sure that they build to city building code.”

Lodgepole Creek Apartments will have along with the three apartment buildings a clubhouse and rent is expected to be around $1 a square foot. The impact on existing apartments should be minimal, according to those involved in the process.