Ribbon cut to open downtown Mason City’s latest housing development

MASON CITY — A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Wednesday afternoon for the latest housing complex in downtown Mason City.

The Delaware Apartments offers studio, one and two bedroom apartments at the intersection of 1st Street Northeast and North Delaware Avenue. DEV Partners of Des Moines developed the project.

Mayor Bill Schickel says the project is the latest step in redeveloping downtown.  “Today is more than about windows and walls, it’s about a doorway to the future of Mason City. A vibrant Mason City where we’ve seen a downtown resurgence unlike we’ve seen in a long, long time.”

DEV Partners Chief Financial Officer Danny Heggen says his company is already looking forward to their next project in Mason City.  “Next project we’re going after is the old Kirk site. We were awarded another workforce housing project for 2026, so that will begin construction in the next year as well. We’re very excited about 19 to 20 more units plus a commercial project we’ll bring to the site there.” Fire destroyed the Kirk Apartments in 2023.

Each apartment in the Delaware Apartments building features a fully-equipped kitchen with a dishwasher as well as an in-unit washer and dryer.