Withee (profile as of mid 2002)
Clark County
Population: 506
Highway 29 expansion completed: 1998
Located off Highway 29 just west of Owen, the Village of Withee provides a variety of unique opportunities with a small-town feel. Withee's Sportsman Club offers trap shooting and bow and arrow targets while local Mennonite stores provide a taste of country life. Withee and Owen cooperatively share their many outdoor facilities.
The Village of Withee had high expectations for the expansion of Highway 29. An interchange with good access to the highway was very important to the community. Withee appreciated the design of the interchange and felt that the four-lane highway was significantly safer and could move vehicles faster than the former two-lane highway.
Withee has one Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) district. Prospect Street, funded through the TIF district, was an additional road added to the industrial park in anticipation of the Highway 29 expansion. At the time of the interview, the industrial park was filled close to capacity.
A Mobil Mart gas station, a car wash, and a bank are the most recent developments in the community. The Mobil Mart recently located on the vacant lot of a business that was destroyed by fire. This location was ideal since it is close to the highway improvement. The development serves both highway travelers and local customers.
Housing has continued to grow at a constant rate. There have been some new housing starts, mainly vacant lots within a designated residential development.
![Photo of the exterior of a new bank and an old brick schoolhouse (located to the left and behind it) in Withee. (2002)]](wis29_image120.jpg)
A new bank (on the right) and an ol brick schoolhouse (located behind it and to the left.) (2002)
The following map illustrates the locations and types of businesses in Withee.
Figure 19 Village of Withee Businesses
Withee is in the beginning stages of community and economic development. Two new commercial developments (a pizza business and a café) are in the process of locating adjacent to the east edge of the industrial park. In conjunction to these developments, commercial development is anticipated to continue along both sides of County Road T near the interchange.
West of the industrial park is an area of farmland that has been purchased in anticipation of development. Its anticipated land use is currently undecided.
The following map illustrates planned development in Withee.
Figure 20 Village of Withee Planned Land Use
[Alt text: Figure 20. Map of Withee illustrating planned land use in relation to state highways and county streets. The map distinguishes between commercial and undetermined use. Development is planned near the Highway 29 interchange. (2002)]
With the increased speed limit on Highway 29 and the new location of the prison in Stanley, there has been an increase of interest in residential development in Withee. It is anticipated that prison workers will want to live in Withee and surrounding communities. However, development is not likely to occur until the prison is open and the demand for housing by the Stanley prison employees is known.
Due to recent business closures, two large, 12,000 square foot and 22,000 square foot buildings have recently become available for redevelopment from the local bank. The improved Highway 29 has made it easier to market these buildings.
There has been a 50-80% increase in property values near the interchange. The 20-acre farm, on which the pizza shop and café are now located, was purchased for $48,000. In May 2002, the same property was valued at $75,000. The parcel of farmland purchased for future development (west of the industrial park) was valued at $300 per acre and recently sold for $900 acre.
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