Construction begins at Cabela's housing development

Construction at The Ranch, Cabela's housing subdivision on the east side of Sidney, began earlier this work.

Crews started excavation work at four lots on Monday, and foundations for all sites should be poured by next week.

Plans call for more than 700 homes to be built, in phases, on property the Sidney-based retailer purchased in 2012. The final plat for the first phase of the project received approval from the city council in 2014.

While Cabela's' developed a master plan for the residential community, individual lots are offered for sale to home builders who will the construct and sell the homes.

There are no requirements that potential homebuyers work for Cabela's, Sidney Mayor Mark Nienheuser said.

StoneCrest Construction, of Fort Collins, Colo., purchased the first four lots and is constructing the homes. Owner Robert Millward said his company has been working with the city and Cabela's for two years to help respond to the housing shortage in Sidney.

The homes currently under construction will be priced in the low $200,000s and include three-car garages and "all the amenities," Millward said.

While the homes were initially planned to be more expensive, some high-end finishes have been removed to make the homes more competitive.

"We decided because of the volume of homes that could come on the market because of layoffs at the wire plant, we need to be more competive," Millward said.

In November, CommScope announced it will be closing its Sidney cable manufacturing plant and eliminating 140 jobs.

Millward said his company is excited to be working in Sidney, and he hopes the construction will quell rumors circulating about the future of Cabela's.

In October, an activist investor announced it had an 11-percent stake in the outdoor retailer.

"We're hoping all the rumors will wash out soon and Cabela's can do business as usual," Millward said.

Open houses at the homes under construction will be held in the coming months, he added.

Nienhueser said the new homes will be positive for the city.

"I think it shows they've got the confidence to move forward with the development even in these times," he said.

Millward said while other builders slated to construct homes in the subdivision have backed out, he feels the houses his company is building will be competitive in the local marketplace.

Calls to Cabela's for comment were not returned before press deadline.