Kalona sees high number of building permits

KALONA — Kalona city officials have issued 90 building permits so far in 2024, resulting in about $9.9 million of property investment in town according to City Administrator Ryan Schlabaugh.

The estimate doesn’t include major construction at schools or the Pleasantview Retirement Home, but represents a variety of other projects like commercial buildings and renovations, home builds and remodels and new sheds or outbuildings.

The sum is more than double the amount seen in previous years. Schlabaugh said the city’s typical year saw about $3-4 million in building permit-approved work, prior to the construction of the North Ridge subdivision in the area now known as Southtown.

“I think we had a little bit of pent-up demand in our community with the availability of quality lots there, for a little bit,” he said. “We saw a real spike in demand for two-family homes that were met with a Chad Mellinger subdivision, he built a lot of really quality zero-lot condos, and a lot of folks were getting out of their house they’ve been in for 20, 30 years and trying to downsize … folks were moving internally within our community.”

The city only expects that number to grow as more housing comes online in its neighborhoods.

Schlabaugh said 10 new mobile homes in Kalona recently helped fill demand for low-to-moderate-income housing, and six larger lots near Richland were recently up for discussion at a council meeting Nov. 4.

The city also expects to put in flood mitigation efforts for about 50 acres it owns along Highway 1 in the coming year, and anticipates 45-55 housing lots hitting the market for developers in the area north of the Dollar General shortly after those efforts complete.

“There’s quite a bit in the works right now,” Schlabaugh said. “We want to see earth moved (on the 50 acres) in ‘25 … we’re in a good fiscal position right now to craft an agreement with a developer that brings somebody of quality, that can do the work.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com