April 25, 2024

Cardinal Ridge sale to go before city council

By Jamee A

Cardinal Ridge, a 4.25 acre piece of land located at the former Newton Country Club Golf Course and purchased by the city, is up for sale to Ground Breaker Homes to be developed into high quality townhomes. (Jamee A)

The sale of the 13 lots known as Cardinal Ridge will go before the Newton City Council at its regular meeting on Monday. Ground Breaker Homes, LLC, of Clive, has submitted a $345,000 proposal with the intention of building high quality townhomes at the former country club property.

A public hearing will be held for a development proposal which features the purchase price for the single-family lots at $25,000 and bi-attached lots at $30,000. Home prices in the development are projected to range from $225,000 to $300,000.

Ground Breaker Homes has already successfully developed five homes in the Fairmeadows North subdivision over the past three years. The developer has proposed a variety of home styles for both the single-family and townhome units.

Ground Breaker would guarantee at least three units are under construction at all times, starting this year, and has requested a purchase guarantee from the city for a $25,000 payment for any speculative homes that do not sell within six months of completion. By approving the Ground Breaker proposal now, it allows the company to start marketing the lots for home sales while the final subdivision details are being completed.

The city purchased the 4.25 acres for $106,000 in March 2016.

City council will also consider the sale of three former D&D Program lots located at 1400, 1404 and 1500 E. Sixth St. S. The lots have been cleared of the dilapidated structures and are now available for redevelopment.

Also on the agenda is the third reading of an ordinance increasing the sanitary sewer rates in Newton. The proposed increase is 5 percent per month.

The increased rates will be used to help fund several capital projects that are needed to meeting Iowa Department of Natural Resources permit requirements including an estimated $900,000 ultra-violet disinfection treatment project at the plant.

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