WEDNESDAY, DEC. 2, 2020 | IN THIS ISSUE
• Carson Farms hits potential snag over sprawl concerns
• Five-year regional home appreciation up double digits
• Anamosa awarded $500K CDBG to revitalize downtown
• You are where you work: Show us in CBJ Workspaces
• North Liberty launches Neighborhood Ambassadors
• Corridor events, KCRG-TV9 headlines and First Alert Forecast
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Carson Farms hits potential snag over sprawl concerns |
Iowa City’s City Council hit the pause button Tuesday on a massive 196-acre residential development on the city’s west side that some members worry could encourage sprawl and tax city services.
The council voted to defer action on the project known as Carson Farms until it can meet with the city’s planning and zoning commission to hash out concerns it would put pressure on schools, public safety, transit and other infrastructure while promoting “unwalkable urban sprawl.”
Carson Farms developers are seeking annexation and interim rezoning of a large parcel of farmland located west of Highway 218 and south of Rohret Road to make way for a future development including homes and neighborhood retail. The property – currently part of unincorporated Johnson County – “is probably the last growth area there is for the foreseeable future” on the city’s west side, according to John Yapp of Allen Homes, noting the project had been in the works for several years with the understanding the city had previously designated the land as part of a future growth area and planned to extend sewer to the area in 2023.
City staff recommended approval of the annexation and rezoning to Interim Development Single Family, adding that it would fill the need for additional housing to accommodate a growing population, was located in an area already designated for future growth and gave the city control over the shape of that growth given that the project would require additional rezoning before construction could begin. But the proposal failed to get a unanimous vote from the planning and zoning commission last month and at least three council members indicated they also had hesitations.
Council member John Thomas said that though he was not categorically opposed to the development, he would like to see more financial analysis to ensure it would not impose an undue financial burden on the city.
“There's compelling evidence that development of conventional subdivisions on the periphery of a city may, in the long term, actually be a financial drain on the city's finance, because of the cost of maintaining the infrastructure versus the taxable value of the property,” he said.
Council member Pauline Taylor was blunter, calling it the definition of “unwalkable urban sprawl” that would burden fire services, schools and transit. Though Allen Homes has committed to making 10% of the homes affordable, Ms. Taylor questioned how affordable neighborhoods that require residents to drive everywhere can be.
City manager Geoff Fruin pointed out no development can occur prior to 2023 when sewer is extended, giving the city time and leverage to plan for orderly future growth.
“If we do that all correctly, you do create a walkable neighborhood that has public services that has all those things that you're talking about,” he said. “My fear is that if you're not willing to move forward with an annexation at this time, it's probably going to bring some of those things to a halt.”
The council will revisit the issue at their Dec. 15 meeting.
In other development-related business, the council voted unanimously, on a first reading, to approve a comprehensive plan amendment and rezoning for Riverfront West, a large mixed-use project at the corner of Myrtle Avenue and Riverside Drive that could include two multi-family residential buildings, a hotel, townhouse-style housing, retail and a building intended for senior living.
"I like the look of this," said council member Susan Mims about proposed improvements to the site some on the council said had been a longtime eyesore. "This is an ambitious plan."
IMAGE: The Carson Farms development would encompass nearly 200 acres west of Highway 218 and south of Rohret Road. CREDIT CITY OF IOWA CITY
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Five-year regional home appreciations up double digits |
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Five-year home appreciation across the region was up between 13.62% and 19.86%, according to a new analysis of federal data, with all of regional Metropolitan Statistical Areas experiencing positive gains.
According to a report from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), for the third quarter of 2020 home prices have seen a one-year boost of 4.1% in Dubuque; 1.53% in Iowa City; 3.05% in Cedar Rapids; and 2.07% in the Quad Cities. For comparison, Des Moines had a one-year increase of 2.19% and Chicago saw a 2.23% rise in price.
The analysis, provided by Ruhl & Ruhl Realtors, notes there is variation based on price range and location of properties, with more affordable properties appreciating more and expensive properties appreciating less or not at all.
On a national level, “house prices recorded their strongest quarterly gain in the history of the FHFA HPI purchase-only series in the third quarter of 2020," said Dr. Lynn Fisher, deputy director of the Division of Research and Statistics at FHFA. “Monthly data indicate that prices continued to accelerate during the quarter…, as demand continues to outpace the supply of homes available for sale."
The national report found house prices have risen for 37 consecutive quarters, or since September 2011. While prices rose in all 50 states and the District of Columbia between the third quarters of 2019 and 2020, not all states fared equally. Idaho led the nation with 14.4% appreciation, followed by Arizona, Washington, Utah and Tennessee. Iowa was among the five states showing the lowest annual appreciation. It came in second-lowest nationally behind North Dakota, with 4% appreciation.
The full report is available here.
IMAGE: One and five year home appreciation in the region and nationally. CREDIT FHFA
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Anamosa awarded $500K CDBG to revitalize downtown |
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The city of Anamosa has been awarded a Community Development Block Grant of up to $500,000 for a downtown revitalization project, the East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG) announced last week.
The funds will address blighting features with façade improvements on 10 buildings in Anamosa's Main Street Historic District. Project activities will include revitalizing store entrances, brickwork, painting, and replacing and rehabilitating windows.
The project is estimated to cost $1.049 million, with a $250,000 in match from the city through Tax Increment Financing and the remainder coming from the building owners.
“I am pleased to inform you the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) has awarded the City of Anamosa a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) in an amount not to exceed $500,000,” IEDA Director Debi Durham said in a letter addressed to Mayor Rod Smith.
