City reports 11 new businesses, commercial permit activity at 15-year high; residential lot inventory limited
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Summary
City staff told the council New Prague added 11 new businesses in the last year, had commercial and public-permit activity at a 15-year high, and has a constrained supply of buildable residential lots.
City staff presented the annual community development report, noting robust commercial-permit activity and a constrained single-family lot inventory.
Staff said 11 new businesses opened in New Prague in the past year (matching the prior year), 26 business closings or changes were recorded, and 31 commercial vacancies exist compared with 26 the prior year. Notable openings included Scooter’s Coffee (east side lot), Star Revival, Rusty Spoke, Honeylou Boutique, a Scott Equipment office building, Bishop Investments and the start of footings for the Ebert 50 four-unit apartment building. Notable closings included Corner Bar, Pizza Ranch and Smoke and Fire.
Staff said commercial and industrial permits were at a 15-year high for the year and that public-permit renovations (including Holy Trinity Church and Falcon Ridge Elementary) also reached a 15-year high. By contrast, residential activity remains low with about 10–11 new homes per year and only roughly a dozen market-ready vacant residential lots available.
In the Industrial Park staff said two lots had sold or were pending sale (Bevcom and Quality Flow) and one lot remained. The city is also processing inquiries and potential permit applications for additional commercial activity near Coborn’s.
The council asked staff to continue tracking the Mill’s tenants and the conversion of that building into multiple uses; staff said roughly 30% of the mill’s square footage is currently occupied. No votes were taken on the report; it was received as informational.
