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ENLARGE
Construction: Blake Krieg, a carpenter’s apprentice with Ben Moore Construction, cuts a piece of siding while working on a house in the Plum Ridge 2 subdivision in Winston recently. Plum Ridge is just one of the numerous subdivisions under development in Winston.
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Subdivision: Hunter’s Crossing, between Lookingglass Road and Highway 42, is one of the newer subdivisions in Winston.
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While living in Naples, Fla., Al and Dot Marks found their future home on the Internet. The Markses, who are retired, wanted to move to Oregon so they could be closer to their daughter who resides in Cave Junction. They looked at homes in the Eugene, Corvallis and Roseburg area, but found the most affordable option in Winston.
They bought a lot in a new subdivision, Safari Estates, last February and had a house built for them. The couple moved in by April. The homes in Safari Estates, which is located off of Lookingglass Road, sell between $250,000 and $350,000.
"This is going to be quite an area someday," Al Marks said. "Every day someone comes by to look at the places."
Safari Estates owner Mark Buechley and his sons have nearly completed their first building phase of 25 homes and are working on their second. They anticipate building in excess of 300 homes in the next decade.
The Buechleys are among many who have taken an interest in building homes in Winston.
The planning commission approved 231 lots for development in 2005, said John Boyd, senior planner with the Douglas County Planning Department. And there are more than 800 homes that are planned, under construction or being built in the city.
The city's population has already taken a jump from 4,940 to 5,266 between 2004 and 2005, according to Portland State University's population estimates.
Winston -- Douglas County's third-largest city -- is experiencing a housing boom because people can buy a nice home in Winston for a cheaper price, Buechley said.
For example, according to a report from the Douglas County Assessor's Office that analyzes the sales price of houses in various categories, a nicer home with some customized features in the Winston area sold for an average $225,409 in 2005. The same type of house within the Roseburg city limits went for an average of $256,922.
Developers and builders say they are interested in Winston because there's a lot of inexpensive, flat land available for development. In 2005, the average sale of land in the Winston and southwest of Roseburg was $75,500 compared to an average of $148,700 in Roseburg, the RMLS Multiple Listing Services reported.
Roseburg is running out of land to develop in its urban growth boundary, said Ron Northcraft, Douglas County assessor. Much of the available land is on hillsides or hilltops, where it's much more expensive to build.
Most of the people moving into the new subdivisions in Winston are retirees. They come from all over, but the majority are from California.
Buechley believes it's because Winston has a lot to offer. It's only 10 minutes from Roseburg's amenities and about 1 1/2 hours from the Oregon Coast. The city is also in the heart of wine country.
"We're being discovered," Buechley said.
NEW HOUSING
For more than a decade, city officials have prepared for residential growth, said Jim McClellan, president of the Winston Planning Commission.
The city annexed Lookingglass Road and Brockway Road into the city in the early 1990s anticipating future housing development in those areas, McClellan said. By annexing those roads into the city, the residents now have police services, city streets and can connect to the city's sewer system.
Every area will eventually grow, and it's smart to look ahead and plan for it, said City Administrator David Van Dermark.
That possibility of growth in the 1990s is now a reality.
Developers say they have had a lot of interest in their homes.
"We sell them as fast as we can build them," said Bob Siebum, who is the developer for a new subdivision called Hunter's Crossing.
They bought a lot in a new subdivision, Safari Estates, last February and had a house built for them. The couple moved in by April. The homes in Safari Estates, which is located off of Lookingglass Road, sell between $250,000 and $350,000.
"This is going to be quite an area someday," Al Marks said. "Every day someone comes by to look at the places."
Safari Estates owner Mark Buechley and his sons have nearly completed their first building phase of 25 homes and are working on their second. They anticipate building in excess of 300 homes in the next decade.
The Buechleys are among many who have taken an interest in building homes in Winston.
The planning commission approved 231 lots for development in 2005, said John Boyd, senior planner with the Douglas County Planning Department. And there are more than 800 homes that are planned, under construction or being built in the city.
