By Luke Smithwick
Turnagain Times Correspondent
Real estate developments on municipal lands in the Crow Creek and IndianValley are moving right along. Comprising 60 percent of Heritage Land Bank (HLB) property, the Crow Creek Valley is a top priority on the HLB list. Surveying has been completed in the 1,000 acre parcel. U.S. Republican Senator and Girdwood resident Ted Stevens has allocated federal money to improve the Crow Creek Road. In response to HLB initiative, the Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility has proposed to run city water along the road. The Boutet Company is currently working on the design of the water and wastewater system.
“The first pod of residential homes along Crow Creek is now in the design phase,” said HLB Senior Land Management Officer Art Eash. These homes will parallel the Iditarod Trail near Glacier Creek. HLB is currently working with the U.S. Forest Service to implement a plan that will possibly shift the Iditarod trail slightly in order to maintain a buffer between homes and the trail. Other obstacles that exist in the design and development phase include wetlands, bedrock, and topography.
There will be a total of three phases of development over the course of the next five years. The first pod is planned to be “tracted” and bid upon for development in 2007. Of course, predicting when all this will occur is at the very least a challenging undertaking. The success of land development often depends upon market conditions, financing, creative marketing, good ideas, politics, and luck.
Up the Seward highway, surveying has been completed for residential developments on 105 acres of HLB land in Indian Valley located North and West of the Bible Valley Chalet. The next step in this plan is to have development options submitted by a consultant. The Heritage Land Back will select the best option, which will go up for public review.
“A consultant will propose alternatives for development, possibly in conjunction with eight small lots located adjacent to the 105 acres to the west,” said Eash.
Avalanche studies were conducted by Doug Fesler on the Indian Valley HLB land. Iditarod Trail and State Park officials were also contacted regarding amenities that would be important to protect or feature. The area may offer an alternative system for sewage treatment, other than conventional on-site septic systems.
“Terrain and the character of the neighborhood will limit the number of homes developed in the area,” Eash said.
A timeline for the completion of the Indian Valley development hasn’t been set yet.
“HLB wants to take its time developing the property and do it right,” said Eash.
Past accomplishments of the HLB locally include the Moose Meadow Nordic ski area in Girdwood, facilitating the construction of the Alyeska Prince Hotel, and the sale of land for the new Girdwood Post office. The HLB will present the tentative design of the Crow Creek valley plan on March 19 at the Girdwood Board of Supervisors meeting at 6 p.m. This presentation is open to the public and all are encouraged to attend and voice their opinion. For more information on the Heritage Land Bank’s plans visit their website at http://www.muni.org/hlb.