ORANGE CITY, Iowa | Orange City enjoyed a strong year in residential home construction in 2014.
The following year? Things got even better.
In 2014, permits were approved for 29 residential units within the Sioux County seat, including duplexes, apartment dwelling and singe-family homes.
That number grew to 33 residential units in 2015, conservatively valued at well over $7 million.
Much of the residential boom is taking place along the southern edge of Orange City in what's called the "Puddlejumper 5th Addition" and the "Puddlejumper 6th Addition."
"The name 'Puddlejumper' comes from the 'Puddlejumper Trail' out there," said Mark Gaul, community development director. "And that name comes from the old 'Puddlejumper Rail,' which ran between Alton and Orange City. The tracks are no longer there, but the trail is, and people walk it every day."
People are also reading…
Code Enforcement Officer Ken Meendering noted that four condominiums, one duplex, 15 single-family homes and 12 apartments were permitted for construction in 2015.
The new year began strong, as well, as Meendering's office answered calls regarding available lots, pricing and building rules.
Commercial development in 2015 in Orange City was highlighted by P's Pizza House, an expansion of the old Mr. P's in Le Mars, as the company broke ground on its second location in Orange City with an outlook for an opening date around the Tulip Festival in May. The site is just east of MOC-FV High School on the north side of Highway 10.
Leaders also broke ground in Orange City for the new Highway 10 Plaza last fall, with completion forecast for this spring. The 16,000-square-foot strip mall, valued at $1.5 million, will provide much needed commercial space in Orange City, according to Gaul.
The new mall, like nearly every other commercial facility in town, features a nod to Dutch architecture.
"Anytime a business brings a proposal to remodel or build, a committee reviews the plans and gives suggestions to make sure the owners follows specific features, colors and finishes in a Dutch theme," Gaul says.
"It's neat to watch," Gaul adds, noting how seriously the work of the Dutch Front Committee is taken in Orange City. "This gives us something unique to market, something that sets us apart from other communities."
Gaul's office received that kind of positive distinction during 2015 when an Internet site called "HomeSnacks" named Orange City the "happiest city in Iowa," based on a range of criteria involving education, crime rate, home ownership, commute times, cost of living, sunny days and more.
Sioux Center, located just a few miles away in Sioux County, finished second among Iowa cities, while Sheldon and Le Mars were ninth and 10th.
"HomeSnacks" reported that nearly 80 percent of Orange City's residents own their home, second best among Iowa cities. Nearly everyone works in Orange City, a city where the unemployment rate is just 2.8 percent.
Gaul, who was pleased at the findings of the survey, pointed out that Orange City's population grew 7.6 percent during the latest U.S. Census cycle, outpacing Iowa's 4.1 percent growth rate. Orange City's median age, 29.1 years, also skewed younger than the state average of 38.1.
Median income in Orange City, at $55,000 annually, also topped the Iowa level of $50,000.
In addition to a robust residential home construction market, Gaul noted that the Orange City Area Daycare Center essentially doubled its capacity with the construction of an addition measuring 10,380 square feet.
Additionally, locals watched as The Stadscentrum opened for the first time during the 75th edition of the Orange City Tulip Festival last May. The downtown structure houses the Dutch wooden shoes and the refurbished Dutch organ.
Finally, Gaul was happy to note that it took less than one year for Orange City to find a new suitor for the old Alco store located between Fareway and the new Highway 10 Plaza.
Kopetsky's Ace Hardware will open in the old Alco site at 510 Eighth St. SE this spring. The store will offer an extensive collection of products, ranging from lawn and garden items to small appliances to paint, power tools, bicycles, fitness equipment and more.
The business, which is headquartered in Yankton, South Dakota, will employ 15 to 20 in Orange City.
"Ace Hardware is committed to providing home maintenance solutions, neighborly advice and resources to residents in the Orange City area," Ken Kopetsky said. "We're excited to be a part of the community, and we look forward to making a positive impact for many years to come."
The Kopetsky Ace Hardware store in Yankton, which is owned and operated by Leo, Carol, Gregg, Ken and Steph Kopetsky, was voted a "2011 Coolest Hardware Store on the Planet," by the Ace Hardware Corporation.
"The building on Highway 10 is an important part of our retail mix," said Daryl Beltman, president of the Orange City Development Corporation. "Ace and the Kopetskys bring a proven model of success and we look forward to partnering with them."
Alco, a 113-year-old discount store corporation, announced its closing in November 2014. The firm, based in Texas, filed for bankruptcy and shuttered stores in 23 states.