The city's population has already taken a jump from 4,940 to 5,266 between 2004 and 2005, according to Portland State University's population estimates.
Winston -- Douglas County's third-largest city -- is experiencing a housing boom because people can buy a nice home in Winston for a cheaper price, Buechley said.
For example, according to a report from the Douglas County Assessor's Office that analyzes the sales price of houses in various categories, a nicer home with some customized features in the Winston area sold for an average $225,409 in 2005. The same type of house within the Roseburg city limits went for an average of $256,922.
Developers and builders say they are interested in Winston because there's a lot of inexpensive, flat land available for development. In 2005, the average sale of land in the Winston and southwest of Roseburg was $75,500 compared to an average of $148,700 in Roseburg, the RMLS Multiple Listing Services reported.
Roseburg is running out of land to develop in its urban growth boundary, said Ron Northcraft, Douglas County assessor. Much of the available land is on hillsides or hilltops, where it's much more expensive to build.
Most of the people moving into the new subdivisions in Winston are retirees. They come from all over, but the majority are from California.
Buechley believes it's because Winston has a lot to offer. It's only 10 minutes from Roseburg's amenities and about 1 1/2 hours from the Oregon Coast. The city is also in the heart of wine country.
"We're being discovered," Buechley said.
NEW HOUSING
For more than a decade, city officials have prepared for residential growth, said Jim McClellan, president of the Winston Planning Commission.
The city annexed Lookingglass Road and Brockway Road into the city in the early 1990s anticipating future housing development in those areas, McClellan said. By annexing those roads into the city, the residents now have police services, city streets and can connect to the city's sewer system.
Every area will eventually grow, and it's smart to look ahead and plan for it, said City Administrator David Van Dermark.
That possibility of growth in the 1990s is now a reality.
Developers say they have had a lot of interest in their homes.
"We sell them as fast as we can build them," said Bob Siebum, who is the developer for a new subdivision called Hunter's Crossing.
The homes, which are three bedrooms with RV parking, range in price from $224,000 to $265,000. Hunter's Crossing will have 102 homes and 12 are still being built. Siebum typically builds his homes on speculation and sells them afterward.
The Buechleys have found that the resale value of their homes in Safari Estates is already rising. People who've lived in their houses for less than a year make money off of them when they sell, Mark Buechley said.
Bob Prehall, who is the developer for Plum Ridge 1 and 2, is building multi-story homes. He tends to sell the homes before he actually builds them and said he has a lot of people asking about them. His houses range from $185,000 to $220,000. He has built 59 homes in Plum Ridge I and is in the process of constructing 40 homes in Plum Ridge 2.
"I get a tremendous amount of satisfaction putting people into homes they can afford," Prehall said.
RETIREES, YOUNG FAMILIES
Retirees rather than young families are purchasing the majority of the new homes.
Siebum believes that's because Douglas County has a reputation for its senior and medical services.
Marshall and Bernice Craig, who are retired, relocated to Winston in July from Hemet, Calif., because Bernice's mother and sister live in Myrtle Creek.
"It's a lot more reasonable to retire here than to retire in California," Marshall said.
The Craigs say they love their new home in Hunter's Crossing and the Winston community. They enjoy taking drives along the country roads to watch the cattle graze on the hillsides and look for deer, Marshall said.
"It's very relaxing," he said. "It's a different world."
California residents are always in a hurry, so the Craigs welcome the change. Marshall believes many retirees from California move to Oregon for a slower pace of life. Their decision brings money into the local economy to help it grow.
It's nice to have retirees moving into the community, said McClellan, the planning commission president. They have more disposable income than young families. Retirees also have more time to volunteer in the community.
Mark Buechley's son, Owen, said he thinks that once more senior citizens settle in Winston, young families will follow.
The Buechleys have found that the resale value of their homes in Safari Estates is already rising. People who've lived in their houses for less than a year make money off of them when they sell, Mark Buechley said.
