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Clarion: Hopeful for housing

Uncertain of how Prestage will impact it, this Wright County town prepares; attracting new business and improving housing stock are main focus

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Jordan Cook, Clarion city administrator, looks over some of the city’s plans with Lisa Hanson, deputy city clerk, recently.

CLARION — Attracting new businesses and improving the housing stock remain top priorities in Clarion as the city prepares for some potential growth, according to Jordan Cook, city administrator.

“We are focusing on housing and what we can do to improve that,” Cook said.

Clarion has long tried to address its housing needs and that focus became even more crucial when Prestage Foods of Iowa announced it was opening its $300 million pork plant, south of Eagle Grove in Wright County.

That’s about 19 miles southwest of Clarion.

Prestage plans to employ more than about people at the plant when it opens in March. That number could climb to more than 1,000 in the months following the opening.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Italics Boutique, located along South Main Street, is one of multiple businesses that moved into Clarion during the past year.

City officials still aren’t sure exactly what the impacts will be for outlying communities, but preparations are being made.

White Fox Landing is one housing development the the city of Clarion has worked hard to develop in recent years. It is located in the northeast corner of the city.

According to Cook, four houses were built there in the last year.

The land for White Fox Landing was acquired in a trade with Clarion-Goldfield High School. In exchange for the six acres used for development, the high school was given ownership of the football field.

“We have had more people build houses and wanting to build houses,” Cook said. “It’s been great for our community because these lots have been open for a while and now they are starting to get filled. It’s looking gorgeous out there.”

-Submitted image
A map shows the phases of planned housing for Goldfield.

The city has identified another piece of land on the northeast corner of the community it hopes to transform into apartments someday.

“We still feel like there is a need for more apartments,” Cook said.

It’s not clear when that project will move forward.

In terms of places to shop, the city welcomed a handful of new businesses within the past year including: Italics Boutique, a clothing store; Timbukbru, a brewery; Black Dalhlia Flowers & Gifts, Too, a florist shop; and Purple Ribbon Beef; a general store.

South Main Steet was improved over the summer.

“We did an overlay on main street,” Cook said. “We did crack and seal around town.”

The city is also updating its infrastructure plans.

“We are in the process of figuring out updates for water and sewer,” Cook said. “We are not adjusting prices, we are only trying to figure out highest priority and what is best for our community.”

Cook, who has been the administrator for a little more than year now, is hearing feedback from the community and making adjustments to try and better the community.

“As a city what we are trying to do is focus on goals and priorities of what needs to happen and what the people want to see happen in Clarion,” he said. “Trying to figure out a plan for our next steps for improving overall quality of life.”

In addition to housing and businesses, Cook said residents want to see an increase in activities and adding more sidewalks in areas where there aren’t any.

Goldfield

GOLDFIELD — A housing development that could include as many as 13 lots is being planned in Goldfield.

According to Anthony Meinke, project coordinator and Goldfield city councilman, the development is to be located near the old school building.

Plans for the project were unveiled to the public at a recent meeting in January.

The city has been working with Schlotfeldt Engineering Inc., of Webster City, and Rural Housing 360, of Leon, on the project.

The development is likely to include three phases, Meinke said.

The first phase would be south of the school along Webster Street. The second phase being planned is on the north side of the school on Wright Street.

“For the last phase we are looking at doing a cul-de-sac on the west quadrant of the lot, west of the school,” Meinke said.

Once those three phases have been complete, a total of 13 lots could be available.

Meinke said the housing would be geared towards the incoming workforce, some of which is anticipated to come from the Prestage plant.

“We are trying to draw and attract those people to build houses here,” Meinke said. “There’s definitely a demand for housing in Wright County in particular.”

An exact timeline for the project has not been defined, but Meinke is hopeful contractors can break ground this summer.

He said it’s possible the first two phases of the project could be worked on at the same time.

“We have to get the infrastructure in first,” Meinke said. “Those are all things we are gearing up and working towards getting done ahead of this.”

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