April 21, 2021

Hight Street traffic calming, NFC, Barber Shop, and noise discussed in April

The April 20, 2021 monthly meeting of the Woodland Heights Organization was packed full of business and updates.

A virtual meeting for the sole purpose of hearing from interested neighbors (and anyone interest in the issue) about needed traffic calming on High Street is scheduled for Tuesday, May 11 @7pm on Zoom.  A staff member at the City's traffic department will be on hand to present on the City's traffic calming program.  Find  all the information online at bit.ly/highstreet21.  

Stephanie Murphy, NFC Exec. Director speaks with Woodland
Heights neighbors at the April 20, 2021 WHO meeting

Neighborhood Finance Corporation's Executive Director, Stephanie Murphy, was the featured guest at the meeting.  Murphy shared info about the NFC's many programs and how Woodland Heights residents can take advantage of them.

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Thinking About Making Renovations to Your Home This Year?

You may qualify for up to $10,000 in a forgivable home loan!

Did you know that Neighborhood Finance Corporation (NFC) has been providing purchase, refinance, and home improvement renovations in the Des Moines area for over 30 years?  In the past year 216 homeowners or homebuyers have completed $4.6 million in home renovations through an NFC Advantage Loan.  Since NFC started lending in the Neighborhood, they have provided loans to over 279 households totaling over $15 million in repayable and forgivable loans in our neighborhood.

The Woodland Heights neighborhood is in a Neighborhood Finance Corporation (NFC) lending area which means you may apply for an NFC Advantage Loan and qualify for a forgivable loan of up to $10,000 in home renovations.  The forgivable loan is available when first qualifying for a purchase, refinance, or home improvement loan. In addition, some homebuyers may qualify for up to $10,500 in down payment assistance. 

If you are considering exterior repairs or improvements, ask NFC about their Front Porch Program loans. These loans are available to homeowners seeing repairs or improvements to the exterior of their homes. Front Porch loans have been used for projects like roof and foundation repairs, window and door replacements, exterior siding or painting, new garages, driveways, and more.

For details on all of NFC’s lending programs, please visit NeighborhoodFinance.org.

NFC is a non-profit, licensed Iowa mortgage company offering purchase, refinance and home improvement loans. Every NFC Advantage loan is paired with a forgivable loan that is forgiven with five years of owner-occupancy. NFC partners with Polk County, the City of Des Moines, neighborhood associations and local financial institutions to facilitate neighborhood revitalization in NFC lending areas. 

To see if your home currently qualifies for NFC Lending, please visit the NFC lending map at NeighborhoodFinance.org or call their office at 515.246.0010.

Equal Housing Lender   NMLS# 8943

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Also at the April 20 meeting, neighbors shared their vision and hopes for 2513 Woodland Ave., the run down building that previously housed a barber shop.  Two potential developers shared broad ideas for the property and listened to WHO members to gauge the support they might have for a future redevelopment proposal.  At the meeting, many neighbors did express interest in the idea of a small retail development.  Read Lyla's response to the interest in retail/commercial redevelopment online here.  

NBSD officer, DMPD's Sgt. Scarlett, shared the regular incident report for the neighborhood with attendees at the April 20 WHO meeting.  In addition to the regular rundown, Sgt. Scarlett spoke extensively about the noise (and other) complaints related to people driving, congregating, parking, and playing loud music from their cars near 2617 Ingersoll Avenue.  




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This post typed by Phil.

The Woodland Heights Organization (WHO) is the neighborhood association recognized by the city of Des Moines representing Woodland Heights. Its purpose is is to stabilize, preserve, and revitalize area homes, enhance the quality of life in the neighborhood, and to promote community within our neighborhood amongst all residents and businesses. WHO is a volunteer organization.

for more information email who50312@gmail.com; view past issues of the email newsletter and subscribe at bit.ly/whoemail; like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/whodesmoines


Lyla's response to interest in commercial development at 2513 Woodland

A message from longtime Woodland Heights neighbor, Lyla:  

Please pass this information along to any party of interest including people at (the April 20, 2021) meeting of the WHO.

At (the April 20, 2021) meeting of the WHO there was much support for taking this building (2513 Woodland Ave.) back to small commercial. I do not think that the city would allow this because it would be "spot zoning" which is illegal and there is no availability for off street parking which is required under zoning...for either commercial or residential use. The neighbors could fight the city to allow for this type of use...but that process would take many months, and require several public hearing processes and much conflict.

Chapter 134-7.2.6 of the Des Moines Zoning Code:  If a nonconforming use in a N district (single family homes) is discontinued for more than one year for any reason whatsoever, the nonconforming use is deemed abandoned and may not be re-established.

This property has been vacant for over 20 years and lost its legal nonconforming status that can not be re-established.

There was discussion by two adjoining neighbors saying they would be interested in acquiring the property to expand their property. This may be a possibility but they would have to pay for the property and the cost of demolition of the structure. My best estimate would be $30,000 - 40,000 to do this. (could split the cost) Most people do not have this kind of money up front but they could possibly refinance their homes to acquire the land and demolition costs. This process could take a year if allowed.

The NFC could start building a new home (using same footprint) this fall if they can receive 2 exceptions from the city on "set back" requirements for the front of the house and the driveway.

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