Bob Prehall, who is the developer for Plum Ridge 1 and 2, is building multi-story homes. He tends to sell the homes before he actually builds them and said he has a lot of people asking about them. His houses range from $185,000 to $220,000. He has built 59 homes in Plum Ridge I and is in the process of constructing 40 homes in Plum Ridge 2.
"I get a tremendous amount of satisfaction putting people into homes they can afford," Prehall said.
RETIREES, YOUNG FAMILIES
Retirees rather than young families are purchasing the majority of the new homes.
Siebum believes that's because Douglas County has a reputation for its senior and medical services.
Marshall and Bernice Craig, who are retired, relocated to Winston in July from Hemet, Calif., because Bernice's mother and sister live in Myrtle Creek.
"It's a lot more reasonable to retire here than to retire in California," Marshall said.
The Craigs say they love their new home in Hunter's Crossing and the Winston community. They enjoy taking drives along the country roads to watch the cattle graze on the hillsides and look for deer, Marshall said.
"It's very relaxing," he said. "It's a different world."
California residents are always in a hurry, so the Craigs welcome the change. Marshall believes many retirees from California move to Oregon for a slower pace of life. Their decision brings money into the local economy to help it grow.
It's nice to have retirees moving into the community, said McClellan, the planning commission president. They have more disposable income than young families. Retirees also have more time to volunteer in the community.
Mark Buechley's son, Owen, said he thinks that once more senior citizens settle in Winston, young families will follow.
That's because the retirees will create more jobs for working people. For instance, they'll need medical care, bankers and insurance agents. Their children might also decide to follow them, he said.
Mike Schofield, business manager for the Winston-Dillard School District, said school officials are hopeful more young families will choose to settle in the city.
The district, with 1,531 children, has room for growth. It has had a steady enrollment for the past couple school years after a decline in the 2003-04 school year, Schofield said.
Even though the majority of residents appear to be retirees, Schofield said the district is still anticipating a 10 percent increase in students at the elementary schools in the 2006-07 school year.
"You never know who's moving in," Schofield said.
BUSINESS, CITY GROWTH
The style of the local community will eventually change as more people from out of the area choose to settle here, Owen Buechley said.
The retirees are excited about their new community, and they crave more fine dining and the arts, he said. Owen Buechley thinks Roseburg will experience the changes first, but Winston will be next.
"I am sure the shops are coming," he said. "The facelift of (Winston) is coming."
City officials and community leaders expect that as the residential population increases, more businesses will open in downtown Winston. There are currently about 5 empty storefronts in the city, said Joanne Hayes, president of the Winston-Dillard Chamber of Commerce. She believes businesses will open in those buildings and thrive because there will be more customers.
At some point, the new residents are going to want Winston to be the place where they do business, Siebum said. They're not going to want to drive to Roseburg for all their shopping.
City officials are working to improve the downtown area, said Dick Hayes, a city councilor. The city received a $38,000 grant from the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department in 2005 to conduct a downtown development study. The city hired the Oregon Downtown Development Association to do the study, resulting in several suggestions.
Mike Schofield, business manager for the Winston-Dillard School District, said school officials are hopeful more young families will choose to settle in the city.
The district, with 1,531 children, has room for growth. It has had a steady enrollment for the past couple school years after a decline in the 2003-04 school year, Schofield said.
Even though the majority of residents appear to be retirees, Schofield said the district is still anticipating a 10 percent increase in students at the elementary schools in the 2006-07 school year.
"You never know who's moving in," Schofield said.
BUSINESS, CITY GROWTH
The style of the local community will eventually change as more people from out of the area choose to settle here, Owen Buechley said.
The retirees are excited about their new community, and they crave more fine dining and the arts, he said. Owen Buechley thinks Roseburg will experience the changes first, but Winston will be next.
"I am sure the shops are coming," he said. "The facelift of (Winston) is coming."
