WILLISTON, N.D. - It's been 30 years since residents here have seen a major housing subdivision built. Now, oil activity is changing their landscape.
A housing study presented to the Williston City Commission last month shows growth projected at nearly 18 percent from 2000 through 2015 for the city of about 12,500. It works out to more than 1 percent per year, driven largely by increased employment projections.
Coming at a good time
The study showed a 1.5 percent increase in population between 2002 and 2006 - and a need for housing.
"Williston is now at the flexion point," says the study's author, James Ondracek. "It is now critical that workers outside the area are recruited and housed."
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Brothers Kyle and Nathan Hexom are planning a subdivision called Creekside Ridge, which is awaiting final approval from the City Commission.
The subdivision will have 66 new homes, built in four phases, the brothers said.
"Lot owners will be Creekside Ridge Community Association members and will have the ability to either build a custom home on the full size lots, or choose their floor plan and house style, on the smaller bay home lots. Members will also have community owned green space," Kyle Hexom said.
Nathan Hexom said the brothers are paying for street, sewer and water improvements.
The prices for a bare lot and membership in Creekside Ridge are projected to start in the mid-$20,000 range. To buy a lot and build a home on it could put the homes into the $200,000 range or higher.
If all goes as planned, the lots could become available for sale by late spring or early summer.
"We could potentially see seven homes go up at once in July," Kyle Hexom said.
Family businessThe Hexoms are nephews of Mayor Ward Koeser, who removed himself from deliberations on the project to avoid a conflict of interest.
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Kyle Hexom graduated from Williston High School in 1988 and made a career in investment banking in Boise, Idaho. His brother graduated from high school in 1990 and spent several years working in the construction industry in Hawaii before returning to Williston.
On the Net:
Creekside Ridge project: www.creeksideridge.com
- Associated Press
