Students in the Spring semester Policy and Persuasion course continued developing policy recommendations around high-priority housing issues in Waterloo, building on work done by groups in the previous semester and creating both policy recommendations and resources.

Students in the Fall semester Policy and Persuasion course worked with Waterloo representatives to first identify some of the most pressing issues related to home ownership and affordability, and then to develop policy recommendations for the City moving forward.

Four student groups focused on distinct, yet overlapping housing issues:

As part of their Senior Design Capstone course, Civil & Environmental Engineering students created a master plan for development of a 24-acre greenfield site in Manchester, Iowa.

As part of their capstone project, second-year graduate students from the School of Planning & Public Affairs created a neighborhood plan for Waterloo's Church Row neighborhood.  

The City of Waterloo (pop. 67,798) sought assistance with the development of a Neighborhood Plan for Church Row, a core neighborhood located near downtown in order to foster a more safe, attractive, and welcoming area that provides opportunities for economic development, healthy and affordable living, and a high quality of life for residents. 

As part of their Senior Design Capstone course, Civil & Environmental Engineering students created designs for development of a new residential neighborhood in Manchester, as well as a stormwater management plan for the site. 

Graduate students in the course Housing Policy in the School of Urban & Regional Planning completed a Housing Needs Assessment for the City of North Liberty.

As part of their Senior Design Capstone course, Civil & Environmental Engineering students created designs for development of a new residential neighborhood in Bellevue, as well as a stormwater management plan for the site. 

As part of the Senior Design Capstone Course, Civil & Environmental Engineering students created a design concept and engineering report for the functional reuse of upper-story space in the Jacobson building, a prominent and historic landmark in downtown Clinton.

Graduate students in the School of Social Work conducted a study to better understand the pervasiveness, causes, and consequences of housing insecurity in Keokuk. 

Students in the Department of Rhetoric class Public Policy and Persuasion developed policy briefings for Keokuk community partners, with the broad goal of helping to ensure safe, sanitary, and secure housing options for Keokuk residents. 

As part of their capstone project, second-year graduate students from the School of Urban & Regional Planning created a redevelopment plan for downtown Keokuk, Iowa.

As part of their Senior Design Capstone course, Civil & Environmental Engineering students designed a multi-family residential structure for a specific site in Mason City.