Market News & Smart Tips

If you’ve been wondering what’s going up at the corner of SW Wyoming Blvd and CY Avenue, you’re not alone — I’ve been getting that question a lot lately.

I stopped by today to give you the answer:
👉 The new building will be the future home of North Platte Physical Therapy!

They’re relocating just down the street, and their new address will be:
📍 3910 Denis Drive, Casper WY

It’s great to see continued commercial growth in our community, and I’ll keep sharing updates as new projects move forward.

If you ever have questions about new development, commercial real estate, or what’s happening around Natrona County, I’m always here to help keep you informed.
Visit my website anytime at www.casper247.com.

— Steve Freel, Vertical Realty Group, LLC

Every so often, questions come up in our community about how our local government operates and why certain decisions are made the way they are. One question I hear often is:

“Why don’t the citizens get to vote for the Mayor?”

It’s a fair question — and the answer has everything to do with the type of government structure our city operates under. Not every city in the United States uses the same system, and understanding these differences can help all of us better engage in local government and know where our voice truly matters.

🔹 Two Common Forms of Local Government

Across the country, cities typically use one of two main structures:

1. The City Manager Form of Government

2. The Mayor (or Strong Mayor) Form of Government

Both models are widely used. Both are legal and effective. They simply distribute responsibilities differently.

🔹 How the City Manager Form of Government Works

In a City Manager system, the citizens’ role is actually very clear and very powerful:
The public elects the City Council.

From there:

• The City Council selects one of its own members to serve as Mayor and Vice Mayor.

• A professional City Manager— someone hired based on training and experience, not politics — oversees the city’s daily operations.

• The Mayor’s responsibilities are primarily legislative and ceremonial, not administrative.

In other words:

**The Mayor in this system is not the person running the city.

The City Manager is.**

This structure is designed to minimize political influence in day-to-day operations and ensure the city is managed by qualified professionals. That is why, in a City Manager system, citizens do not vote directly for the Mayor — because the Mayor is part of the governing council, not the executive branch.

It’s not “un-American.” It’s simply a different—and very common—form of municipal government.

🔹 How the Mayor (Strong Mayor) System Works

In a Mayor-driven system, things look very different:

• Citizens elect the Mayor directly.

• The Mayor serves as both political leader and the city’s chief administrator.

• The Mayor has executive authority over departments, operations, and staffing.

In this model, the public has a direct vote on who leads the city, which is why people often assume that all cities work this way — but they don’t.

Both systems serve their communities in different ways, depending on local needs and history.

🔹 So Why Does Our City Council Elect the Mayor?

Because our city uses the City Manager form of government, the Mayor is chosen from among the elected Council members. That’s how the structure is designed.

Citizens still maintain full power through:

• Electing Council members

• Speaking at public meetings

• Voting on charter changes when applicable

• Participating in local processes and committees

If a community ever decides it wants a different form of government — such as switching to a Mayor-led system — that would be a community-level decision, typically done through charter review, ordinance changes, or in some cases, a public vote.

🔹 Understanding the System Helps Us Use Our Voice Better

No matter which structure a city uses, the goal is the same:
To create an effective, stable, and responsive local government.

By understanding how the system works, we can:

• Hold the correct officials accountable

• Participate more effectively in local discussions

• Avoid misunderstandings about the roles of Mayor, Council, and City Manager

• Strengthen the relationship between citizens and local leadership

🟦 Final Thoughts — From Your Neighbor, Not Just Your Realtor

I believe an informed community is a strong community. That’s why I share information like this — not as a political statement, but simply to help people understand how our city operates.

If you ever have questions about local issues, real estate, or how decisions affect our neighborhoods, I’m always happy to help.

By Steve Freel, Vertical Realty Group — Keeping You Informed About Your Community

City of Casper • Building Department Summary

📊 October Permitting Snapshot

The City of Casper saw steady construction activity throughout October, reflecting continued investment in both residential and commercial development.

New Single-Family Housing

• 7 permits issued for new single-family homes

• $2,225,181.65 in new residential construction value

• Year-to-date total: 59 new homes

• YTD construction value: $24,021,721.44

Overall October Permit Activity
Across residential and commercial sectors, the Building Division issued:

• 109 Building permits

• 82 Electrical permits

• 57 Mechanical permits

• 68 Plumbing permits

Total construction value for October: $6,363,198.34
Total permit revenue collected: $70,267.18

📅 Year-to-Date Overview (Jan 1 – Oct 31)

• 3,040 total permits issued

• $139,210,030.14 in permitted construction value

• $1,243,321.98 in revenue generated

📆 Fiscal Year-to-Date Overview (Jul 1 – Oct 31)

• 1,306 permits issued

• $42,668,147.99 in construction value

• $373,017.57 in revenue

🔍 October Inspection Activity

The Building Division remained active in the field, completing:

• 167 Building inspections

• 247 Electrical inspections

• 156 Plumbing inspections

• 49 Mechanical inspections

• 1 Plan review

🏗️ Commercial Construction Update

There are currently 19 major commercial projects actively progressing within the City of Casper. These projects continue to support economic growth, expand retail and service offerings, and enhance the city’s overall commercial landscape.

Hello Casper Community,

I’m excited to share a major development update for our east side that many of you have been asking about. After completing the City of Casper’s permitting process, six national retailers are now officially under construction in the Blackmore Marketplace on Newport Street. This expansion is a significant addition to our growing retail corridor and brings more convenience, variety, and name-brand shopping options to our community.

Here’s a quick look at who’s coming:

📍 5 Below – 560 Newport

Affordable and fun products for families, teens, and everyday shoppers.

📍 Sierra Trading Post – 500 Newport

Outdoor gear, footwear, and active lifestyle apparel.

📍 HomeGoods – 520 Newport

Home décor, furnishings, kitchenware, and seasonal household items.

📍 Burlington – 540 Newport

Clothing, footwear, accessories, and home essentials for the whole family.

📍 Maurices – 580 Newport

Women’s fashion, denim, basics, and accessories.

📍 Barnes & Noble – 600 Newport

Books, gifts, educational items, and a community-friendly café environment.

With construction underway, the Blackmore Marketplace is well on its way to becoming a vibrant retail destination for residents and visitors alike. Over the coming months, we should see steady progress as foundations are poured and buildings begin to take shape.

As always, I’ll continue to keep you informed with updates on opening timelines, new additions, and overall community growth.

If you have questions about local development, commercial opportunities, or residential real estate in Casper, I’m always here to help.

Thank you for staying connected, and thank you for trusting me as your source for community and real estate updates.

Warm regards,
Steve Freel
Broker/Owner – Vertical Realty Group
📞 307-259-1276
📧 stevefreel247@gmail.com
🌐 www.casper247.com

Recently, there’s been some rebranding activity among local real estate firms that has caught the attention of both the industry and the public. While every company has the right to define its own image, it’s important to remember that branding alone doesn’t build credibility — actions do.

At Vertical Realty Group, we believe a name should represent the principles behind it: trust, integrity, and professionalism. Our reputation isn’t built through flashy marketing or reinterpretations of words that once carried very different meanings. It’s built through years of honest work, client respect, and consistent results.

In today’s world, where perception can be shaped by spin or even AI-generated narratives, clients deserve the reassurance that their agents — and their brokerage — stand firmly on ethical ground.

At Vertical Realty Group, we remain committed to:

• Representing every client with transparency and expertise

• Conducting our business with respect for all parties involved

• Upholding the highest standards of honesty and accountability

Professionalism isn’t a trend — it’s a responsibility. And we’re proud to keep it that way.

— Steve Freel, Broker/Owner, Vertical Realty Group, LLC