3 houses,
1 lot sold in new addition
Staff writer
A housing development in progress on the east side of Coble St. in Marion can be seen springing forth with homes.
The addition now has one completed house, two under construction, a lot sold where no work has begun, and two lots in contract negotiation.
Chris and Kristi Mercer already live in their home at Coble and Kellison Sts. Construction began on their house in April 2020.
“There are some rules,” Chris Mercer said. “The major rule is we have to live in the home 10 years.”
“They wanted a slightly different plan, set back more with a flat driveway so they could put in a basketball court,” Marion economic development director Randy Collett said.
Tyler and Maranda McMichael, Matt and Amber Powers, and Alan and Emily Overton own the two partially built houses and the lot where construction is not yet underway.
The development was planned by the city, using land the city owned and grant money from Kansas Housing Resources Corp.
The city donates a building lot to buyers and the buyers are given $25,000 incentive money through the grant. The money is paid to the lender.
Houses are built by Hutchinson-based Strawn Contracting.
As planned by the city, houses in the addition will be 1,300 to 1,400 square feet.
Basic plans are for three-bedroom, two-bathroom homes with two-car garages, and unfinished basements with an emergency egress window.
Owners have two basic options for layout and buyers have a number of ways to customize their homes.