Mason City council sets public hearing date for selling downtown vacant lot for housing development

MASON CITY — The City Council in Mason City last night approved setting the public hearing date and notification of bidding as part of considering a purchase, sale and development agreement to sell city-owned property downtown for a new housing development.

DevPartners/Shyft Collective from Des Moines, who have incorporated the proposed project under the name of Federal Avenue Rowhomes LLC, approached the city last year about purchasing the vacant lot on the southeast corner of 2nd and North Federal to develop into 11 units with five off-street parking spaces.

City Administrator Aaron Burnett says the proposal would fit in well in the downtown area.  “The design that they’ve incorporated is a very urban design, I think it’s in fitting with the downtown. They’ve put together a very solid proposal that I think would be with the aesthetics of the downtown.”

Federal Avenue Rowhomes LLC is proposing to purchase the property for $25,000, but under Iowa Code, the city has to offer up the property for public bid, with other bids being due by February 24th. The council set their March 7th meeting for a public hearing on the purchase, sale and development agreement to sell the property.