Community officials, developer share details as progress continues for housing development in northwest Waukon


Location of new housing development project ... The grassy location pictured in the foreground of the photo above shows the area where the housing development project between the City of Waukon and Tailwind Capital Partners, LLC will begin to take shape next year. Tailwind Capital Partners, LLC, a housing development company based out of Des Moines and involving Waukon native Ben Garrett and his business partner Jeff Spence, plans to initially construct eight twin home/duplex structures that will provide 16 residential units in the area pictured above, just to the east of 9th Street NW/State Highway 76 pictured in the immediate foreground of the photo. Standard photo by Joe Moses.

Exterior and interior examples of the twin home/duplex development ... Images above and below provide examples of what the twin home/duplex residential units could consist of through the development project the City of Waukon has partnered with Tailwind Capital Partners, LLC on to bring to Waukon, beginning next year. The development project will take place at the former “Bresnahan Property” just to the east of 9th Street NW/State Highway 76 in the northwest quadrant of Waukon and will construct eight such duplex structures similar to what is pictured above and with a two-bedroom, two-bathroom, two-car garage floor plan similar to what is pictured below, initially providing 16 residential units in that area. Submitted images.

by Joe Moses

Waukon native Ben Garrett with Tailwind Capital Partners, LLC, Waukon City Manager Gary Boden and Executive Director Val Reinke of Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) recently provided an update to The Standard relating to the planned twin home/duplex project at what is locally known as the former “Bresnahan Property” in northwest Waukon.

The update with Garrett, Boden and Reinke began with a discussion of housing needs and trends both in rural communities and urban areas within Iowa, in addition to housing needs countywide and within Waukon specifically. Reinke and Boden noted that there is much enthusiasm for the Tailwind Capital Partners twin home/duplex project at the Bresnahan Property in addition to the project taking place through developer Dexter Quandahl of Quandahl Custom Homes/Q4 Construction relating to the construction of an apartment complex within the Pladsen Addition on 8th Avenue SW that involves 36 residential units in each of two phases with Phase 1 to include two 18-plex apartment buildings.

Relating to his personal background, Garrett advised that he is a 1999 Waukon High School graduate with family ties to Waukon, noting that his father, Jim Garrett, is the former Waukon City Attorney and his mother, Kathy Hannum, is a retired school teacher. Garrett observed that there has been a lot of positive momentum in Waukon, especially in the last five years, with the downtown business community continuing to grow and improvements including the fiber optic installation, among other factors, influencing his decision to pursue housing development in Waukon. He said he has also had initial conversations in other northeast Iowa communities relating to potential housing development.

Garrett, Reinke and Boden discussed housing shortages as an issue that is not exclusive to northeast Iowa but rather as an issue statewide. Relating to the Tailwind Capital Partners project, Reinke and Boden echoed similar thoughts relating to the positive impact of the twin home/duplex project in providing additional housing options for the relocation of professionals working in a variety of industries including the medical field, retirees interested in downsizing from a larger home, among others, with the local housing market to also benefit through the increased availability of single-family homes as a result.

Garrett also provided some background relating to Tailwind Capital Partners, a housing development company based out of Des Moines, which he and his business partner Jeff Spence, a real estate broker and developer, both operate. Garrett noted similarities between his own professional experience and that of his business partner in brokerage services and housing development.

Garrett continued with an overview of the planned twin home/duplex project at the Bresnahan Property, which he advised will allow for the hiring of local contractors within an approximate 30-mile radius for the construction of eight twin homes, 16 units, with each two-bedroom/two-bathroom/two-car garage unit being just under 1,400 square feet. Garrett noted that each twin home will have a zero-entry allowing ease of access with the design of each meeting the needs of most home buyers and additional customization being an option for units sold prior to construction.

Garrett advised that it is their intent to build from west to east on the north and south side of Blue Heron Drive, the street to be added connecting this portion of the Bresnahan Property to 9th Street NW, as units are sold. Relating to the timeline of construction, Garrett further advised that it is anticipated that the first two twin homes closest to 9th Street NW will begin construction in spring 2025 with the next two twin homes to begin construction later that same year in the fall.

Relating to the development agreement between Tailwind Capital Partners and the City of Waukon, Garrett noted the infrastructure in place which was funded by the City in preparation for the development of this property, with Waukon to benefit from the twin home/duplex sales as part of this public and private partnership. Boden clarified that, per the agreement, Tailwind Capital Partners will receive the first 10-percent of profits with the remaining profits to be split 50/50 with the City.

Boden added that beyond the 16 units currently planned, Tailwind Capital Partners will have the right of first refusal relating to the development of the northern portion of the Bresnahan Property not yet planned for development. Garrett advised that Allamakee Realty will be involved in the marketing and sale of these units. Questions relating to the twin home/duplex project may be directed to agents with Allamakee Realty including Mason R. Berns and Daryl Hansmeier.