LAKEPORT — Three new duplexes on Fifteenth and High streets will soon be joined by a fourth. Owner John Kvasnicka said it will be finished by August, despite the sign out front that says, “coming soon in Sept.”
Workers brought in piping for sewage and prepared to lay the foundation for the fourth building Thursday morning. Kvasnicka said he and business partner Ken Civillo started building the duplexes in June 2007, and now all but one of the units is rented. Kvasnicka said he combined eight parcels, each 25 feet wide.
“The city said this is one of the cleanest projects on the record in a while ? there have been no complaints from neighbors about dirt, dust or noise,” Kvasnicka said.
Walls that are more than a foot thick and soundproofing between the units are among several niceties the homes offer. Kvasnicka said the homes will sell for $495,000, or rent for $1,200 per month. He and business partner Ken Civillo started building the duplexes in June 2007, and now all but one of the units is rented.
The 1,428 square foot units were listed with Diversified Lending and Real Estate in October 2007, according to loan specialist and realtor Chris Hale.
“We wanted to get the feeling of a house, not a duplex,” Kvasnicka said.
Each of the two-story duplexes has a different style of roof, different color paint and a different design stamped into the driveway cement. Inside, Kvasnicka said the three-bedroom units are identical. A tour of the vacant unit showed open spaces with all the amenities ? dishwasher, stacking washer and dryer, central air, fenced back yard and a balcony off of one of the upstairs bedrooms.
“The city promised to widen the road, and they haven”t done it,” Kvasnicka said, pointing to a grass-covered slope across the 25-foot wide road from his duplexes. He said the city was going to widen the road to 40 feet, but did not because of a lack of funds.
Lakeport Community Development Director Mark Brannigan said the city is not responsible for widening the road. He said the county owns the land across the street, and would be responsible for installing curb, gutter and sidewalk, and for widening the road when the land is developed.
Brannigan said the city received Kvasnicka”s application in January 20007. The eight parcels were combined into four parcels, totaling just more than half an acre. The property”s zoning was changed from commercial to medium-density residential, he said.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
