Fueled by construction at two new subdivisions, Williams Bend and Gypsum Creek Crossing, the supply of new single family homes and duplexes in the city is growing.

According to Vickie Reeck, the city’s community and economic development manager, the new homes are “filling a need we’ve been hearing from employers for a number of years.”

The Williams Bend neighborhood along Williams Drive on the city’s north side has been the site of much of the construction.

The neighborhood is bordered by Williams Drive to the west, 25th Avenue North to the north, North 15th Street to the east and 20th Avenue North to the south.

That area used to be the Theiss farm.

In 2016, the city government and the Fort Dodge Betterment Foundation teamed up to buy the property specifically so it could be used for housing development.

The building started there in 2018. Since then 13 single-family homes have gone up, according to Reeck.

Those houses generally have a ranch-style open concept featuring a great room and three or four bedrooms. They have 1,400 to 1,500 square feet of space and two-car garages. They have been selling for close to $300,000 each.

There are 27 more lots available for single family homes along a new section of 24th Avenue North between 15th Street and Williams Drive.

Also recently completed in Williams Bend are 27 duplex units. With two dwelling units per structure, those buildings provide 54 homes.

Twelve of those buildings were constructed by Windstone Circle LLC, of Fort Dodge. Those duplexes are rental units, with rents in the $1,000 to $1,200 per month range.

Jim Kesterson, a leader of Windstone Circle LLC, said the units were being rented before they were completed.

Another three duplexes were built by Tice Farm Housing LLC, of Fort Dodge. Those units are for sale rather than for lease.

That company has plans for two more duplexes.

A three-story, 55-unit apartment building had been proposed for a site along North 15th Street on the east side of the neighborhood. However, city officials are no longer sure if that will be built. Reeck said Northwest Iowa Building Co. LLC, of Ankeny, the developer that proposed the apartment building, is no longer involved in the Williams Bend project.

The vision for the Williams Bend neighborhood includes more housing in the open area west of Williams Drive. As of now, there is no agreement for development of that area. Reeck said the city wants the area on the east side of Williams Drive to be fully developed before work starts on the west side.

On the east side of Fort Dodge, six new housing units are done in the developing Gypsum Creek Crossing neighborhood.

That neighborhood consists of 33 acres south of 10th Avenue North and east of North 32nd Street. The plan for the site calls for 70 duplex homes there, with a four-acre park in the middle.

Two new north-south streets, to be called 35th and 36th streets, will be built. Also, Seventh and Ninth avenues north will be extended into the site.

RJ Tide Development, of Sioux City, is building the neighborhood. Construction started in 2018.

In 1975, the late Bill Scheidemann, who owned the land, proposed building homes there. He presented a plan to city officials, who said housing wasn’t needed in that area.

Russ Bertrand, the president of RJ Tide Development, has said the plan his company is working on is very similar to the one Scheidemann created.