A new housing developer recently purchased three properties in Jefferson.

The City Council approved selling 504 and 506 North Vine Street, as well as 600 West Lincoln Way for $500 each to Origin Homes. City Administrator Scott Peterson says this is another great opportunity to increase the housing stock in town.

“What it really does is gets them here to town. Origin is the rural development arm of Hubble Realty, so you know that they do have a strong track record of success and a strong capacity to come do these developments, really anywhere in the state. So (I’m) really, really excited about that.”  

Peterson notes that the plans from Origin Homes is to build three single family homes that are 1,400 square feet, three bedrooms, with a basement and two vehicle attached garage. He points out there are two caveats before Origin can start building the homes and the main contingency is receiving workforce housing tax credits, but he feels better about the developer getting that because of the city’s special designation from Iowa Economic Development Authority.

“Another one of those benefits about Jefferson being named a Thriving Community. The applicants for these tax credits get bonus points on their applications then because we are a Thriving Community. Looking forward to positive things on that, I think we put forth a really nice looking project and you get these bonus points to boot, you feel optimistic about it.”    

Peterson states the other issue is through a legal action on 600 West Lincoln Way with code section 657A as a consensual acquisition from the homeowner and their family, which he believes will be finished soon. He adds if both contingencies are met, Origin Homes has outlined that it will take their crews four to six months to build all three homes.