The Perry City Council approved Monday night the first three applications for property tax abatement under the city’s recently approved urban revitalization plan, which includes an abatement plan both for new construction and home renovation.
All three applications were for renovations, according to Perry City Administrator Sven Peterson.
“One of my side jobs is being on the Dallas County Habitat for Humanity steering committee,” Peterson told the council, “and one of these applications is for a house that they just rehabbed and sold to a family. I thought that was a great use of that. Now they’re living in it and are happy campers.”
Peterson also noted that two foundations for new houses have been dug at Sunflower Flats, the residential housing tract along Sunflower Street north of the Perry Elementary School.
“I think they’re setting the forms for one of the foundations today,” Peterson said, “so things are happening, and next year we’ll have at least two new constructions on this list.”
Perry Mayor Jay Pattee noted “these were our first requests, our first go-round” with the abatement scheme.
The two Sunflower lots were sold by the West Des Moines developer Clark Development Corp. to Cornerstone Homes Ltd., a Waukee-based construction company.
Did Mayor Jay Pattee actually say abatement scheme? I would have figured it was a plan. To me a scheme would be a scam, and I know it’s not a scam.
While I approve of the new development, I loathe this kind of architecture. Judging by their appearance, these structures look more like four car garages with two bedrooms and a bath attached.