The former Dana College Campus in Blair will soon be the home of Transformation Hill. The Omaha-Council Bluffs Metropolitan Area Planning Agency, the City of Blair, the Midwest Housing Development Fund and Angels Share Incorporated are working together on several projects.
Five speculative houses, designated as workforce housing, are being built at Transformation Hill. Eriksen Construction is currently framing the houses and they should be complete later this year. Each house is expected to sell for approximately $240,000.
In May of 2018, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development awarded the MAPA Foundation and the City of Blair a $351,000 grant from the Nebraska Rural Workforce Housing Fund. The Nebraska Investment Finance Authority also awarded a $250,000 grant. MAPA is now administering a revolving loan fund of $977.000 to build the new housing.
The Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund also just awarded the MAPA Foundation $450,000 for the Dana Suites Project at 2832 Hansen Drive in Blair. That project involves the renovation of a former dorm into a 12 unit, 2-bedroom apartment complex. The project is estimated to cost $809,000. Angels Share Inc. is working on a program to occupy that space. It would provide both housing and workforce skills for children aging out of foster care.
The City of Blair and Angels Share Inc. are also developing a 30-lot area for future workforce housing. Each of these houses is expected to have an approximate market value of $220,000. Construction on the first house in this area should start later this fall.