WAPELLO, Iowa —Wapello’s housing stock might get a makeover.

The Wapello City Council Thursday night reviewed the efforts of the Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission to obtain two housing grants for Wapello.

An estimated 20-block area between the Louisa County Fairgrounds and Wapello High School offers the best combination of conditions for a Community Development Block Grant housing rehabilitation award, according to Dan Eberhardt, a housing specialist with the planning commission. The federal block grants are awarded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The area he cited has older homes in need of repair that are close to schools and have green spaces. It makes them attractive, Eberhardt said.

According to previous discussions, eligible property owners within the proposed target area could receive up to $24,999 in forgivable loans for rehabilitation efforts. Eberhardt told the Council that around 20 surveys had already been returned and showed strong interest in the area for submitting a grant application.

“It looks like it’s receiving a lot of positive feedback,” Eberhardt said about the proposal.

A Nov. 5 public hearing on the proposal has been set.

Eberhardt also updated the Council on a second grant the commission is seeking through federal flood relief programs. Under this grant, eligible homebuyers could receive a grant to fund 30 percent of the construction of a new home, up to $45,000. Eberhardt said around $1.75 million is expected to be divided between Louisa and Des Moines counties.

Half of that money would be targeted towards homebuyers who earn 80 percent or less of the county’s median household income, while the other half would go to buyers who earn up to the median income. The new home could not exceed $150,000 in value.

“We’re going to partner up with developers and we’re going to have to get some lots if we’re going to make this work,” Eberhardt said.