It started a little more than three years ago when the Ghent Econmic Development Authority formed to develop businesses, as well as tackle a housing project.

Jerry Schaefer, one of Ghent's EDA members, said at first the city was skeptical about the housing project, that the EDA bit off a little more than it could chew.

But as the lots for Bluebird Creek Addition were being dug and houses started going up, attitudes changed, Schaefer said.

Schaefer said 24 lots are part of the addition's first phase and construction of houses has been going well.

"There seems to be a fair amount of people interested in building," Schaefer said. "In terms of lots, selling them, the market seems strong."

The homes are mainly three- and four-bedroom. As the housing project moves forward, local attention will go toward the [nearby] three-acrre city park. Schaefer said a [local] conservation club will be taking care of the fund-raising to create a two-mile bike/walking trail and take on the conservation area around the housing addition.

The total development will span across 90 acres; 47 of those acres are part of the permanent conservation reserve, Schaefer said.

Schaefer said there's already interest in the second phase of Bluebird Court. "That's a positive sign," he said. "We were looking at three to five years (to complete), but now it's two to four years," Schaefer said.

When all the phases are completed, Bluebird Creek Addition will have 63 lots, Schaefer said. Schaefer said three new businesses, along with an existing one that wants to expand, are interested in coming to Ghent.

Story and Photo Credit: Cindy Vortuba, The Marshall Independent.