Mount Ayr housing needs discussed
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Jodie Geist, Ringgold County Executive Director, and City Administrator Brent Wise address a small crowd of interested home builders, local landlords and residents in hopes of gaining feedback on how to proceed with increasing available housing in Mount Ayr.
Representatives with Ringgold County Development Corporation (RCDC), the City of Mount Ayr, and interested home builders, area residents and landlords met to discuss how to increase available housing in Mount Ayr on Monday, November 18.
City Administrator Brent Wise opened the discussion with an announcement that it was not an official meeting of the city council. Although three council persons were present, Mack Greene, Jessica Murphy, and Matthew Henle, it was noted no city business decisions would be made, as Henle was representing his personal business as a builder.
Jodie Geist, Ringgold County Development Executive Director, then gave an overview of the housing discussions that took place leading up to the present discussion.
An Iowa State University housing assessment was completed for the City of Mount Ayr in 2022, and four work groups were established at that time.
Ringgold County Development then worked with the University of Northern Iowa to create a strategic plan. One of the committees developed involved housing, with two board members on the committee.
Paul Glendenning and Kim Greenland were present at the meeting as representatives of the RCDC housing committee.
Two of the recommendations that came from working with UNI included reconvening a housing committee with community leaders, builders, developers, and financial institutions to create a plan to address housing needs, and inventory potential sites for development.
The committee has been meeting for roughly six months, beginning May 13, and is now seeking to grow the group and obtain feedback on how to best proceed.
“What can we do to help grow that housing stock in Mount Ayr,” Geist asked those in attendance.
The audience was then asked to help answer four questions posted on the walls to assist in creating an incentive based action plan:
- What would be an incentive for you to become involved in housing development or rehab or both?
- What is your timeline?
- What do you see as the most important housing need?
- What makes you want to build or rehab in Mount Ayr?
Wise encouraged everyone to participate in identifying housing needs.
“If we don’t have this conversation, we don’t know what direction to go,” said Wise, “We’re not going to know that without your help.”
Discussion around housing needs included owner-occupied single family properties, rental houses, duplexes, four-plexes and apartment complexes.
While most of the contractors that were present typically build to suit homeowners, Jim Hymbaugh primarily constructs spec homes. Contractors Craig David, Matt Henle, Justin Neas, Lincoln Calvin and Hymbaugh agreed that affordable housing is quickly becoming the biggest hurdle for home buyers, renters, and home builders alike.
The price of building supplies has skyrocketed in recent years, pushing the cost of building a new home above what the majority of residents are able to afford.
The financial risk is also high for builders, who are concerned that newly built homes may sit on the market too long, tying up necessary funds to continue the building process.
All agreed that housing is a crisis, and two big housing needs were identified as discussion continued.
- Young families are finding a lack of available three bedroom, two bath single family homes in good condition around the $150-190K price range.
- On the other end of the spectrum, retirement age residents are seeking handicap friendly single-level houses with an attached garage.
Home builders discussed the financial benefits of rehabbing smaller homes, and working to flip and sell houses that are otherwise sitting vacant as an alternative to tearing them down to build new homes.
“Any housing that gets improved, it doesn’t matter which type of home, is a benefit to us,” stated Wise.
Potential hurdles like small lot sizes, financial backing, keeping costs reasonable, and facilitating a pipeline of opportunities for builders to construct five-six homes at a time were noted.
Building ranch style homes increases the building footprint, which is not always ideal for a typical 66 x 132 foot lot size. A double lot would be preferable for constructing three bedroom, two bath homes if they were ranch style living spaces, and not two-story homes.
Current set back requirements may also hinder future home building on vacant lots.
Next steps for the RCDC housing committee and the City of Mount Ayr include mapping out vacant lots, and available land on the edge of town.
Additionally, the RCDC has applied to become a 501c6. non-profit organization that would allow the group to do projects like this.
Presently, RCDC is a 501.C3, which is a little bit more limited. However, money has been earmarked for a project fund, that would go towards housing or to help get some things started.
The organization is currently waiting on the IRS determination letter.
The City of Mount Ayr has already created an urban renewal area TIFF district, and is in progress of certifying it through the Ringgold County Auditor by December 1.
Additionally, the city has already attained a few homes, and the council is still entertaining options to improve the properties.
One of the options the city is considering includes demolishing vacant homes, turning the lot back into green space, and donating the property to a contractor, RCDC, or another investment group that agrees to develop the property into needed housing.
The next meeting of the City Council is Wednesday, November 20 at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