Anamosa was one of five cities to receive funding to revitalize their downtown, along with Clinton, Grinnell, Oskaloosa and Sigourney. ECICOG will administer the grant.
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You are where you work: Show us in CBJ Workspaces |
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It's no secret that where you work impacts how you work. Your physical environment affects how you feel, think and behave in relation to your job, and can help build a culture of engagement.
We want to see the places and spaces that make your businesses tick in the CBJ's nationally award-winning feature, Workspaces. Workspaces spotlights unique and stylish places to work in the Corridor, and explores how they are helping employees navigate their workdays and while encouraging client and customer loyalty.
Show us your space by sending in a submission. Projects should be recently completed (within the past three years) and located within the Corridor's seven-county region. Everything from offices and clinics to warehouses and retail shops or restaurants are eligible - we want to see the wide variety of places where you work and the spaces that make it possible.
Submissions will need to include high-resolution photos of your interior, a short write-up describing the space and information from interior designers and/or business leaders working on the project. Full details are available here. Completed submissions and questions can be sent to Katharine Carlon at katharine@corridorbusiness.com.
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North Liberty launches Neighborhood Ambassadors |
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The 41 residents set to join North Liberty's new Neighborhood Ambassador program will be key players in the city’s Great Neighborhoods Initiative.
The on-the-ground local leaders were chosen to advance the quality of life for their neighbors. Their duties – which officially begin in January 2021 – include partnering with the city to help close the information gap between the city and residents, building community through group activities and projects, and connecting neighbors to each other and to community resources.
Ambassadors were selected from applications submitted in September and October. The Communications Advisory Commission and city communications staff found the selected ambassadors to be "responsive and community minded," value diversity and information equity and share the desire to make North Liberty residents feel welcome.
City officials noted there were more qualified applicants than spots available, as the number of ambassadors in each neighborhood is relative to the number of households in each neighborhood, with the goal to achieve balanced resident engagement across the city.
More information about how residents can connect with their ambassadors will be available in January. To learn more about the program or to apply to be an ambassador, visit the city's Great Neighborhoods website. |
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Short Term Event Planner
Dec. 3
Wake Up Marion!, by Marion Chamber of Commerce, 8 a.m., online. Get to know host Juice Plus and enjoy conversations with other chamber members. Free. To register, visit bit.ly/35Lh71z.
Post-Election Tax and Economic Update, by CLA, 11 a.m., online. Discuss tax and economic implications as a result of the election. Free. To register, visit bit.ly/2Uvvp09.
Shaking the Money Tree, by SCORE of East Central Iowa, 11 a.m., online. Explore resources for your business and learn how to take advantage of funding opportunities. Free. To register, visit bit.ly/34XmMRZ.
Dec. 8
Cybersecurity Symposium, by Corridor Business Journal, 8-10 a.m., online. Industry experts will discuss the current threat landscape, incident response, and tools and tactics to mitigate risks for your company and customers. Keynote by Kenneth Schmutz, supervisory special agent, FBI Omaha, Cyber Task Force. Free. For more information or to register, visit corridorbusiness.com/events/ or contact Ashley Moore at ashley@corridorbusiness.com.
Corridor Corporate Games Informational Webinar, by Corridor Coroprate Games, 10 a.m., online. This session is open to companies interested in learning more about the Corporate Games, a company based competition held June 1-July 31. Free. For more information, visit bit.ly/3eRQB9C.
Loan Modifications, by CLA, 1 p.m., online. Discuss the impact of loan modifications, including multiple modifications to a financial institution’s credit risk ratings. Free. To register, visit bit.ly/2UG8AqD.
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These news items are provided by KCRG-TV9
Democrat Rita Hart announced she will file a challenge to her 6-vote defeat to Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks in Iowa’s Second Congressional District. The Secretary of State certified the result this week after a district-wide recount found Miller-Meeks ahead by 6-votes. Hart’s campaign is claiming legally cast ballots were not considered in that recount process, citing an Iowa law barring votes not counted in the initial canvass from being included in a recount. The announcement suggested the 6-day time limit to conduct the recount in 24 counties did not allow enough time to count the volume of ballots. “More Iowans’ votes were counted after the state recount process, but time constraints and a lack of standard rules prevented all votes from being counted,” the campaign announcement stated. “The Federal Contested Elections Act petition will ensure that more Iowans’ votes are counted.” Read the full story here.
The city of Cedar Rapids is still working on its permanent flood control system with several projects set to wrap up next year. A few weeks ago, construction on the 16th Avenue rolling floodgate was finished on the east side of the Cedar River. The floodgate on 16th Avenue is the first rolling gate of the city’s permanent flood control system to be finished. One nearby restaurant says they’re relieved to finally have walls up between them and the river. Tornado’s Grub and Pub is in downtown Cedar Rapids. With its low-lying location, Tornado’s took on major damage in the flood of 2008 and, also in 2016, when it was outside of the HESCO barriers used to protect the rest of NewBo. General Manager Thomas Slaughter said the finished gate brings a welcome sense of security. "We had almost 13 feet of water in ’08, so we know that flooding is very real, and to see that wall and levee complete and be on the right side of it is a good feeling,” Slaughter said. Read the full story here.
These news items are provided by KCRG-TV9
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Your KCRG-TV9 First Alert Forecast |
High pressure keeps us quiet. In fact, we remain quiet for the foreseeable future. The only difference will be clouds that move in about out of the sky. This along with the wind direction could bring us highs near to slightly above normal for early December. If you’re looking for snow we have to wait as the next nine days look dry. |
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