Pike County Officials Offer Update on New Housing Project

There is a new housing development coming to Petersburg, Indiana, aimed at combating limited housing options for young professionals in the community.

Pike County was my home for many years, and it’s where many of my friends and family still call home. Over the last few years, the county has made tremendous strides in terms of infrastructure, recreational activities, and housing. When it comes to the latter, a brand-new development is in the works that will greatly expand housing options for young people wanting to call Pike County their home.

Buffalo Trace Flats Coming to Petersburg

If you've driven through Petersburg via I-69, it's likely you've noticed a blue building out of the corner of your eye. That building is the Elmer Buchta Technology Center, which offers a co-working space for new businesses. The building is equipped with private offices and conference rooms, along with 3D printers, laser cutters, a CNC router, and more. This site will soon be located next to Pike County's newest apartments, dubbed Buffalo Trace Flats.

Buffalo Trace Flats is a $20 million project that will provide several loft-style apartments in one- and two-bedroom configurations. Economic officials have said the development is aimed at attracting young college graduates back home, where they can live, work, and play in a campus-style setting. The development is not subsidized by government (HUD) funding and does not qualify as low-income or Section 8 housing. Rather, costs will be set at market rate.

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When Will Construction Begin on Buffalo Trace Flats?

This housing project couldn't have come at a better time for Pike County. Economic officials performed a housing study recently, which indicated that the county will need 700 multi-family units and over 1,300 single-family homes by 2028. Pike County hasn’t had a new subdivision built in over 35 years, leaving limited housing options for young people in the area. As someone in their mid-20s who just moved back to Indiana, I can tell you that the struggle is real.

According to Ashley P. Willis, Executive Director of the Pike County Economic Development Corporation, construction of Buffalo Trace Flats is estimated to get underway in the spring of 2025. Willis added that this will be a 12-18 month process, which would put the completion time between the summer and fall of 2026. It will certainly be a welcome addition to the community, and I, for one, can't wait to see this exciting development come to fruition.