New housing development in the works for Wellsville: What to know
Relief may be on the way for a tight Wellsville housing market that has seen prospective buyers sitting on a waiting list, hoping for properties to hit the market.
Officials from Alfred State College on Monday night unveiled plans for a new housing development that would feature 14 multi-unit condominiums between Proctor and Trapping Brook roads.
Alfred State, in partnership with the Educational Foundation of Alfred, acquired the 11 acres as part of a 2019 deal with the Town of Wellsville. In exchange for Alfred State students constructing a new town building on West Hanover Street, the town handed over undeveloped land to the Educational Foundation for a new development site that could provide hands-on learning opportunities to Alfred State students. Eight acres sit in the town, with three in the village.
Now, plans are afoot to transform the property into the Village of Wellsville’s first new neighborhood subdivision in decades.
“We’re in favor of supporting this in any way we possibly can, short of paying for it,” said Mayor Randy Shayler. “Things like this are exciting. This is new activity for Wellsville. These are the types of things we want to see happen. We have an older population, and we’re getting older and older. I think it is a very good fit with what this market needs.”
While plans remain fluid, Alfred officials currently envision the Proctor Road development serving “empty nesters,” or older residents looking to downsize into a home with little maintenance requirements. The 14 condominiums are split into two living units of about 1,700 square feet apiece, built in a single story, ranch style. The two-to-three bedroom units also come with a two-car garage.
Alfred State students have long constructed homes on Foundation Drive off Meservey Hill in the Town of Wellsville. The latest, House 56, went on the market in May 2021. Foundation Drive is nearly at capacity, however, with House 57 currently under construction and House 58 in development. Those homes have typically been large structures valued at more than $250,000. The Proctor Road subdivision will target a different demographic.
A market analysis will further evaluate the efficacy of the project, but Jeff Stevens, dean of Alfred State’s Wellsville campus, is confident it would be met with receptive buyers.
“We really wanted to utilize this as maybe servicing a need to the community that I’ve heard a number of times,” said Stevens. “Realtors that have looked around for properties or come up to the houses speak to the grand nature of the houses that we have and the size up on Meservey Hill. Something a little smaller (is needed), something a little scaled back for possibly a clientele that aren’t looking necessarily for the three-story — with basement — two-story, four bedrooms. I’m going to use the term retirement, but also at a different stage in life.”
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The college enlisted Mossien Associates Architects of Rochester to handle the preliminary plans.
“We’re trying to fit the new neighborhood in with what’s existing and not have it stick out like a sore thumb,” said Mossien project manager Jeff Ashline. “We don’t want to have problems selling homes. We want something that’s marketable when we’re done.”
The first house hitting the market is likely still a handful of years off. The homes on Foundation Drive typically take between one and two years from foundation work to the finishing touches.
The eight acres in the town may be annexed into the village to take advantage of village utility services. Monday’s meeting kicked off those conversations. George Goetschius, president of the Educational Foundation, said the group would like to have a plan in place “within the next year or two.”
“There is a way to do everything,” said Shayler. “We just need to work together to make it happen.”
Chris Potter can be reached at cpotter@gannett.com or on Twitter @ChrisPotter413. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: New Wellsville housing development plan in the works
