Eight developers have responded to the city of Waukee’s request for proposals to build affordably priced housing on land purchased by the city earlier this year, officials said.

Creating, expanding and maintaining affordable housing for low- and moderate-income families and senior citizens is a priority in Waukee’s Strategic Plan. Last March, in an effort to act on that priority, the city bought about 15 acres of undeveloped land at 500 N. Warrior Lane, paying $902,550 for the property.

In July, the Waukee City Council approved a resolution seeking proposals from developers to partner with the city in building affordable housing for families or senior citizens. The deadline to submit proposals was Aug. 29.

“We are thrilled to have eight contractors/developers interested in this opportunity,” Nick Osborne, Waukee’s assistant city manager, wrote in an email. A committee is reviewing the proposals and will hear developers’ presentations in late September, Osborne wrote.
Proposals were received from:

• Commonwealth Development Corporation of America, a Fond du Lac, Wis.-based company ranked as the 12th-largest affordable housing developer in the U.S., and Anawim Housing, a Des Moines-based nonprofit that develops and manages affordable housing.
• Artisan Management Group, a Des Moines-based property management group; Destiny Homes, a Waukee-based homebuilder; and Shyft/DEV Partners, a Des Moines construction company and development group.
• Hubbell Realty Co., a full-service real estate development company based in West Des Moines.
• Iceberg Development Group, a Bettendorf-based group that has developed affordable housing projects in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin and Mississippi.
• John Larson Homes, a custom homebuilder and land development firm based in Johnston.
• Northpointe Development Corp., an Oshkosh, Wis.-based company that develops, owns and provides market-rate affordable and senior housing.
• Sherman Associates, a Minneapolis-based developer.
• Titan Development & Investments, a Rochester, Minn.-based developer that has completed projects including affordable housing in Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska and several other states.

The Waukee council is expected to hear a recommendation in mid-October from the review committee on which developer with whom to enter into a development agreement, according to a city spokesperson.