New Carlisle developments will add 600 homes

City’s last housing boom occurred in the 1960s

NEW CARLISLE- The city of New Carlisle is preparing for its first new housing boom since the 1960s, with two housing developments planning to add approximately 2,000 new residents over the next ten years.

“The current population of New Carlisle is roughly 5,500,” City Manager Randy Bridge said. “We are expecting to add 2,000 new residents.” 

“The last significant housing boom occurred in the 1950s and 1960s when the population surged from 1,640 to 4,107,” he said. “This growth continued into the 1960s and 1970s, with the population further increasing to 6,112.”

The Monroe Meadows development located on Addison-Carlisle Road will include 78 acres and approximately 294 homes, Bridge said. Another development, the Reserves at Honey Creek, will be located on the east side of Ohio 235 and will include approximately 360 homes on a total of 137 acres.

“Both projects have submitted construction drawings for Phase 1, and broken ground,” Bridge said. “Sitework for roadways, building pads, retention ponds, and utility installations is underway.”

“We are eager to start the first phase of homes,” he said. “Model homes will be in about three to four months; the total build out can take up to 10 years.”

Lot sizes will vary in each development, Bridge said. Lots at Monroe Meadows will be either 55’ or 65’ wide and 150’ deep; lots at the Reserves on Honey Creek will be 52’ or 55’ wide and 120’ or 125’ deep.

“These developments are essential for our city's growth, enabling us to expand our tax revenue and provide new housing options to attract new residents and retain current ones,” Bridge said. “The majority of negative comments have come from non-residents, particularly during meetings with the city’s Planning Board and City Council. In talking with actual residents, I am confident that overall, they are excited about the growth.”

The city is growing in other ways, as well, with new McDonalds and Taco Bell locations currently under construction on North Main Street.

“McDonald's construction is progressing rapidly,” Bridge said. “They are expected to open within the next two months.”

“Taco Bell has just started demolishing the existing building on their purchased parcel,” he said. “We anticipate Taco Bell will open within the next four to five months.”

Bridge said other city projects include the recent addition of a $450,000 rental cabin at Smith Park and the potential introduction of a Frisbee Golf Course at the city park.

“Our downtown area has also experienced substantial improvements, marked by a significant rise in pedestrian activity over the past few years,” he said.

Feedback regarding the new housing developments has been mixed, Bridge said, although the majority of negative comments have come from non-residents.

Tax revenues should increase gradually until all phases of the Monroe Meadows and Reserves at Honey Creek developments are completed, Bridge said.

“We anticipate incremental growth leading up to the full completion of the projects, ideally sooner than the projected 10-year timeline,” he said. “If these developments were completed today, they would generate approximately $1.1 million annually in income tax revenue. As occupancies rise, this figure is expected to increase.”

Some infrastructure improvements will be needed due to the new construction, Bridge said, including the addition of new lanes on State Route 235.

“Traffic studies have been conducted for both developments,” he said. “Additional turn lanes into the Reserves at Honey Creek will be constructed on State Route 235. The entrance to Monroe Meadows has been relocated further north along Addison-New Carlisle Road, to facilitate access for traffic heading towards State Route. 235.”

The city is also in the process of updating its Comprehensive Land Use Plan, Bridge said.

“I'm excited to see how this new plan addresses our growth,” he said.

“A few years ago, the city was recognized as the second healthiest housing market in an article published by the Dayton Business Journal,” Bridge said. “Its geographic location is highly advantageous, just minutes away from I-70, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and the cities of Dayton and Springfield, which offer a range of amenities typically found in larger cities.”

“The city will also be in close proximity to the new Buc-ee's being built just outside its limits in Huber Heights,” he said. “This popular destination is expected to draw additional tourism to our city.”