Region combats housing shortage one old, empty building at a time

“This is going to be a cool place to live.”

Angela Rheingans shared that sentiment during a tour of the former Iowa Mutual Insurance buildings at 509 Ninth St., DeWitt, Iowa.

If all goes as planned, the long-vacant, two-building business facility will be renovated and reinvented into a $15 million project. The major renovation project will create 53 apartments and be ready for renters…