City land going up for bid in Lonsdale

In fairness to multiple parties interested in purchasing a parcel of land from the city of Lonsdale, the council has voted to put the parcel up for public bid instead of accepting any purchase agreement at this time.

Over the last month, the council was presented with ideas by two parties interested in purchasing the land located at Outlot A of the Willow Creek Commons 2nd Addition, near Dollar General.

The first individual was Lance Manty, who went before the council and the Lonsdale planning commission in a joint work session on May 12 to discuss his idea to bring rental town homes to the city. During this work session Manty laid out his idea to the council and commissioners, detailing his vision of bringing 10- to 16-units of attached townhomes, consisting of a total of three to four buildings, and rented at market rate.

Each home would be between 1,500 and 1,600 square feet and include two levels, three bedrooms, and a two-stall garage, Manty said. The estimated rental price per unit, he believes, could be around $1,900 to $2,000 per month.

Manty said he and his wife began this vision five years ago when they were living in the metro area and looking for a home in the area so he wouldn’t have to continue commuting to Northfield daily to work as a nurse anesthetist for Northfield Hospital and Clinics.

He said he has done research on the need for housing in the area, including reading the Rice County Housing Reports, which also supports his idea.

“There continues to be very little housing available,” he said. “That need is going to grow even more.”

As part of his plan, Manty said he does not...

To see more on this story pick up the June 9, 2022 print edition of The New Prague Times or the Montgomery Messenger.