Imperial’s latest housing survey finds need is ‘dire’

    City officials recently compiled results from an updated housing survey, and results were no surprise—Imperial has a housing shortage.
    However, the survey report says it’s an “increasingly dire situation” that has only grown bigger in recent years.
    It’s safe to say housing, both for buying and renting, has been short for decades, said Tyler Pribbeno, City Administrator and Community Development Director.
    “While the situation may seem bleak, Imperial recognizes its opportunity to grow,” he said.
    This month’s announcement that Imperial received a $1 million rural workforce grant from the NE Dept. of Economic Development is good news in filling the void, he believes. West Central Nebraska Development District was the grant applicant with all funds earmarked for Imperial.
    “This grant is a game changer and should be a catalyst for growth,” Pribbeno said.
    He noted Imperial would not have been eligible for the grant without the updated housing survey that shows a need for homes here.
    The survey garnered 191 responses, or about 24% of occupied households in Imperial.
    Surveys were mailed to Imperial area boxholders or were accessible online. Households, employers, employees, realtors and rental property owners were surveyed.
    Here’s some of what the survey found:
    —Ninety-eight households ranked their residences in excellent condition. Eighty-five responded their homes were structurally sound but may need minor repairs. Four indicated theirs had one major issue, while two said their homes were in overall unsatisfactory condition.
    —Among the employers who responded, 45% indicated a serious or critical problem with housing availability in maintaining or expanding their workforce needs. Another 36% noted a moderate effect. Interviews with Chase County Schools, Chase County Community Hospital and Frenchman Valley Coop officials all indicated multiple occasions where potential employees had to decline a job offer due to Imperial’s housing shortage.
    —The housing shortage and low unemployment rate have caused a worker shortage across nearly all Imperial industries. Some restaurants and other businesses have had to drastically reduce hours.
    —Realtors responded there is a short supply of available homes in every price category, including those that cost less than $100,000 to homes valued at more than $350,000. One realtor indicated 21-30% of their clients in the past 12 months were relocating to the Imperial community, while another responded that over 30% of their clients during that same period were looking to relocate here.
    —Residents in 53 households are considering a move to another house in town, either to upgrade or downsize. Of those responses, nearly 89% (47 responses) said lack of availability of housing is the number one reason in their ability to rent or buy a different home in the community. Additional barriers cited include lack of down payment and the high housing costs in the Imperial market.
    —Only 17 responders of the 191 received are in the market for homes valued at more than $350,000, while the overwhelming majority indicated they were in the market for homes that will be eligible to be built using funds from the Rural Workforce Housing Fund grant ($350,000 or less).
    ­­—Regarding rental property, landlords indicated they receive 5-10 calls per month from families looking for rentals. All landlords said they have no difficulty finding tenants for their rentals, and many stated they maintain a waiting list for their properties.
Housing progress
    In the past 10 years, Imperial has added 20 homes in the city-owned Cornerstone/Heather Estates Development neighborhoods, which provide a mixture of market-rate single-family homes as well as single-family affordable housing all within two blocks of Schroeder Park.
    While the report says COVID and its aftermath of cost increases and building material shortages slowed housing development, there has been some activity.
    WellPark developer Dennis Kunnemann is undertaking a major project on the school’s former football field property he owns along East 12th St.
    Fourteen single-family homes are planned there, targeted toward retirees. The homes will be within easy walking distance of two restaurants, a grocery store and community center and a short drive to the hospital, school and downtown.
    Pribbeno said city officials hope the transition for these retirees to this housing development will open up their older, larger homes to new families.
    Two homes went up the past year privately, and five higher-priced homes were built in the Sage Addition since 2014, with another spec home under construction there.  
    Four modular homes were added in the Adams Addition for rental housing.
    However, the report concludes it’s not enough.
    “Our housing survey results indicate those efforts simply have not been enough to keep up with the high demand of people who desire to live in Imperial,” the report states.
    Imperial now owns 11 “shovel-ready” residential lots in the Heather Estates Addition, Pribbeno noted.
    It’s hoped those lots will encourage more development, also spurred by the housing grant received, which will be set up as a loan program for qualified developers.
    That grant will be supplemented with $500,000 in local dollars, most of that coming from the city’s sales tax fund.
    Pribbeno said city officials are being proactive in housing development.
    “The mayor and city council have been intentional in wanting to be aggressive toward bettering and growing our community,” he said.