A housing boom is coming to Sidney. The Sidney Expansion Project was unveiled Monday, a housing development with the potential for 800 new homes on nearly 500 acres on the east side of the city, near the Sidney Soccer fields and Deer Run Park.

The Project’s website describes it as “a neighborhood planning effort driven by the residents of the community to design an extension of Sidney to the east…aimed at addressing the needs of the community to support future growth”

The vision includes a variety of housing types for all life stages, incomes and preferences with opportunities to include a school, commercial space, parks, trails, sports fields, and other community amenities.

The land is owned by Sidney Regional Medical Center…which earlier this year announced plans to build a new hospital in the area…and by Sidney-based outdoor outfitting giant Cabela’s. Expansion Project leaders hope to see construction start next summer.

Cabela’s CEO Tommy Milner says the project represents the company’s commitment to Sidney as its home base and the recognition that more housing is one of the biggest needs of the community. Hospital CEO Jason Petik says the area is “the natural direction for the city to expand,” especially with the new hospital there.

Backers are actively seeking public input, suggestions, and feedback for the project, starting with community work sessions in two weeks on December 5th and 6th at the Sidney Community Center.

A planning firm will conduct a market study to make sure the development plans are feasible and satisfy the specific desires of the community. That will be followed by a final master plan that could be ready as soon as March. ,

The Sidney Expansion Project already has its own website to keep the public up-to-date on progress. It’s found at www.sidneyexpansion.com.