Coldwater awards Phase 1 lots in Western Meadows subdivision to two builders

The Coldwater City Council voted to award the first 10 lots in the Western Meadows subdivision, approving a plan to sell five lots to Allen Edwin Homes and five lots to Alliance Home Builders (the Louder family) at $20,000 per lot.

City Manager Keith said the action is intended to jump-start construction after a road extension opened access to the lots. He told the council the resolution before them would "award each builder 5 lots, for an amount of $20,000 per lot for phase 1 of the Western Meadows Subdivision, and authorize the mayor and the clerk to sign." The resolution passed on a roll-call vote with all members voting yes.

The nut of the council discussion centered on speed of build and housing quality. Council members pressed staff on expected construction pace; Keith said builders proposed a minimum pace in their proposals and council members estimated the two-builder approach could produce roughly four houses per year (about two per builder) depending on market absorption. In response to resident concerns about previous complaints over Allen Edwin Homes, Brian Farkas, a representative of Allen Edwin Homes, said the company builds roughly "about a thousand homes a year across Michigan and Northern Indiana and Northern Ohio" and that it has third-party customer-satisfaction surveys it monitors. Farkas added that the company can complete a house "in 6 months" once work starts and that it uses Michigan-based trades.

Council members also noted contractual protections. Keith said the city's request for proposals (RFP) includes a buyback provision and minimum build timelines so lots will not be purchased and held off the market. The RFP included design standards such as driveway width, driveway material, garage square footage and roof pitch; Keith said those specifications were drafted in response to council direction. The council and staff discussed how lots would be divided so builders can keep contiguous parcels for construction efficiency; Keith said staff will work with the builders on lot configuration.

The council framed the split-award approach as a means of increasing early production and generating momentum toward later phases, including a possible tax increment financing district to reimburse the city for road and utility extension costs. The motion received unanimous approval in a roll-call vote: Council Member Mackin — yes; Council Member Johnson — yes; Council Member Kanak — yes; Council Member Helps — yes; Council Member Hazelbaker — yes; Council Member Petzko — yes; Council Member Beckwith — yes; Mayor Kramer — yes.

The vote authorizes staff to execute purchase agreements and move forward with phase 1 sales; purchase contracts and additional implementation details will follow. The council and staff noted that subsequent approvals will be required to advance later phases and any tax-increment financing steps.

Ending: With the phase-1 award complete, staff will finalize purchase agreements and work with the two builders to schedule lot transfers and monitor required construction milestones. The city indicated it will return to council for further actions on financing and later phases as the project moves forward.