In an effort to continue to create more new homes, the Newton City Council is proceeding with the platting and development of the third phase of the Arbor Estates subdivision. The City, in partnership with the Newton Housing Development Corporation (NHDC), has been working to increase residential subdivision development in northeast Newton. City staff says sales of the platted lots in the Arbor Estates First and Second Addition subdivisions are continuing, but construction and platting of phase three on adjacent Newton Housing Development Corporation property is now needed. Executive Director of Newton Housing Development Corporation Bruce Showalter says the construction of new homes often opens up housing that’s more affordable. 

“About 50% of the houses we sell are to new people moving to town, and the other 50% are in town people moving to new or different housing. That opens up housing that’s usually at a lower price, which helps our affordability as well.”

The Arbor Estates Phase Three project that is now out for bid includes earthwork, sanitary and storm sewer, water main, 31-foot-wide Portland cement concrete (PCC) streets, erosion control, seeding, and other related items. The bid opening is scheduled to occur on March 24th, and Newton City Council members are expected to award the construction contract at their April 6th meeting. The contracted completion date of the project is November 30th of this year, with alternate bids accepted for an earlier completion date of July 31st. The project is to be funded with the remaining Fairmeadows North TIF funds and money left over from the Union Drive reconstruction project.