IC Council approves Student Built House, Monument Hills plans

The Housing Fellowship will receive $75,400 in Iowa City grant funds and the land at 724 Ronalds Street to build a Student Built House affordable rental unit. Approval of the plan marks the return of a program shuttered in 2010 where Iowa City Community School District (ICCSD) students receive construction training. The Home Builders Association Vocational Training Council (VTC) will manage construction needs. The city grant funds to acquire the property will come out of the Affordable Housing Opportunity Fund. At a Historic Preservation Commission July 14, The Housing Fellowship (THF) Executive Director Simon Andrew said the plan is to build one 3-5 bedroom home by the 2023-24 school year, but noted there could be enough space to split the lot into two. THF will be obligated to rent the home to households under 60% of the area median income. According to Neighborhood & Development Services Director Tracy Hightshoe, there are roughly 4,000 trade job vacancies in Iowa, with that number expected to increase by at least 7% by 2030. "It's a great project," said Councilor Janice Weiner during discussion. "Affordable housing, having the community see the kids get involved, getting a pathway into the trades which is so desperately needed – there's a whole variety of positives." Now the Housing Fellowship will hold a Good Neighbor Meeting to discuss their future plans with the land. They will need to submit all plans to the Historic Preservation Commission since the lot resides in the Brown Street Historic District.

Monument Hills rezoning passes

City council waived second consideration and passed the Monument Hills ordinance rezoning 64.37 acres north of Rochester Avenue and west of N. Scott Boulevard for development of a senior housing cooperative community. The development will include 64 single-family residential units, 3 duplexes and 29 multi-family residential units. It is a slightly modified plan compared to the original proposal brought forward at a Good Neighbor Meeting calling for 70 single-family lots. The easternmost section of the projected, titled The Borough, will be ran by Vintage Cooperatives by Ewing Properties. This will house an independent living community for people aged 55 and older.

HOME-ARP funds allocation

Council unanimously approved the Iowa City Housing and Community Development Commission's recommendations to allocate more than $1.5 million in funds for four nonprofits. The council agreed to allocate $517,742 to Shelter House Iowa City, $500,000 to the Domestic Violence Intervention Program (DVIP), $157,500 to Iowa Legal Aid and $45,000 for United Action for Youth (UAY). Just over $300,000 of available funds will remain in reserves, said Erika Kubly, neighborhood services coordinator, at the meeting.

Forest View relocation update

At the Aug. 16 work session, City Manager Geoff Fruin said the Forest View Relocation program has been "fully authorized" and that "almost all" residents have received their first check, with some residents already receiving both checks. City council agreed April 19 to give $15,750 in relocation assistance to residents living in Forest View Mobile Home Court from September 2019 to present day. Residents are expected to leave the soon-to-be vacant park by Dec. 9. By that time, the city hopes all residents will have received both checks. The Center for Worker Justice is providing relocation assistance to residents looking for affordable housing options in the city. Residents were under the assumption in 2019, they would be given first consideration for replacement manufactured housing after a $200 million project by Blackbird Investments and North Dubuque LLC approved a rezoning for 73 acres, but the plan was delayed and abandoned by the developers, leaving residents stuck and with few options.