DES MOINES, Iowa — This week, the Des Moines City Council approved a plan to begin negotiations in a public-private partnership with homeless advocacy non-profit Joppa to build a tiny home village southeast of downtown.

The “village” of some 50 small homes would be located on the city-owned site of the former Chesterfield School at 2501 Maury Street, a location leaders say is more suitable than others considered previously.

“This is right on the bus line,” says councilman, Joe Gatto, who represents the modest neighborhood of existing small homes, a few churches, and a smattering of blue collar businesses. “It’s a good spot.”

Gatto says while he’s spoken to many in the area supportive of the idea, he’s aware that some neighbors have concerns — ranging from the look of the village itself to the effect of its residents wandering through their streets.

“I understand where they’re coming from,” Gatto said. “But we need to keep getting the correct information out to them. This isn’t going to be a tent city; this isn’t going to be a bunch of pallet homes. It’s going to be nice.”

Gatto says the development will also bring some services to support tiny home residents — services that will also be available to the rest of the residents in the neighborhood.

“We can do a food pantry,” he says, “we can (bring in) a dentist maybe once a month, or a provider to talk about healthcare. Certain types of things that that neighborhood isn’t getting on a regular basis — that they have to travel to. We’re going to bring it right to them. They can walk right out of their house and go right over there and visit with them. That’s the plan for that, and I think it’s a good plan.”

The property next must be rezoned and the council must approve a lease/purchase agreement between the city and Joppa.