EconoLodge Urbandale to be demolished for affordable housing

Catch up quick: The city of Urbandale bought the two-acre site for $1.9 million in September "for blight remediation purposes."

• One of the hotel's three buildings had been significantly damaged by fire earlier this year, according to the Business Record.

Driving the news: Supervisors unanimously agreed to pay up to $500,000 to demolish the buildings using interest earnings from unspent federal pandemic allocations designated for housing assistance.

• Up to 55 units will be constructed at the location, 10841 Douglas Ave.
• The project is still in the early planning stages — supervisors were told during a Nov. 20 staff meeting that a developer, budget, and timeline haven't been determined yet.

What's next: Hotel demolition is anticipated in the coming months.

• A site development process will come sometime next year, Urbandale assistant city manager Curtis Brown tells Axios.