HASTINGS, Neb. – Two new 3-bed and 2.5-bath affordable housing units are ready to be occupied in downtown Hastings. 

Thursday afternoon, Queen City Development and other prominent local and state figures cut the ribbon on two new affordable housing units at the Garage Flats located at 403 W 3rd St. in the heart of Downtown Hastings.

There are four living units in the two duplexes, but only two units qualify as affordable housing according to state statutes. 

Developers said just last year, the land only held a dilapidated garage with a rarely used parking lot.

Now after remodeling the garage, and building another unit, four brand new housing units are ready to rent.

According to Developer Dave Rippe, one of the units will pay $1,407 in rent per month, which includes utilities. Monthly rates are dependent on household income. 

These modern units are being made affordable by the Nebraska Affordable Housing Trust Fund project, the Rural Workforce Housing Fund project, and the Hastings Community Redevelopment Authority.

Rippe says this property is just the first step in bringing more local affordable housing to the area.

"It's a step in the right direction, it's certainly not going to problem, it's probably don't going to put a big dent in the problem," said Rippe. "Our hope is that it serves as inspiration for others to do more projects, it helps to inspire people to think what they can and what different types of housing can look like."

Rippe says the first tenants are moving in this weekend, and that three of the four units have already been rented. 

"We hope it's a step in the right direction to inspire others to take on affordable housing projects in our community." said Rippe.

Next, Queen City Development will go back to the drawing board to formulate their next plan to bring more community-friendly projects to Hastings.