Newton D&D program addressing Bungalow Court

The City of Newton is moving to a new area of the community with its D&D program, addressing two houses in Bungalow Court. The properties at 6 and 12 Bungalow Court have been approved for purchase by city council for $7,000 and $13,000 each.

“The property is of poor condition, and it is recommended it be acquired for demolition. Bungalow Court is a highly visible residential development along First Avenue East,” city administrator Matt Muckler said. “This acquisition and demolition will complement the nuisance code enforcement work already occurring in the neighborhood and lowering the density.”

With an assessed value of $28,450, the city is obtaining the property at 6 Bungalow Court for about 25 cent on the dollar. At the other location, the assessed value is $26,480 with the city paying out about 49 cents per $1 assessed value. Both property owners agreed to the sale prices for the houses.

Along with visibly improving the area and lowering the density of homes, the city also hopes to reduce pressure from this neighborhood on the Newton Police Department and city code enforcement.

“In the past two years, every property located within Bungalow Court has had calls for service from the Newton Police Department,” Muckler said. “In addition, there have been numerous nuisance cases for properties located within the neighborhood.”

In the past two years, the NPD has been called to Bungalow Court 128 times with three of the residences make up 69 of those calls. One of the three with 20 or more calls is 12 Bungalow Court, recording 21 stops in over the past 24 months.

Newton’s nuisance code will also continue to be fully enforced within the neighborhood. With the city owning property within Bungalow Court, it provides an additional opportunity for staff to be present in the area.

With two properties purchased in the neighborhood, Muckler said some thought has been given to an overall strategy for the area. At this time, the city will move forward with acquiring properties when possible at prices consistent to the first two. By doing do, it will continue to reduce the density in the dilapidated neighborhood and potentially cut down the number of calls to the NPD and code enforcement.

Paul Mattingly, a resident of Bungalow Court, addressed the council about his concerns with the city moving into the neighborhood.

“What is the overall game here, are we going to tear down every house in there? What is the plan for Bungalow Court?” Mattingly said.

Newton Planning and Zoning Director Erin Chambers said in the short term, the city is looking the acquire any properties at prices that are consistent with those recently purchased. She said most likely those homes would be candidates for demolition and not rehabilitation.

Mattingly asked if the homes are demolished where would those in the city who need low to moderate income housing go. Chambers explained through tax increment financing agreements the city has entered with several residential develops, part of the funding from TIF will go to low to moderate income housing elsewhere in the city.

“The city is committed to seeking low to moderate income housing options throughout the city and those are underway,” Chambers said. “The D&D 2.0 program includes a grant for rehabilitation, so if a contractor wanted to purchase a property for low or moderate income housing that would be an option.”

Asked if the city was looking to kick residents out of the neighborhood as a part of a larger plan, Muckler said the city isn’t kicking anyone out.

“These are two property owners who approached the city with an interest to sell their property,” Muckler said. “Our staff has done a job of doing an analysis of those particular properties after they were brought forward. Our staff came to the analysis that those two buildings did fit the definition of a dangerous and dilapidated home.”

Funds from the D&D program will be used to pay for the properties and demolition expenses.

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