Government Notes: New senior housing development coming to Iowa City’s west side

A new senior housing development is coming to the west side of Iowa City near St. Andrew Presbyterian Church on Gathering Place Lane.

The Iowa City Council last week gave third and final approval to rezoning 31.2 acres of land east of Camp Cardinal Road and north of Gathering Place Lane to allow for the development of a senior housing community.

The proposed senior living development would be comprised of 35 single-family homes, eight duplex units, 38 multifamily units, 20 townhome-style units and one assisted living building with 32 beds.

The land is “one of the few large undeveloped areas within the city,” Danielle Sitzman, development services coordinator, told the council last month during the rezoning ordinance’s first reading.

The application was submitted by Welch Design and Development on behalf of Cedar Falls-based Western Home Independent Living Services.

Kris Hansen, Western Home chief executive officer, told the council last month Western Home serves about 1,400 residents mostly in Cedar Falls.

“We are excited to be down here,” Hansen said.

“This parcel allows us to create a community inside of the greater community of Iowa City,” Hansen added.

Next steps include design review, site plan reviews and applying for building permits.

This is one of a handful of senior housing developments in the works in Iowa City. Other approved senior living projects include Hickory Trail Estates, Monument Hills, and NEX senior housing, which will have 36 affordable units.

Fourth Street trail project gets a boost

The Linn County Trails Association in January contributed $100,000 to the city of Cedar Rapids’ Fourth Street trail project.

President Tom Peffer presented a ceremonial check to the mayor and city manager celebrating the association’s contribution of $100,000 for use in funding part of the project.

“This project is a vital connection linking the future LightLine Bridge and trail system into downtown Cedar Rapids,” City Manager Jeff Pomeranz wrote in a January memo to the city council.

The Alliant Energy LightLine Bridge is the pedestrian-bike bridge connecting Czech Village and the New Bohemia district as part of the $20 million grassroots ConnectCR initiative.

Cedar Rapids was one of three government agencies to receive a contribution after the trails group’s fundraising campaign.

College Community school residents to vote on PPEL renewal

Voters in the College Community School District will be voting on the renewal of the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy tax used to maintain and repair district facilities. The vote to extend the levy is Tuesday, March 7.

The current levy expires in 2024 so voters are being asked to renew the existing funding source for another 10 years. The proposal would not result in a property tax increase, according to district officials.

The current Physical Plant and Equipment Levy has been in place at 67 cents since 1983, so a renewal would maintain the current tax rate. The rate collected is one-half the maximum rate for the voter-approved levy allowed by law.

“Through the generous support of our community, we have been able to address the new facility needs related to district growth,” district chief financial officer Angie Morrison said in a news release. “The (Physical Plant and Equipment Levy) allows us to continue the work of ensuring all facilities remain up to date and ready to respond to the needs of our students, families and residents through planned maintenance and upgrades.”

Recent Physical Plant and Equipment Levy expenditures include buses, maintenance equipment, band instruments, playground equipment, classroom furniture, parking lots, sidewalks, road resurfacing, safety and security equipment and energy efficiency initiatives.

“This levy is important to not only continue the upkeep and maintenance of our (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), roofs and other large maintenance items,” Superintendent Doug Wheeler said. “It will also allow us to enhance some of our buildings that have not been recently renovated as part of other projects to refresh items like carpet, lighting, paint and furnishings.“

Government Notes is published Mondays and contains updates from area government bodies. Marissa Payne, Izabela Zaluska and Grace King of The Gazette contribute.