Old South Tama Primary site in Tama. News-Herald file photo/John Speer

Bob Rafferty, attorney for West Des Moines developer Newbury Living, was back before the Tama City Council Monday night to again detail plans for a low-income senior citizen apartment complex proposed for the site of the former South Tama Primary School.

Before any action on a request for a ten-year, 50 percent city tax abatement can be made, the property must be rezoned by the Tama Board of Adjustment to allow the type of housing planned, council members said.

That requires a request being made on the part of the school district. Rafferty said he has been in contact with STC Superintendent Kerri Nelson and he hopes the school district will take that action. He planned to contact Nelson again on Tuesday morning, he said.

John Lloyd, Tama public works director, said a Board of Adjustment meeting and public hearing could be scheduled at the end October.

The entire project hinges on funding by Low Income Tax credits Rafferty said. The application for this funding is due Dec. 9.

He told council members the company wants to build a two-story, 33-unit complex on the property on the block bordered by Harding, Harmon and 8th and 9th streets. All would be two-bedroom apartments with up to six available at market rate under the plan and the remaining ones reserved for low-income persons age 55 and over and people with disabilities.

He said an L-shaped building is envisioned.

The school district also owns a parking lot north of the former school site at 9th and Harmon which Rafferty said school officials also want to include in the deal.

Rafferty said he has been told adjoining property owners to the parking lot have voiced complaints about water run-off during rainstorms onto their property from the parking lot.

It would be made into green space and possibly garden plots in the Newbury plan.

The old school was replaced by the South Tama Elementary School on Country Club Drive in Tama in 2006.

Tama firefighters led a practice drill for Tama County firefighters in 2007 to raze the old three story building. The property has stood as a vacant lot since then.