Future housing plans identified
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A collaborative Ringgold County Development Corporation (RCDC) and City of Mount Ayr housing meeting was held on January 29. City council representatives Matt Henle, Mack Greene and City Administrator Brent Wise attended along with RCDC members Kim Greenland and Jodie Geist.
Housing Goals Established
The group set collective goals for 2025 along with a yearly timeline, based on what they think can be done this year and next year.
Creating an inventory of potential available sites for development topped their list of goals.
A document that can be provided to possible investors and contractors when discussing future development of infill housing or new housing projects was identified as a need.
The housing committee has set a goal to build one house in 2025 and rehab one house in 2025. They have had a lot of discussion about whether that number should be higher or more aggressive, but ultimately it was decided that getting started was most important.
Iowa Rural Summit
Several representatives from Ringgold County attended the a housing conference on April 9 and the Iowa Rural Summit April 10-11 in Ames to learn more about economic development, housing, workforce, and placemaking across the state.
Kim Greenland, Jodie Geist and Nicole McGinnis attended on behalf of Ringgold County Development Corporation (RCDC).
“It was really a lot of great information, a lot of good connections,” said McGinnis at the RCDC monthly meeting. “I’m excited about just being in that arena.”
“The housing conference last week was very good, very eye-opening,” said Kim Greenland. “One of the pretty positive parts of it was what an unbelievable amount of housing work is going on in communities…just one after another of projects that kind of blow your mind and the money that they’ve had put into them and good things happening at the same time. If we aren’t moving forward, we’re moving behind,” remarked Greenland.
City Administrator Brent Wise and Matt Henle also attended the Iowa Rural Summit, and the housing committee plans to meet next on Wednesday, April 30.
Housing in City of Mount Ayr
The City of Mount Ayr is working through the nuisance abatement process, with a list of at least 14 abandoned or vacant houses identified. Three of those properties will be cleared this year. While some lots are buildable, others are not.
As part of their Urban Renewal Plan developed last spring and approved by council Resolution 2024-854 on July 1, six properties were identified in the Urban Renewal Area.
Taking effect July 1, 2025, the Urban Renewal Plan allows the city to collect taxes and create a special fund to pay the principal and interest on loans, bonds, and other debts to finance projects in the identified area.
Council members approved going out to bid for the demolition or removal of buildings on three lots during their regular meeting last Wednesday, April 16. Their goal is to level the lots and transition them to another entity who is interested in building or establishing a dwelling.
