(Atlantic) On Wednesday, Southwest Iowa Planning Council Community Development Director Alexis Fleener appeared in front of the Atlantic City Council and presented information on a housing grant. This particular grant is specifically aimed at upper-story housing in downtown buildings.
The grant has opened up an opportunity for Dr. Matt Weresh, refurbishing two downtown buildings at 509 and 511 Chestnut Street. Fleener says the Iowa Department of Economic Development wants to fund housing development projects in downtown business areas.
Fleener says the grant will allow building owners to rent these downtown buildings’ bottom and top floors. Dr. Weresh has used the CDBG grant to tear off the tin, put new windows on the façade’, and is now moving to the next stage.
Dr. Weresh says the goal is to make the storefront on both buildings as attractive as possible.
Fleener says the grant is due at the end of August and must be approved by the City Council because the grant flows through that particular agency at no cost to the City.