T-R PHOTO BY SARA JORDAN-HEINTZ The 14-acre housing project is situated in the northern part of Le Grand, on the highest point in the town. Although currently a corn field, the land will soon be transformed into a total of 33 residential lots.

LE GRAND — Pat and Mike Wright of Wrights Jasper Development III, LLC have a passion for seeing their adopted hometown of Le Grand grow in population.

“We added 29 new lots over the last 10-15 years, and now we’re going to add 33 lots on 14 acres of land,” Mike said.

After securing approval this week by the Le Grand City Council and planning and zoning department, the Wrights’ building project will begin next week. The couple has a history of building residential and commercial properties across Iowa: 180 homes, three strip malls and one car wash.

The land, situated in the northern half of the town, connects to the city park and Le Grand Pioneer Heritage Public Library, and is a block away from the East Marshall School District. The lots are currently available for purchase, and people can have the Wrights construct the homes, or bring in their own contractors to complete the work. The couple has been working with Clapsaddle-Garber Associates in Marshalltown for the engineering and land surveying.

“First we’ll survey the property, start the sewer/water and street construction, then split up the lots,” Mike said. “There’s very little ‘dirt work’ to be done because of the grade of the land.”

Mike said residential construction costs are relatively low in Le Grand, compared to that of other neighboring towns.

“Our big thing is that the building fees and sewer tax are cheaper in Le Grand, so building costs are several thousand dollars less right out of the shoot.”

The first dwelling will be finished by early-mid July 2018, with the entire building project estimated to take 3-5 years to complete.

The couple purchased the land in November of 2017 from the Mills family.

“The land had been tied up for 30-40 years. We got a call out of the blue that they were ready to sell it,” Mike explained.

“The school will grow and the town will grow because there wasn’t any land available before,” Pat added.

The Wrights, who have lived in Le Grand off and on for about 16 years, said it’s been a wonderful community in which to raise their three daughters, now grown.

“Le Grand is quiet, friendly, family-oriented and right off the (Highway 30),” Pat said. “And we have a great school that people commute to attend.”

The town has an approximate population of 939 people in 330 households (not counting apartment buildings or trailer parks).

“The city council, zoning and planning department, city clerks and the mayor, plus the adjoining neighbors made this go smoothly,” Mike said. “These lots will be a great place to raise a family, and with them situated on the highest point of Le Grand, the views will be spectacular.”

For more information, the Wrights may be reached at: 641-990-5773.

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Contact Sara Jordan-Heintz at (641) 753-6611 or sjordan@timesrepublican.com