Audubon’s City Council has approved the resolution allowing the city to apply for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) through the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) to provide three new apartments in the downtown district. The Upper Story Housing Conversion project will be on the second level of the building at 226 Broadway Street, above the former Sam’s Barber Shop, which is currently vacant. The projected housing rehabilitation costs are estimated at around $849,500, with the CDBG grant covering $580,000 if the city is selected. The rest of the funding will be covered through private loans. The three rental units are being constructed to provide housing for low to moderate-income (LMI) families, benefiting clients at or below 80% of the area median income (AMI). This comes from the 2024 Audubon Housing Needs Assessment, with goals to increase employment opportunities, preserve existing units, and create more housing options for purchasing or renting for the LMI population. The application deadline for the grant is June 30, so the city will know after that date if this project was selected or not, with the renovations of the apartments beginning shortly after that. This is just one project planned for the many community development and housing needs ideas offered by the assessment. Other ideas include improving Highway 71 corridor sidewalks, increasing and improving recreational activity signage, and participating in the Iowa State University’s (ISU) Rural Housing Assessment Program. Other projects currently in the works include Audubon County Economic Development’s (ACED) construction of two new duplexes, for the city to continue purchasing and demolishing unsafe properties to sell the lots to new home builders and further market new housing options.
