March 18, 2024

City to address blighted properties

As a part of the D&D program, the city is once again looking to purchase real estate to help combat dangerous and dilapidated homes and improve community aesthetics. The purchase of the home is one of several items for the Newton City Council to consider for its Monday meeting.

The property at 512 First Ave. E. is an unoccupied single family home located on the primary arterial. It has also been the source of multiple complaints throughout the years.

The city believes removing the structure will help improve the curb appeal of the area. The purchase price for the home is $23,000 — more than $10,000 less than the assessed value of the property.

The council will also look to address several intersections for new street signage. Stop signs are recommended for South Fifth Avenue East at East 23rd Street South for north and southbound traffic for a safer school crossing, North 11th Avenue at East Eighth Street to replace the yield sign for westbound traffic with a stop sign for a higher level of safety at the Y intersection and railway crossing, South Seventh Avenue East at East 10th St S. for east and westbound traffic which is currently an uncontrolled intersection and North Fifth Avenue at East 23rd Street North for east and westbound traffic per the existing Code of Ordinances.

Also, the Traffic Safety Committee recommends restricting parking on the east side of East 13th Street North in the 100 and 300 block and on the west side of East 20th Street North in the 200 and 300 block. The committee found the road width of 25 feed is not wide enough to safely accommodate parking on both sides of the street.

Also to improve safety while driving and walking, the council will look to approve Alliant Energy to install a street light in the 600 block of First Street South. It was determined that the area has a dense population with a high number of pedestrians.

The new light would be funded through the road use tax.

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