Two 100-year-old Iowa homes saved from demolition to house refugee families

Two century-old homes in Davenport that had once been marked for demolition have gained a new lease on life and are set to become homes for refugee families. Foundation of First Presbyterian Church and Tapestry Farms led an eighteen-month effort to transform these homes.The project was inspired by a concert in March 2025 by the Justice Choir of the Midwest that benefited Tapestry Farms where the need for housing for refugee families was highlighted. The church then cancelled the demolition contract and began working with the organisation to rehabilitate the homes. It will welcome new families into the neighbourhood near First Presbyterian Church in central Davenport. "These houses have already been part of this community for more than 100 years," said Nancy Chapman, a member of First Presbyterian who led the project. "Now they have the opportunity to serve our community in a renewed way.