Second pre-fab house rolls into Fairfield

FAIRFIELD – For the second time this summer, a pre-fabricated house came wheeling into Fairfield.

The house measures 24 by 50 feet, built by Iowa Prison Industries at the Newton Correctional Facility. It rolled into town on Thursday, July 17 and came to rest at 504 S. Sixth St. In 2024, the city demolished a dilapidated home on that lot, which the owner had given to the city since they could no longer take care of it.

This house move, facilitated by Grow Fairfield, was the second home the group has purchased from Iowa Prison Industries and brought to Fairfield this summer, the first one arriving in late May at 700 S. Seventh St., just a block to the east.

Grow Fairfield Executive Director Ed Malloy and Operations Manager Rachel Hillier said last week’s move went more smoothly than the one in May, when the mover got stuck on one of the streets because of a narrow turn, and had to take a detour before unloading the house on Seventh Street.

Though the foundations at both properties were already laid, and both houses were built off-site, construction on the two lots is not finished. The homes need flooring. A two-car garage will be added to both lots, plus sidewalks on Sixth Street. Both of them will have insulated crawl spaces.

Malloy said the two homes will be put on the market around the same time, within a week of each other, and Grow Fairfield is planning to hold an open house at the Seventh Street house so the public can take a tour.

Grow Fairfield plans to sell the homes, which should be nice additions to the city’s housing stock. Malloy said the advantage of this kind of in-fill development is that Grow Fairfield can take advantage of existing streets, water and sewer lines. He said he hopes that these new homes will inspire private developers and homebuilders to follow suit.

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Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com