Construction Begins on Dubuque’s Fifteenth Street Apartments
On September 17th, 2018, Full Circle Communities closed on financing and began construction on their newest property: Dubuque, Iowa’s Fifteenth Street Apartments.
Scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2019, the development represents a $6.3 million investment in the city of Dubuque. It will provide 36 units (20 one-bedroom and 16 two-bedroom) of affordable housing specifically targeted toward veterans and persons with a disability. Of the 36 total units, 32 will be set aside for renters earning between 30 and 60 percent of Dubuque’s Area Median Income. This will be a boon for the city – the 2010 census estimates that 7,400 persons with a disability and 4,400 veterans live in the city, 13.5% and 4.5% of whom fall below the poverty line.
The development is an adaptive reuse of the former Saint Patrick’s Catholic School, which was built at the intersection of 15th and Main in 1950. The building was most recently home to the Dubuque branch of Four Oaks, a Cedar Rapids-based nonprofit providing supportive services to at-risk children and their families. Full Circle intends to incorporate as much material from the school building as they can into the new design.
In addition to the 36 apartments, the development will also contain a community room, library, computer lab, tenant storage, and on-site property management. The building will be redesigned for energy-efficiency and accessibility, with universal design features. Full Circle will work with local groups such as Four Oaks, Hillcrest Family Services, and the Dubuque County VA Commission to provide supportive services including case management, financial counseling, and health and fitness resources at no cost to the residents.
Full Circle Communities is a Chicago-based philanthropic non-profit with the mission of expanding access to affordable housing through preservation and development, thoughtful design, and the provision of significant and contextual services. Full Circle dedicates 75% of their project cash flow to providing services for their residents. Along with Fifteenth Street Apartments, Full Circle is currently in the midst of developing their first property in the state of Michigan. Fifteenth Street Apartments is Full Circle’s second Iowa-based property; their first, The Arbor at Lindale Trail, opened in Marion in 2016.