by Mari Radtke
Primghar Action Corporation (PAC) is busy using its available assets and forming partnerships with the City of Primghar to make homes available in Primghar for new residents. The development corporation is in the midst of two housing projects. They are known as Pac IV and a second project is known as PAC V and VI.
PAC IV is a housing project that is a joint effort between the City of Primghar and PAC. Through a third party, Brian Feltman, a house was made available to PAC for relocation onto a new site.
A couple south of Primghar farmed 80 acres for more than 20 years. As time goes things change. He passed away. She moved for more healthcare. The farm was sold. The buyer wanted to clear an estimated 12-15 acres. He hired Feltman to clear trees, buildings and anything else and made the outbuildings available to Feltman to use as he wished.
An agreement to have the house moved to a city lot was signed in May 2022. The newly cleared ground was farmed in 2023. Feltman found a reuse for each building. The house found a home in Primghar.

PAC paid the legal expenses of the City to transfer title of the empty lot at 280 N Welch Ave.
Rodd Holtkamp of Primghar Advancement Corporation described the property as “a huge corner lot.” Feltman prepped the lot to receive the house which included digging a new basement, grass seeding and some other work. Holtkamp went on to say, “The house was structurally sound. It had a good frame.” The work done included the installation of 4 egress windows to the new basement; new siding, insulation, windows roof and an attached, 2-stall garage was added. The inside has new floor covering, paint kitchen… it was “gutted and we started all over.” The main floor has 3 bedrooms and a nice sized bathroom. The large, unfinished basement is plumbed for a buyers choice of uses. The basement has had no water in it during these heavy rains.
Most of the work was done by local contactors; Van Beek Electric, B&K Plumbing & Heating and Corey Crouch Construction. Most of the material was purchased locally through Neal Chase Lumber.
PAC V and VI is a duplex under construction north of the golf course. One of the units has already sold. This project not only adds available housing to Primghar and its tax base, it brings back home a family.
Judy Mehrens has agreed to purchase one of the units, making her rural home available. Her son is returning to the home farm with his family. This is a “Cinderella” story. The remaining unit is 2-bedroom with a master bath and a guest bath. They are built on grade concrete foundation. The unit features an open floor plan with a concrete shelter/closet and a 2-car garage.
Each of these homes is available for Primghar’s 10-year tax abatement program.
These homes are listed with Corey Elgersma of ISB Real Estate.