A home developer is having an open house later this week in Jefferson.

City Administrator Scott Peterson says Origin Homes has built three single-family houses and that the developer has been great to work with.

“The city’s involvement in this is that we had sold them some city-owned lots at a reduced cost. So we worked with them on a workforce housing tax credit application and all these things working together allowed those new homes to be sold for what is considered to be at least workforce housing type affordable.”   

The city of Jefferson was one of the first to be designated in 2023 as a Thriving Community from the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) and Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA). Debi Durham, director of IFA and IEDA, talks about what the Thriving Community program is and how it has helped rural communities like Jefferson achieve more housing.

“What it did is what it intended to do, which is really matching developers with small communities. And you’re seeing like Origin Homes is one that’s going out into all of these communities now because they chase these points. Because it can make a difference between getting an award with us, one or two points. If the community is holding those points the developer has to come to them to get them, right? So, I think it’s been an incredible program.”     

The open house will be held from 3-6pm on Thursday at 504 North Vine Street. According to Origin Homes, each property is 2,100 square feet that ranges from three to four bedrooms with finished basements and detached garages, and each are listed at $294,500.

Peterson adds that one of the homes on North Vine Street has already sold and the third home is available at 600 West Lincoln Way. Peterson invites everyone to attend the open house and visit with representatives from Origin Homes.