Cedar Rapids Tries Second Home Giveaway

City leaders in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, are making another effort to give away 476 homes that suffered the least amount of damage during the historic flooding of 2008. The homes are among around 1,200 flooded homes that were bought out by the city.

The Gazette newspaper in Cedar Rapids reported that the city will demolish the homes if there is no interest from any builders or developers to renovate and sell them. It’s the second time the city is trying to give the homes away. Of the homes, about 275 will have to be moved because they sit in a 100-year flood plain or a construction zone.

The first time the city tried the giveaway on August 18 qualified builders, developers and nonprofit groups expressed interest in the homes. At that time, eighteen builders and contractors and three nonprofits identified 100 homes they’re interested in obtaining. The 21 qualified bidders submitted a total of 564 requests for those 100 homes.

Information from: The Gazette