NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The City of Hutchinson is going to try to develop some housing after a presentation by Housing Coordinator Carissa Paxton at the Tuesday City Council meeting. She had some preliminary data from the housing assessment that showed how large the need is in Hutchinson.
"Between 2010 and 2021, we demolished more homes than we built," Paxton said. "We are netting negative 11 units annually just based on what we're demolishing, and since our demolitions have stalled over the last couple of years, we're at approximately 13 units per year is what we've been building since 2021."
Paxton argues that there are economic development projects that say no to Hutchinson because the potential employees don't have places to live.
"In one of my first meetings with Enrico, he told me that, 'The message needs to be clear. Hutchinson is open for business'. I can't think of a better way to say that we're ready to go than to acquire some land and make it easy to say yes for developers. We want to lean in with our trusted partners on this project, one of which is New Beginnings. They're excited to step onto this field and play ball with us. So with the purchase of this land and some help funding our designs and surveys, doing the initial legwork, the things that take up the most time and the most red tape and the most money, we're gonna utilize our pre-approved plans that we've had since 2009 and open an RFP for developers of all sizes. We want to say we've got the land, we've got the plans, we have the development incentives. If you did not know, Hutchinson has an infill development program. You get $1,500 in building permits reimbursed to you or waived for you, and then all of your water and sewer tap fees are reimbursed. So we have great incentives and we have qualified buyers who want to be in Hutchinson. So what developers are going to turn the dirt for us? Who wants to help us pave the way to a well-housed Hutchinson?"
The city is buying land on Hayes Street near 11th and Hendricks as the first parcel to try to spur further development. The purchase agreement is for $50,000.