Mason City council approves RFP process to develop land on north side of downtown

MASON CITY — The City Council in Mason City last night approved the city putting out a request for proposals to develop some city-owned property located on the north side of the downtown loop.

The land is part of the Northbridge site that was redeveloped in 2003. In 2022, the city acquired the property at 17 6th Northeast. The prior owner had died and there were no heirs to take ownership, so the court deeded the property to the city, with the city demolishing the dilapidated house on the land.

City Administrator Aaron Burnett says a developer showed some interest in the land recently.  “I honestly would not think that this would be one of the higher interest lots, but due to its location and some other factors, there was interest in this lot from a developer that we’ve had contact with, and then we also met with that individual down in Des Moines at the housing conference. There’s interest in that space and so that’s why it’s now being put out for an RFP.”

Burnett says the recent investments made in Mason City shows other developers the need for more market-rate housing projects in the community. “There’s a substantial level of  interest in projects in Mason City. It’s great to have that. You know I look back six years ago and Talon was a novel interest in putting housing up in Mason City. We had been easy to say a decade or more since new multi-family housing had gone in. That need is still really strong. We see what the Federal Rowhome development that that is leased up in a record time.”

Burnett says the city will consider all types of projects for that piece of land.   “As we go through this process with the Thriving Community designation, I think we’ll see interest in each one of those different areas. Really hoping to see some development in twin-homes and affordable housing, single-family homes, starter homes, things along those lines, because that is a very high-need area, but we still have needs in all those other areas also.”

The site is “shovel ready” with all the utilities and street access already provided, helping to make the property attractive for development.

Proposals would be due on October 21st with a public hearing to approve the selected developer being held at the council’s November 19th meeting.