DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A former mayor in eastern Iowa is trying to revitalize a troubled neighborhood by encouraging more private investment with his move to the area. In September, former Davenport mayor Ed Winborn and his wife, Sandy, purchased a home at auction in a Davenport neighborhood filled with grand but often empty houses. The Quad-City Times reports that five of the 15 properties on the north side of the Winborns’ block are listed by the Scott County Assessor’s Office as owner-occupied.

Ed Winborn has also attempted to keep the city’s core from deteriorating by bringing together a group of stakeholders last month. Winborn called the meeting to brainstorm and identify other investors, including business owners, administrators of various trusts and representatives from local colleges.