March 19, 2024

NHDC set to acquire former Newton Country Club

To help foster residential growth, the Newton City Council approved enabling the Newton Housing Development Corporation to take ownership of the former Newton Country Club building. The building at 601 W. 12th St. S., was donated to the city in April to be removed for the future Cardinal Ridge townhome development.

“The 1.63 acre property that contains the clubhouse building is proposed to be donated from the current owner, XCO II, LLC, managed by Walt Smith, of Newton, to the Newton Housing Development Corporation,” city administrator Matt Muckler said. “As it finalizes an agreement on the terms of the donation with Smith, the NHDC also seeks to enter into an agreement with the city regarding the demolition of the structure and maintenance of the property.”

The agreement has the city responsible for clearing the building, which would be done as a fire training exercise for the Newton Fire Department, removing the paving, swimming pool and foundations, disconnecting utilities including sewer, water, others to city code requirements, leaving bare ground, grading and seeing the property and covering the cost of maintenance for three years, ending July 31, 2020. The preliminary cost is estimated at $100,000, with the bulk of that paid for using the Commercial Demolition Fund.

NHDC Director Bruce Showalter requested the closing on the property be moved earlier from Aug. 1 to June 30 to get the project moving more quickly. He also requested the due diligence to be conducted by the city be done by June 20, in advance of NHDC taking possession.

“We think we can get the work done, the due diligence done, Newton Public Works Director Keith Laube has indicated that, just to hurry things along and get it done so we can move forward,” Showalter said.

The area being donated is adjacent to the city’s Cardinal Ridge townhome subdivision, a 4.25 acre, 13 lot development with infrastructure work currently underway at the former Cardinal Hills Golf Course. Following a suggestion from several interested developers, the city started the process of clearing all buildings still on the land, to bring a more unified look to the development.

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