The Petersburg Borough Assembly voted unanimously last week to sell two borough-owned parcels to local developer Dave Ohmer for $61,800. Ohmer plans to build a duplex on each property, which are on Haugen Drive near the hospital WERC building.
Ohmer has not signed the deeds yet, but he told KFSK he was happy the contract specifically outlined that the property would be used to build housing rentals.
“I hope this is a bit of a template for them to do this with a lot more people around town, and try to get lots into private hands,” Ohmer said. “We need more housing.”
Housing is tight in Petersburg, and in Southeast Alaska in general. A 2023 survey found Petersburg will need to add more than 300 housing units over the next decade.
“There are people in every walk of life needing housing,” Ohmer said. “Retired people down to young people that can’t afford to buy a house right now and want to stay in Petersburg and work.”
Ohmer acknowledged that there were some concerns about building homes on the properties. Last year, some community members testified about safety and aesthetics concerns.
“We’ll try to do anything we can to fit in nicely into the neighborhood and not create any problems for anybody,” he said.
Ohmer said the properties will require some utility improvements, and he plans to install water and sewer next spring.
Ohmer originally applied to buy the properties last July. The Assembly initially rejected his application in a narrow 2-3 vote but reversed its decision in October. Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht negotiated the terms of the sale.
At the April 13 meeting, Assembly member Jeff Meucci moved to pass the resolution to sell the properties, seconded by James Valentine. The resolution passed in a 6-0 vote.
