Mason City council to consider land sale on downtown north side for senior housing development

MASON CITY — The City Council in Mason City tonight is being asked to approve a resolution allowing the purchase of three parcels of land on the northern side of the downtown loop for a senior housing development.

The council back in November approved a proposal by Horizon Development of Madison Wisconsin to develop a four-story building with 45 senior housing units on property at 508 North Delaware and 17 6th Northeast and authorized city staff to negotiate a real estate purchase and sale agreement. The current proposal shows a mix of 15 one-bedroom units and 30 two-bedroom units. All of the units would be affordable to qualified households ranging from 30% to 80% of the county-wide area median income. There would also be 35 underground parking spaces beneath the building.

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.

The city back in July was designated an Iowa Thriving Community by the Iowa Finance Authority, with the designation providing additional scoring points to a developer applying for federal or state low income or workforce housing.

The council meets at 7 o’clock tonight in the Mason City Room of the Public Library.