Applications Now Being Accepted For 17 Univercity Neighborhood Partnership Homes

Last winter, the UniverCity Neighborhood Partnership progressed to Phase 3 of its program with 17 properties, but renovations could not begin on many of the houses because they were rental properties with lease commitments to tenants who were still living in them. Now that Iowa City's annual lease turnover period is wrapping up, the UniverCity Neighborhood Partnership can officially take possession of most of the homes and get started on renovation projects that will convert them to owner-occupied housing. People interested in applying to purchase one of the Phase 3 homes are encouraged to visit www.icgov.org/UniverCity for an application and head to facebook.com/UniverCityIA to view the latest pictures of all properties.

The UniverCity Neighborhood Partnership officially launched in March 2010 as an initiative to reverse the imbalance of homeowner-occupied and rental properties in neighborhoods surrounding the University of Iowa campus and downtown. The program has been hugely successful, purchasing rental housing, renovating it back to owner-occupied housing, and offering the homes for sale to income-qualifying buyers. Thirty homes have been purchased through the program to date, with up to $50,000 in renovations per home undertaken by local contractors who work under the direction of the City's Housing Rehabilitation Division. The UniverCity Neighborhood Partnership is made possible through the City of Iowa City, the University of Iowa, local non-profits, community members, and local lenders working together to provide affordable housing and revitalize older neighborhoods.

For more information on the UniverCity Neighborhood Partnership, visit www.icgov.org/UniverCity or www.facebook.com/UniverCityIA, or contact Steve Long, Community Development Coordinator, at 319/356-5250 or steve-long@iowa-city.org.