Iowa City , Iowa, June 27th, 2011- Longtime Iowa City resident and small business person Mark McCallum today announced his candidacy for Iowa City Council.
McCallum is a 24 year resident of Iowa City and is known locally for his interest in redevelopment of historic properties. He was the original developer of Iowa City’s Brown Street Inn. From there, he went on to own and operate Brick House Apartments located on College Street. He is currently in the final stages of converting a former sorority house to studio apartments which he calls College Hill Studios. McCallum has received preservation awards for each of these redevelopment projects. In addition to his development activities, McCallum is a realtor with Iowa Realty.
IMPORTANT ISSUES
” I love and care deeply for our city and will do what I can to keep Iowa City a great place to live.” We need leadership that can focus on expanding our tax base while at the same time maintaining the city’s uniqueness” asserts McCallum.
McCallum supports:
Smart Growth Zoning
Encourage diversity of housing options downtown and multifamily zones by offering density bonuses to developers that incorporate specific objectives in their proposals. Specific objective could be accessible or affordable housing units. McCallum also supports zoning that would allow for conversion of existing apartments buildings to housing cooperatives. This would allow for more affordable owner occupied housing in the downtown area.
Delay of property tax recalculations for Historic Properties.
Encourage investment in our historic and conservation zones by delaying the property tax assessment for exterior improvements approved by the Historic Preservation Commission.
Rental Housing Diversity
Will support density regulations that regulate occupancy in our multifamily zones by bodies per acre of land versus units per acre of land. ( Our current code) This will allow for development of smaller, more affordable housing.
A New Comprehensive Plan for Our Downtown and Surrounding East Side Neighborhoods.
With the new business environment created by the passage of the “21” ordinance. We need to look at new business models that will allow the Downtown to diversify and expand. Important to this goal would be to support zoning changes that would encourage more residential housing in our downtown area. In our near eastside Conservation and Historic Districts McCallum would support a new ” Village Zone” that would allow for apartment building conversions to housing cooperatives, incentives for accessible and affordable housing and more opportunities for “live/work “residential redevelopment.
Melrose Game Day Vendors
McCallum will support efforts to keep vendors in their current location on Melrose Avenue and will oppose efforts to close off Melrose Avenue from the public on game days.
UNIQUE APPROACH
A member of both the development and preservation community , McCallum has a unique outlook and interest in zoning policy. ” I have experience on both sides of the development fence” My business philosophy is to be a good neighbor. If developers are careful to be good neighbors in their business practices, the need for more regulation subsides.
ABOUT THE CANDIDATE
Mark McCallum, 50 is a native of Waterloo, Iowa . Mark has a degree in Journalism for The University of Iowa. He has served as a representative for the Historic Preservation Commission and was a board member of the Iowa City and Coralville Convention and visitors Bureau. He currently serves as a board member for Friends of Historic Preservation.
His family includes brothers Mike and Matt from Cedar Falls and Denver, Iowa . His sister Vicki Royer lives in Phoenix , Arizona.
McCallum for Council 