Development: 40 Unit Senior Apartment Building Proposed for Far Eastside

IOWA CITY – Sand Development LLC submitted a major site plan to city staff on February 14th detailing a project at 670 Nex Ave. The building, located near the Old Towne Village commercial area, would provide 80 bedrooms across 40 units.

The project is an expansion of the existing Nex Apartments property, which provides affordable housing with resident income requirements. The new building will accommodate residents 55 years and older, according to the property’s website. Other senior housing projects under construction include a housing co-op at the nearby Monument Hills subdivision and the controversial Hickory Hills assisted-living development.

As the population of older adults increases, turbulent rents and high health-costs become a concern due to the income growth limitations of retirees and inability for many adults to “age-in-place.” Proponents of Iowa City’s recently adopted ADU ordinance argue that allowing older homeowners to build and move into accessory units will increase the ability for seniors to remain in their communities. The Nex project will hopefully provide more affordable options for those on fixed-incomes, in contrast to the market-rate senior housing projects above. 

Willett, Hofmann and Associates, Inc will serve as the architect and engineering firm for the project, though no renderings or plans are publicly available at this time.