Scott Swanson
Of The New Era
A representative of a local subdivision developer last week took issue with the conclusions of University of Oregon researchers who suggest that Sweet Home’s growth in the near future will likely not include many children.
Dena Steinbacher, who represents Atwater Homes, which is developing the 50-lot Canyon Creek Estates on the south end of 10th Avenue, told attendees at the monthly Sweet Home Economic Development Group’s Breakfast Club that her experience and that of other real estate professionals in the area lead them to a different conclusion.
Steinbacher gave a presentation on plans for Canyon Creek and discussed the local real estate market with the approximately 20 people who attended the SHEDG event at the Community Center.
Among the findings of the UO study, which researchers presented to the School Board on April 9, they questioned whether the Lowe’s distribution center being completed in Lebanon would have much impact on growth in Sweet Home, suggesting that jobs in the facility would largely be filled by workers already living in this area. The study also suggested that while Sweet Home is expected to grow by approximately 25 percent over the next 15 years, a lot of that growth will likely be retired people and researchers foresee little growth in the number of school-aged children.
Steinbacher said the results of the U of O study may be skewed by the fact that although 1,147 lots have been approved for partition or subdivision, most of those were approved in the last year, which needs to be taken into account when determining how fast those lots are being developed. She noted that the majority of lots approved by 2004 have been built on.
“If they based their study on (the newly approved) lots, it looks like a lot of them are not (being developed),” she said. “The number of lots that have been built on is skewed.”
She said she and other real estate agents have a different sense of who’s moving in.
“My research is my own work, – people I have in my car,” Steinbacher said. “I know and other Realtors know who we’ve sold property to.”
She said the Canyon Creek development is moving forward and that building permits are being pulled for three model homes that will be built first. The streets were opened last week to public entry, she said.
Atwater is finishing up the Spring Terrace development off 50th Avenue, where Steinbacher’s office has been located, she said.
She predicted that the Canyon Creek development, with homes ranging from $249,900 to over $400,000, will be “a great project for Sweet Home,” bringing in people who are likely to establish new businesses in the city.
“I think we’re going to see a lot of move-up homes and increased revenue for the city,” she said.
Prices are still lower in Sweet Home than in other nearby communities, particularly Eugene, she said, suggesting that many newcomers will be more willing to commute longer distances for the chance to live in a place like Sweet Home and pay lower prices for housing.
“We’ve kind of had an evolving reputation,” said Steinbacher, who grew up in the community. “We were a little rough back in the old days. That’s changed quite a bit.”
The Canyon Creek project will be built in seven stages, according to current plan, she said, all within the next five years.
It will include a small city park located next to a pond on the lower end of the neighborhood.
Though the quality of the homes will be higher than starter homes, the community will not be exclusive.
“It’s not going to be gated,” Steinbacher said. “For the majority of us, we’re just looking for a nice neighborhood, not something exclusive.”