Officials: Demand for housing exceeds supply in Somerton
SOMERTON — The number of available lots in the city is falling far short of the demand for housing in Somerton, city officials say.
While two subdivisions are expected to be developed beginning later this year, the number of lots currently available has dropped to its lowest number in recent memory, 55, said Carmen Juarez, Somerton’s community development director.
“This is an issue that the city is beginning to look at,” she said. “That number of lots is less than the yearly demand Somerton has been having, which is average of 110 to 115 lots for construction of housing.”
The city has plenty of land zoned for residential use, she said, but it can’t attract developers.
“We are hoping that investors get enthused about doing it,” she said. “The issue is attracting them so they invest in the city. We are more than willing to facilitate the (development) process for them.”
The scarcity of lots is expected to be mitigated somewhat later this month, when work is scheduled to begin on a 70-lot housing subdivision and another 49-lot development, both of which will be located on Somerton’s southeast corner. But, Juarez said, the two subdivisions will meet the city’s demand only for three years.
The city has on its north side, east of Somerton Avenue, enough land to develop about 800 residential lots, Juarez said, while on the west side of the city, west of Cesar Chavez Avenue and south of County 15th Street, there is enough acreage for nearly 700 for lots.
Somerton Economic Development Director Hector Tapia said the lack of sewer lines in those areas is causing would-be developers to look elsewhere. He said the necessary infrastructure could be financed through agreements between the city and developers or through bonds.
“They are needs we are looking at to resolve,” he said. “Those investors are needed to open lots to housing, because the city’s growth depends on that.”
The 49-lot residential subdivision slated to be started this year is being developed by Nieves Riedel, a San Luis developer who will be launching her first project in Somerton in more than two decades. The new development will take place on 10 acres east of Bingham Avenue and north of County 17th Street.
Riedel agrees developers should help foot the bill for new infrastructure.
“I believe we developers should cooperate in putting in that infrastructure in coordination with the city and that we should be aware that those are costs that come with the projects. We need to look for a way to work together so that growth doesn’t stall.”
Somerton City Councilman Gerardo Anaya agreed that lack of sewer lines is a limiting factor in housing development, but said the cost of the infrastructure should be assumed by the new residents, perhaps through formation of improvement districts.
“Our position is that the current residents of the city should not have to pay for infrastructure for new developments. Letters have been sent out to landowners proposing improvement districts. We hope they agree to that.”