WATERTOWN WISC. (EXCERPTS FROM WDTIMES.COM): The Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation (GWCHF) has stepped up its efforts to bring public and private entities together to address the community’s shortage of homes for sale with four projects.
These four major projects that are intended to address a housing shortage — nationally and within Jefferson and Dodge Counties — in ways that will attract and keep the next generation of families and workers in the community. A combination of public, private and public-private partnership projects are on the way.
The Rock River Ridge development will bring 188 new units to Watertown with a construction start scheduled for early 2025. Infrastructure for the new neighborhood is currently underway.
Habitat for Humanity of Waukesha has expanded its reach to include Jefferson County. Over the next year, Habitat will break ground on homes in Fort Atkinson and Watertown, providing opportunities for affordable home ownership. Jefferson County collaborators continue to galvanize resources to support these projects.
GWCHF President and CEO Tina Crave said a 2002 housing study of the Watertown region showed a shortage of 1,875 single family and 1,000 rental units. GWCHF intends to address the gaps in available housing, allowing the people who work in Dodge and Jefferson Counties to afford living here. Nurses, manufacturing professionals, teachers and other middle-class employees can find good jobs in the
area, but several factors have made that difficult.