Heights changing as mobiles give way to duplexes Posted On: Monday, Nov. 16 2009 05:16 AM By Mason W. Canales
Killeen Daily Herald

HARKER HEIGHTS – In recent years, several lots have gone from single-family dwelling zoning or mixed-use-residential zoning districts to two-family dwelling zoning districts in the city, as trailers and manufactured homes have been brushed aside for duplexes.

"In several of the areas, that is happening; (the old mobile homes) can't be replaced with new mobile homes," Reider Properties owner Danya Reider said. "The lots are also typically too small to build a house."

Reider Properties manages a number of properties that have seen the transformation of mobile home properties to duplex properties.

For Reider Properties, this type of development has occurred a lot in the last six to seven years in the areas of Elbert Lane, Maplewood Lane and Rosewood Lane.

Typically what happens when those rezonings occur, someone buys two very small lots, which used to have a manufactured home or a mobile home on each property, City Manager Steve Carpenter said. The owner then combines the properties and builds a duplex on the lots.

About 12 years ago, city officials did a study and determined that 30 percent of the homes in the city were manufactured homes that were only providing for 4 percent of the property tax values, Carpenter said.

Stick-built homes and businesses were paying for the majority of the services the city was providing.

As duplexes are being built in those areas where manufactured homes were built years ago, it is balancing out those two percentages.

Harker Heights just wants quality homes, Carpenter said. "Something that makes for more attractive neighborhoods and keeps the values of properties maintained at a higher level."

In the areas where the duplexes are being constructed, most people see them as improving their neighborhoods, Reider said.

"The key is to make sure you have well-managed rental property," she added.

Another reason for the transition from mobile and manufactured homes is a high demand for duplexes in the rental market in Harker Heights, Reider said.

"We have calls all the time from customers that want to rent and be in the Harker Heights area because it has such a good reputation," Reider said.

The market dictates rental properties development in a lot of areas, Carpenter said.

"That percentage of manufactured housing is just going down," he said.

"Duplexes and the fourplexes have been the preferred rental property for a while," he added.

Contact Mason W. Canales at mcanales@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7554.