Block apartment project gets a tweak

FORT MADISON – A senior housing project that was unveiled last week at a city commission meeting got an early nod from the Fort Madison City Council Tuesday night.
The James Block Apartments, which was originally planned as a part of development with the downtown building with the same name, was given a first reading on an ordinance change that would rezone the 1300 block of Avenues E and F from R5 two-family dwellings to R6 multiple-family dwellings to allow for the development in the neighborhood.
The council voted 6-0 to approve the ordinance change after hearing some updates on the property, which used to belong to the Fort Madison Community School District.
At issue were some concerns from neighbors about the former Lincoln Elementary School playground where nefarious activity had been observed by neighbors.
Wes Holtkamp, representing Barker Financial out of Iowa City who’s developing the project, told the council the playground had been removed from the plans in the past week and a resident dog park is now planned where the playground is.
City Building Director Doug Krogmeier said zoning is looking at rezoning and a special use permit. He said more than 12 units per property needs to go to the Board of Adjustment for review, as well.
“There were a lot of comments exclusively about the playground, the after-hours use, and the noise and stuff like that. Barker gave us a proposal leaving the playground and the basketball court and everything in place,” he said.
He said city staff applauded the effort to leave the playground for the community, but after hearing all the concerns, Barker’s turned in another proposed plan that included the dog park.
“Staff is looking at this development as a pretty good scenario. There will be a row of townhouses on Avenue F and they are removing some parking on F because there’s no need except for maybe visitors,” Krogmeier said.
The parking spots on Avenue E will remain because there are entryways on that street.
The project is being done with Southeast Iowa Housing Trust, who is a co-developer.
Holtkamp said the dog park will be fenced in for tenants' use.
“This actually gives us some more points for our grant, so it works out in our favor,” he said.
The project will involve some state affordable housing tax credits because 100% of the tenants will be 55 or over and will have a maximum income for one person at approximately $36,500, or about $17.50/hour.
The area will include seating and shade trees and then an open grass area.
The former school building will have 21 units – all one-bedroom. The townhomes on Avenue F will be two-bedroom units and there will be 54 parking spots, mostly between the former school and townhouses.
City Manager Laura Liegois said the public input during the well-attended planning and zoning commission was very valuable.
She said conversations the following day advised that the playground be taken off and this project will allow everything to be closed off and not allow any unfavorable activity on the property.
Mayor Matt Mohrfeld said it’s a win-win-win because people could come from out of town to take some of the units, or people within the community could move into the new housing which would open up housing stock.
"We are February on a school that closed in August," Mohrfeld said.
"This is great and I commend the people that put this together."