ELLSWORTH — With a previously presented Crossing Meadows development being withdrawn, Gerrard Corporation weighed interest from the village board to use their 9-acre parcel to expand on its senior housing work in the area.

“It was unfortunate, we had this property sold to another fella who backed out at the very end,” Gerrard said. “We at our company decided we like Ellsworth enough, we’ll just move forward with another senior project.”

While early in the planning phase, the company brought a 32-unit development to the table with two 12-unit, single-story townhomes and four twin homes at the end of the cul-de-sac.

“We’re asking tonight just for, I guess, a warm and fuzzy on would your community support this application,” Paul Gerrard of Gerrard Corporation said.

With Gerrard Corporation putting in a lift station to support development at this site as well as their 2024 approved 54-unit Crossing Meadows development, they want to take advantage of the space.

Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kim Beebe spoke about a recent presentation in the village as part of the Design Ellsworth 2.0 series. The speaker was Ben Winchester, who discussed the future of small towns in the area.

“One of the things that came out of his talk was that we maybe have a housing shortage, but more than likely we have an issue with people in the wrong housing,” Beebe said.

Beebe said there are a lot of people who would like to stay in the community, but they no longer need/want the large homes they raised their families in as they grow older. In turn, the movement out of homes opens up spots for new homeowners seeking to raise a family of their own. She said sites like the one Gerrard presented can serve as a solution.

The presentation was purely informational and to evaluate whether the board was in support of the development. No motion was made, but board members overall said they were interested and would like to continue conversations.

Similar to many other Gerrard developments, it would use natural energy and include reserved spaces for disabled veterans. Through state funding for affordable and senior housing, rent would range from $695-1,650 depending on the tenant’s income. The duplexes would cost about $250-300,000 per side.

Other business

• After a closed session period, the board approved a cell tower land lease renewal with Verizon.
• Approved long-term disability coverage for village employees provided by the village rather than short-term disability coverage. Employees would still have the option to purchase short-term insurance.
• Approved a routine payment for the Grant and Piety Street Project.
• Heard a brief update from the 2024 audit. The auditor is expected to present in some capacity at a future meeting on the results.