City officials and community leaders expect that as the residential population increases, more businesses will open in downtown Winston. There are currently about 5 empty storefronts in the city, said Joanne Hayes, president of the Winston-Dillard Chamber of Commerce. She believes businesses will open in those buildings and thrive because there will be more customers.
At some point, the new residents are going to want Winston to be the place where they do business, Siebum said. They're not going to want to drive to Roseburg for all their shopping.
City officials are working to improve the downtown area, said Dick Hayes, a city councilor. The city received a $38,000 grant from the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department in 2005 to conduct a downtown development study. The city hired the Oregon Downtown Development Association to do the study, resulting in several suggestions.
For instance, the association suggested the city encourage businesses to build closer to the road so the parking lot is not the first thing they see, Van Dermark said. The study proposed they put in trees and plants along the sidewalks and add medians in the middle of the streets.
"It's to be more friendly looking and attractive," Van Dermark said.
The Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians recently gave the city a $10,000 grant for economic development. The city has used the grant to hire a consultant to help them start an urban renewal district, which is a program authorized by the state to help communities improve blighted areas. The consultant will visit sometime in the next couple months.
The city would also like to draw traffic from Wildlife Safari through town because many people visit the Safari and don't even know Winston exists. That will create more volume for the businesses in town.
Community leaders are already in the process of building a new medical facility and community center. Construction is expected to begin on the community center in May and the building should be complete by spring 2007. A medical facility is planned for Winston in the next couple years. The Winston-Dillard Fire Department is spearheading the effort.
"We'd like to become a better bedroom community," Hayes said.
As the subdivisions are put in, more roads will be created so it's easier to get around town, McClellan said. The new residents pay for the development of roads indirectly. The city is also prepared to handle the extra service demands for public works and the police department, Van Dermark said.
The city's sewer and the Winston-Dillard Water District treatment plants will be able to handle the growth. The sewer treatment plant, which is shared with Green, is at 62 percent capacity now and when it reaches 85 percent, the city will begin to plan for expansion, Van Dermark said. The water treatment plant shouldn't need upgraded for another five years, said Bob Young, the manager.
Community leaders believe it's important Winston doesn't grow too rapidly, Van Dermark said. He personally likes how employees at the local businesses know his children's names. He believes other residents feel the same way.
"We don't want to lose our small town charm," Van Dermark said.
* You can reach reporter Danielle Gillespie at 957-4202 or by e-mail at dgillespie@newsreview.info.
"It's to be more friendly looking and attractive," Van Dermark said.
The Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians recently gave the city a $10,000 grant for economic development. The city has used the grant to hire a consultant to help them start an urban renewal district, which is a program authorized by the state to help communities improve blighted areas. The consultant will visit sometime in the next couple months.
The city would also like to draw traffic from Wildlife Safari through town because many people visit the Safari and don't even know Winston exists. That will create more volume for the businesses in town.
Community leaders are already in the process of building a new medical facility and community center. Construction is expected to begin on the community center in May and the building should be complete by spring 2007. A medical facility is planned for Winston in the next couple years. The Winston-Dillard Fire Department is spearheading the effort.
"We'd like to become a better bedroom community," Hayes said.
As the subdivisions are put in, more roads will be created so it's easier to get around town, McClellan said. The new residents pay for the development of roads indirectly. The city is also prepared to handle the extra service demands for public works and the police department, Van Dermark said.
The city's sewer and the Winston-Dillard Water District treatment plants will be able to handle the growth. The sewer treatment plant, which is shared with Green, is at 62 percent capacity now and when it reaches 85 percent, the city will begin to plan for expansion, Van Dermark said. The water treatment plant shouldn't need upgraded for another five years, said Bob Young, the manager.
Community leaders believe it's important Winston doesn't grow too rapidly, Van Dermark said. He personally likes how employees at the local businesses know his children's names. He believes other residents feel the same way.
"We don't want to lose our small town charm," Van Dermark said.
* You can reach reporter Danielle Gillespie at 957-4202 or by e-mail at dgillespie@newsreview.info.
