The housing addition, located on the east end of the city, has reached the point of being almost half occupied. When it was first platted in 2014, it represented a new approach to expanding the housing market within the Hendricks city limits.

Owners of the block’s first house, two halves of a twin home, and a second house currently under construction have followed through on the opportunity to buy housing lots designed for 21st century residences.

“We’ve had buildable lots around town in the past, but never a new addition with an entire block ready for development,” said Hendricks City Administrator David Blees. “It’s helped to give potential homeowners another option.”

The new lots were platted in an undeveloped area surrounded by other residential blocks and by the Hendricks Community Hospital. Homes to the east, along Chavis Drive, were constructed in the 1970s.

A new similar street and cul-de-sac access was created for the King’s Court lots. It was named Mueller Drive in honor of Dr. Leroy Mueller, a physician who practiced in Hendricks for many years.

“It was chosen as the area with the best potential for new housing,” Blees said. “We were able to work with a convenient location close to the hospital, school and downtown businesses. There’s the advantage of a quiet street that intersects onto one of the main local roads.”

Lot sales are made with the expectation that new owners will begin to build within the following year. The city is flexible, however, if weather conditions or other factors make it necessary to move back the construction timeline.

A total of six more lots remain, with a choice between square parcels and others that have an irregular shape featuring more square footage toward the back.

“When King’s Court was started, we hoped to average one new home per year,” Blees said. “It’s stayed close to that. One each year is good, steady progress that makes a difference in a small town.”

Vince Robinson of the Ivanhoe-based DSI consulting firm has assisted with King’s Court and several other housing initiatives in communities a short distance from Hendricks.

He said the project is one of several examples of how to successfully diversify the housing market in towns of less than 2,000 residents situated more than 20 miles from the nearest larger communities. Others include new housing on the south side of Tyler and in the area of Lake Benton next to West Side Field.

“They’ve been especially good for buyers who are looking for a home that has everything on one level, usually young families or older owners who want to downsize,” Robinson said. “That can be difficult to find just by focusing on existing homes that come up for sale. Some of them find that building on affordable lots is more of a realistic option than they thought.”

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