Ames Today

Housing is increasingly becoming a problem locally, and the Boone City Council recently received an update about a proposed housing study in the community.

Brenda Dryer, a representative from the Ames Economic Development Commission (AEDC), told the council during its April 3 meeting about a planned housing study. She noted that the commission hopes to work with the Mid-Iowa Planning Alliance (MIPA) on the survey to assess short- and long-term needs by tapping into census data and historic figures. The study would also include a survey of residents and could take up to four months to complete.

“My hope would be is by the end of summer that we'd be able to bring the results back to you,” she said in the meeting.

Dryer told the council that MIPA would present the results of their research and offer recommendations to the City as well as work together with it to secure developers that would be a good fit for the city’s needs.

“And I think I alluded to two weeks ago, Ogden just went through this process and it was actually a developer over there that nudged us to go that direction,” Dryer said. “And again, instead of guessing, it's great. We've got a number now we can focus on, and I think the same will hold true here with the council. Good information to help you track what's going on.”

During the session, the council learned that the survey would determine housing price ranges needed, how many should be single-family and how many should be multi-family, as well as the city's affordable- and luxury housing needs.

Dryer noted that the Boone Growth Board has earmarked $4,000 to help conduct the survey. The AEDC is asking Alliant Energy for an additional $4,000, and the City’s share would be $8,000.

The council said it did not know if the city had ever been involved in a housing study and agreed the data would be useful to help the community move forward. The council approved its share of the study with the hope that Alliant will do the same.