Several public hearings are scheduled to take place at the next Jefferson City Council meeting.

The hearings will be to sell three city-owned properties to a housing developer, Origin Homes, that would build three single family homes. City Administrator Scott Peterson says these projects would be from the city’s special designation of an Iowa Thriving Community.

“The idea there is that you’re coming with the single family home that are workforce homes and that are affordable more so than the other new construction. In order to qualify as a workforce housing tax credit home, maximum sell price is, I believe it’s $298,000.”  

Peterson notes that one of properties, 506 North Vine Street, has a house on it and once the city takes position, then the $30,000 that it would take to demolish the structure would come from leftover funds from the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program and private donated funds that were given specifically to tear down abandoned or dilapidated homes. 

Peterson points out that anytime a governmental entity is looking to sell its own property, public hearing is required to be held. He says these hearings are specifically for the properties to be sold to Origin Homes.

“Just recapping that the city would propose to sell the lots to Origin. In addition to the sell price then, the city provides an environmental assessment of that, as well as the geo-technical assessment.”

The hearings for 504 and 506 North Vine Street, as well as 600 West Lincoln Way are scheduled for 5:30pm on Tuesday, June 11th. The proposed sell price is $500 per lot.