CR City Council: We Will Buyout Some Properties
By Mark Geary, Reporter
By
Mark Geary
Story Created:
Oct 8, 2008 at 8:59 PM CST
Story Updated:
Oct 8, 2008 at 11:45 PM CST
CEDAR RAPIDS – For the first time, the Cedar Rapids City Council definitively says the city will buyout some homes and other properties.
"If you are in the Hazard mitigation area, you will be bought out. Now, the only question that remains...exactly when? It will depend upon the funds we get,” council member Chuck Wieneke said.
The buyout plan will cost millions of dollars. It could take years before we have any kind of exact dollar amount. But, the city council did reveal some preliminary dollar amounts Wednesday night.
The council said it will purchase 246 homes in the way of floodwalls and levees and demolish them...if their owners give consent. The project will cost at least 22 million dollars.
In addition to those homes, the council is prepared to buy 60 commercial properties as well. It will cost 15 million dollars to acquire those properties, and that does not include the price of demolition.
Twelve industrial properties are also in the way of the levees and floodwalls. Purchasing those areas would cost approximately 30 million dollars...again...not including demolition.
Despite these new promises, city leaders still don't know when they'll be able to write these property owners a check.
"It's difficult, at this point, to really say what the exact timing will be on state approval. We're trying to come up with creative solutions on purchase agreements...working with the state on expediting the money to the city so we can pursue the buyout,” council member Brian Fagan said.
Some estimate it could take years before property owners get any money.
The council also said it wants to have some kind of financial program in place to restore and rebuild neighborhoods that are not directly in the way of the proposed levees and floodwalls.
The goal is to get that program started by early December.
KCRG-TV9's Position on Commenting |
User Agreement
The following comments do not necessarily represent the views of KCRG-TV9. Users have agreed to these terms and in doing so accept full responsibility for their comments. Moderation is limited.
Friday, Oct 10 at 1:04 PM Flooded Property wrote ...
Well it looks like we will have to demo our homes, but I am not paying 22,000.00 for that it will have to come down considerably for the average Joe to afford this. Without the house on the property there is no taxation but on the land itself, much, much,cheaper. Oh wait maybe that's why the city refuses to look for cheaper demo prices, hmm to keep us from tearing down and thus losing tax money. My property will sit until I can afford to the demo. So enjoy the eye sore.
Thursday, Oct 9 at 10:29 PM Donald Trump wrote ...
Just look around the NAMES and businesses buying these flooded homes. Banks, private realtors, investment firms, etc. That is all the clue you should need to what is happening...
Thursday, Oct 9 at 9:03 PM Anonymous wrote ...
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Thursday, Oct 9 at 7:07 PM Sorry it didn't happen to you wrote ...
In the mean time, I can't buy another home because I have no money for a downpayment. I can only stay in the fema trailer for 18 months. I lost my job, my whole life and home in one night. But you go home tonight and sleep in YOUR bed, and cook in YOUR kitchen. You play with your kids in YOUR back yard and don't think of us, the flooed people and their lives.
Thursday, Oct 9 at 5:34 PM WHERE?!?!? wrote ...
Where exactly is the hazard mitigation area?!?!?!?
Thursday, Oct 9 at 2:19 PM concerned wrote ...
It would be nice to know exactly where the "Hazard mitigation area" is and if my house is within that area. Does anyone know of a map that shows that?
Thursday, Oct 9 at 1:36 PM anonymous wrote ...
What about the elderly who lost their homes, all their personal belongings and now have a mortgage. They do not have years to wait for a settlement. It needs to happen now for these people. Can an exception be made for these poor people?
Thursday, Oct 9 at 10:13 AM c wrote ...
I would hope everyone pays their taxes. The taxes owed currently are for LAST year! Those house's weren't damaged last year! Assessments will be done and taxes will be lowered according to new value, so should be cheap.
Thursday, Oct 9 at 8:25 AM meanwhile wrote ...
keep paying those property taxes! the city wants all the money they can get out of you! on the other hand, not paying the taxes makes it easier for the city to purchase the property cheaper! oh, and taxes are higher for property you don't occupy! so it's either pay thousands in taxes each year till they decide which properties they want to buy, or not pay them and give the property to the city! either way, you can't live in or rebuild your property, so they get it either way!
Thursday, Oct 9 at 12:44 AM Nick LeFave wrote ...
I realize this is a serious issue, but I every time I drive on I380 and US30 to go to classes at Kirkwood, I am olfactoryly reminded that maybe Cedar Rapids would be best served by tearing everything down and moving to someplace that smells more pleasant. Even after cleaning and moving stuff covered in river/flood muck, I still find that smell not as obnoxious as the stench of ADM.
Add a comment
Most Popular