Students cross State Street (U.S. highway 63) on their way for the last day of school at the old South Tama Primary in Tama in May, 2006. The school was replaced with a new elementary school opened in the fall. News-Herald file photo

Newbury Living, a West Des Moines property development company, has pulled the plug on a proposed senior citizen housing complex in Tama. The company had sought to build a 33 unit complex on the site of the former South Tama Primary School on the block bordered by Harding (U.S. Highway 63) Oswego and 8th and 9th streets.

Frank Levy, Newbury Living president, told The News Herald in an email reply to a request for information on Monday night, Oct. 20, the company’s research had found the market “thin” for senior housing in Tama County.

The development was subject to approval by the Tama Board of Adjustment.

Newbury planned to seek a 50 percent tax abatement for 10 years on the property.

South Tama Schools Superintendent Kerri Nelson told The News-Herald she had been informed by Newbury Living attorney Bob Rafferty the company was no longer interested in the primary school site last week.

The now vacant block square site of the South Tama Primary School in Tama. The building was razed in 2007 in a Tama County firefighters practice session led by the Tama Fire Department. News-Herald file photo

She said the school has no other offers for the property at this time. It has stood vacant since 2007 when the old school building was razed in a county-wide fire department practice session led by Tama firefighters.

The senior apartments were the second venture by Newbury Living to build in Tama.

The city council declined to sell property in Indian Hills for an apartment complex aimed at providing housing to fill some of the expected needs of new Iowa Premium Beef employees.

IPB is reopening the former Tama Pack on Tama’s east side and has announced initial employment of 600.

Levy did write the company remains committed to building a 24-unit apartment complex on the Budget Inn motel site in Toledo to provide housing for expected IPB employees.

He said that plan remains dependent upon an award from the Iowa Economic Development Authority. That decision is expected in January.

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