First Avenue housing survey to be conducted for rehabilitation grant

A door-to-door survey is planned to help gather information needed to apply for a Community Development Block Grant for the First Avenue West area.

The survey, which is scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, will extend from First Avenue West from West Fourth Street to West 11th Street and will be conducted by the City of Newton Housing Department.

The First Avenue Housing Improvement program was created to help improve the curb appeal of Newton’s main thoroughfare to boost a sense of community pride and increase property values, tax base and future growth. In February, the Newton City Council approved $50,000 for the initial phase of the program.

“First Avenue is our main corridor, it is our front door and our rear door. Ten thousand cars a day pass up and down First Avenue. It represents Newton in a way that no other city street and no other thoroughfare anywhere near us does. It is who Newton is to so many people,” development specialist Craig Armstrong said.

Residents in the selected area will be asked to complete a brief, confidential, one-page survey with questions on topics including household income and other demographic information. All residents living in the selected neighborhood will be asked to participate, including those in owner-occupied homes, rental homes and apartments.

Information collected from the survey will be used to apply for the block grant through the state of Iowa. If selected for the grant, funding would be provided for the housing rehabilitation program for the First Avenue West neighborhood. Rehabilitation improvements may include roofing, foundation repair, window repair and/or replacement, siding, electrical as well as heating and plumbing work.

“We are attempting to upgrade the appearance, the feel, the look and the curb appeal of First Avenue,” Armstrong said.

As a part of the housing initiative, the First Avenue Housing Improvement Program was created to make improvements to a highly visible area with limited funding by making small to moderate changes that have the most bang for the buck.

Not all properties need a large restoration to improve the curb appeal, Armstrong said. Many only need a paint touch up or siding repair. The group expects the average cost to be around $10,000 per home with a high amount of $25,000.

For more information about the proposed program contact Amanda Price at 641-792-0827 ext. 39 or Simmering-Cory at 641-357-7554.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com