The planned housing area would include 70 duplexes and a four-acre park south of 10th Avenue North and east of 32nd Street.

The project has been proposed by RJ Tide Development, of Sioux City. That firm has created a limited liability corporation called Gypsum Creek Crossing LLC to do the project.

Two new streets to be called North 35th Street and North 36th Street would be built to serve the neighborhood. Extensions of Seventh and Ninth avenues north would also be constructed.

Construction is expected to start this year and continue over eight to nine years.

-Messenger photo by Bill Shea
This fire-damaged house at 418 N. Ninth St. was acquired by the Fort Dodge City Council on Monday. It will be demolished.

The money to pay the developer would come from increased property tax revenue created by the construction of the new homes in a process called tax increment financing.

City Manager David Fierke said no special assessments will be added to the property tax bills of nearby homeowners to pay for the roads.

While preparing the way for some new housing, the council also dealt with some older buildings in the community.

The council bought a garage building at 111 S. Fifth St. which will be demolished to clear the way for new development near the roundabout intersection of First Avenue South and Sixth Street. The building houses Reader-Fleming Automotive.

It was purchased from Kathy Dencklau, of Fort Dodge, for $83,000.

-Messenger photo by Bill Shea
This building at 111 S. Fifth St. was purchased by the Fort Dodge City Council Monday. The building will be demolished to make room for future development near the roundabout intersection of First Avenue South and Sixth Street.

Councilman Dean Hill abstained from the otherwise unanimous vote to buy the property because he is a friend of the owner’s family.

The council also moved to demolish two rundown houses. One is a fire-damaged three-story house at 418 N. Ninth St. The other is a house at 1335 Eighth Ave. S. that is almost completely covered in vegetation. Doyle Construction, of Fort Dodge, was hired to knock down both houses at a cost of $54,695.

Clark Construction, of Fort Dodge, offered the only other bid of $62,922.

In an unrelated matter, the council bought a 2018 Jeep Compass for $20,592 from Shimkat Motor Co., of Fort Dodge, for use by city inspectors. It will replace a Ford Crown Victoria that was once a police car.