Work is finally beginning on Pickering Hills, a new 20-home subdivision on Newport Way Northwest. The project was first approved in 2005, but when the recession hit, the developer lost the property. Over the years it has gone through a series of owners.

In April, Summit Homes of Washington purchased the tract, and now dirt is starting to move.

So, if it seemed like it sprung up out of nowhere, it’s because the project went dead for so many years.

“At the construction phase we usually don’t contact neighbors, but in this case we did because of the lag in time,” said Doug Schlepp, project coordinator for the city. “Permits were previously approved before the recession, and it does abut existing development.”

There had been some complaints about night work, keeping the neighbors up, but Schlepp said the only night work was for the sewer. Now work is back to permitted construction hours of 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“We had to make the sewer connection at Newport and 12th in the middle of the night so as not to impact traffic,” said Brian White with Summit Homes.

The company is new to building in Issaquah. Based in Tukwila, most of its work has been to the south. Schlepp said the project includes finishing the sidewalk between 12th Avenue Northwest and Maple Street Northwest, making the walk to shop at Issaquah Commons much safer.

White said building should begin in October or November with two model homes. All of the homes will have large lots, of 10,000 to 12,000 square-feet, and some could have views of Lake Sammamish.

White said all of the homes with be four to five bedrooms with triple garages, and high end finishes and amenities. Prices will start in the $900,000 range.