I.C. housing proposal bad for city, students

By Casey Cook

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I recently argued before the Iowa City Council that the various strategies for reducing density in the areas surrounding the central business district will cause significant financial stress on low-income people in our community by forcing higher rents.

It will erode the property values of several non-profits in the area as well as private property owners on the order of up to 30 percent. It will undermine the city's ability to grow revenues in an environment that is becoming increasingly hostile to development in general and property taxes in particular.

I believe that these will be the unintended consequences of what I consider very radical steps to reshape our zoning policies. It is not acceptable for our planning policies and practices to be at cross purposes with our economic development policies, our affordable housing policies and our ability to thrive as a community in partnership with the University of Iowa.

I believe the problem in the central district is conflict between homeowners and student tenants. No homeowner should have to clean up 8 pounds of glass. At the same time, all students should not be penalized for bad behavior of a few.

Moreover, we should not develop policies that also penalize property owners, low-income tenants and the city's ability to provide for its future.

We have ordinances in place that allow us to fine and arrest property owners and tenants for causing disturbances and unruly behavior. I believe this is an enforcement problem and that we can get help from the university's security.

I also wonder if citations could be put against the property. Within one year there would be a provision in every lease that any fines levied against a property would be payable by the tenants and their damage deposits would act as collateral.

If we are unable to adequately enforce the current ordinance to curtail unruly behavior, why do we expect that we can adequately police a policy that allows no more than three unrelated parties in the same unit?

Our current policies have resulted in seriously underutilized properties that create problems for neighborhoods that are unable to evolve. The synagogue, Roosevelt School and the old social services building on Dodge Street are good cases in point.

We need a flexible policy that maintains density and property values while facilitating new housing that fits the needs of the community. We also need better enforcement policies that help us live together.

I encourage the Iowa City Council to table this issue until the economic consequences are thoroughly understood and the enforcement options have been exhausted.

Casey Cook of Iowa City served six years on the Iowa City Planning and Zoning Commission and is the managing partner at Cook Appraisal, which has served Eastern Iowa since 1989. Comments: kcook@cook-appraisal.com