Orchard Discusses Housing Shortage, Considers Solutions

Natalie Bruzon
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During Monday night’s Village Board meeting, Victoria Nelson, representative from Miller and Associates, asked the board questions about housing in Orchard.

CORE communities in the area received grants to participate in housing studies which would help determine housing needs in the community and addressing specific issues.

Nelson asked the board to identify some goals they’re trying achieve to tackle the housing shortage in Orchard. 

“We’re just trying to clean up the bad properties,” said Dennis Clifton. “And vehicles are next.”

Nelson asked the board what is keeping them from tackling the problem.

To which Curt Mitteis replied, “No enforcement.”

“We have ordinances,” continued Mitteis. “There’s just no way to enforce them.”

Nelson also asked the board about storage, as residents have been buying houses to use as storage. 
While the village does have some storage units, the board all agreed that they are full to capacity, which brought to the forefront a major problem in Orchard. 

Lack of space. 

Orchard has a housing shortage, and not a lot of space to expand. 

Stephanie Cleveland brought up that many houses are in unlivable condition, much like a house her and her husband own in hopes of tearing it down eventually. Other houses, people are unwilling to sell for emotional reasons. 

“We noticed there are other houses in town that people aren’t in, and I think they hold on to it. I don’t want to take this away from anyone, but they hold on to it for maybe personal reasons,” Cleveland said. “And then the house continues to deteriorate. So this is what happens to these houses. They’re afraid to let go of them because they have sort of hold on them, emotionally I think, and they sit empty.  

Nelson’s goal for the night was to collect some information for possible grants. 

An important part of housing grants, according to Nelson, is what the town is doing to attract and retain residents. 

“This is something the grants like to hear,” Nelson told the board. “What your community is doing to attract people and what you’re doing to try to keep people here.” 

The board identified local businesses and agriculture as the main force behind bringing people to Orchard and keeping them here. 

Many younger families are also moving back to because of the benefits a small town has in raising children, such as safety. 

A major weakness identified by the board is lack of jobs. 

While creating more jobs would be a long-term growth goal, Nelson suggested that building a duplex might be a more immediate solution the housing and space dilemma.

“Not low rent,” said Nelson. “You guys are having a housing shortage, that’s some of what I’m hearing, and some people are willing to pay market rate for a duplex rental.”

And, Nelson said, there are some grants available for a project like that. 

The next steps will be for Nelson to write up a report to give to the board. 

“We’re going to make this document,” said Nelson,” and we will bring it back. (The board) will look at it, make sure it meets your approval, if not we can make changes. Then (the board) accepts it and they’re on their way to go. We can start applying for grants.”

Also at the meeting, the board approved a building permit by Ferguson Ag and one for John Ferguson. 
They also approved the demolition permit for the Orchard Young Men’s Club. They plan to tear down the Udder Place and the house behind it. 
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John Ferguson will be sworn onto the board during December’s meeting.