Lloyd Companies Brings Needed Housing Options Following Natural Disaster To Rock Valley, Iowa

Even before floods ravaged Rock Valley, Iowa, in the summer of 2024, the northwest Iowa community needed more housing.

After the devastation, that need has grown to levels any small community would struggle to meet.

“Post-disaster, we’ve estimated 150 to 200 homes will need to be demolished due to the level of damage,” said David Miller, development director for the city of Rock Valley.

“Our housing market already was tight. We’re a growing community and county, and with the natural disaster it upset our whole housing market.”

Lloyd Companies is responding, developing both single-family and multifamily living options that will become available to the community as soon as next year.

The Valley Vue development will be located on the northeast side of town, on property controlled by the community’s economic development corporation that’s outside of the flood-impacted area.

The first 10 homes in the Valley Vue Homes neighborhood are projected to be complete starting in early spring of 2025, offering two-bedroom, two-bath and three-bedroom, two-bath layouts, all with garages and some including unfinished basements. Prices will range from $240,000 to $350,000.

“Our homes are thoughtfully designed with finishes that provide the perfect foundation for modern, comfortable living and combine quality with style to meet a variety of needs,” said Marisa Foster of Lloyd.

“These homes are built with care to provide affordable, quality housing and address a need within the community. After the devastating flooding, we hope these homes bring comfort and stability while supporting the community’s efforts to rebuild and grow.”

Homes will feature carpeted areas, vinyl flooring, laminate countertops and wood cabinets.

“While the homes are primarily designed as spec homes to ensure a streamlined building process and quicker move-in timelines, there will be some opportunities to upgrade specific features,” Foster said.

“These upgrades will depend on the stage of construction and individual budget considerations, allowing buyers to add personal touches to enhance their home.”
Valley Vue Apartments will be built adjacent to the single-family homes each with 36 units in two-story buildings.

The one, two and three-bedroom floors plans will offer ground-level and upper-floor apartments beginning in the fall of 2025.

“We had been looking at Rock Valley before the flood because of the industry that’s there and the fact that they were experiencing a housing shortage, so we were already interested and then the flooding exacerbated the housing problems,” said Luke Jessen, of Lloyd.

“Given the level of economic activity in Rock Valley, we think these will absorb well.”
Rock Valley, which has a population estimated at 4,150 people, has grown 30 percent in the last 20 years, Miller said.

“It’s being driven by manufacturing and industrial growth, which are the bulk of our employment, in addition to the ag side with corporate farming and dairies nearby, plus our hospital and schools.”

The partnership with Lloyd has been a powerful one, Miller said.

“Even before the flood, we were talking with Lloyd about the need for more multifamily housing, and then after the flood they stepped up with single-family too and recognized the need,” he said.

“It’s going to offset our net loss of housing as a community but also give people some answers to their housing needs.”
For Lloyd, “our experience in apartments and being able to mobilize crews that are used to working on multiple units at the same time really allows us to make this development possible,” Jessen said. “And our truss facility in Brandon, South Dakota, supports this building activity by allowing us to bring in wall panels and trusses and sequence delivery.”

The building activity is providing a boost for morale in the community too, Miller said.

Sales for homes in this development will officially begin on January 6th, 2025. Prospective residents interested in learning more about Valley Vue Homes can visit www.valleyvuehomes.com to learn more.