T-R FILE PHOTO - Marshalltown Senior Residences, 201 E. Main St., shows damage shortly after the July 19 EF-3 tornado. Debris was removed from the sidewalk and street while the building was fenced off.

An iconic Marshalltown Main Street building will be getting a post-tornado facelift.

The Marshalltown Senior Residences, 201 E. Main St., will be repaired and cleanup of the site will be begin early next week.

Cohen-Esrey Development Director Brian Sweeney gave the good news to the Marshalltown City Council Monday night. Sweeney was at the lectern discussing another proposed Cohen-Esrey project when he was asked him about the Cedar Rapids-based company’s plan for the 28-unit building extensively damaged during the July 19 tornado.

The tenants were displaced, but found alternative housing, according to First Ward Councilor Sue Cahill, who has worked on their behalf.

Currently a tall chain link fence surrounds the property, keeping passersby and vehicles away from bricks and other debris on the sidewalk. A number of East Main Street travelers reported seeing bricks from the top fall to the ground.

Mayor Joel Greer reported to councilors earlier this year he found it necessary to call the company, who purchased the building several years ago, for a clean-up progress report.

However, Sweeney told the council it took approximately three months of work with insurers and others to determine a concrete plan.

Marshalltown councilors received more good news when Sweeney said Cohen-Esrey was seriously interested in purchasing property near 201 E. Main St. for more housing development which would compliment MSR. Sweeney said the proposal could add 48 to 52 more housing units.

Consequently, after additional discussion councilors voted 6-0 (At-Large Councilor Bill Martin was absent) passing a resolution expressing intent to consider a development agreement for the construction of affordable housing units.

Councilors received even more good news when J.B. Conlin of Conlin Development Group, LLC, in Des Moines reported his company is interested in building an estimated 55 housing units on an approximately 6.5-acres behind Wal-Mart on East Merle Hibbs Road.

City Housing and Community Development Director Michelle Spohnheimer said the property is owned by the Hibbs family, who had donated the property to the city several years ago as a site for a proposed west-side fire station.

However, at the start of construction of the new joint police-fire station in the 900 block of South Second Street last year, the city returned the land to the Hibbs family.

Motivating Cohen-Esrey, Conlin Developments and others to look at Marshalltown as sites for new projects was action taken earlier this year by the Iowa Housing Finance Authority in Des Moines. That entity set-aside housing tax credits because of the devastation to the town’s housing stock resulting from the tornado.

In other action:

• Greer asked for a moment of silence for the late Richard Stone, who died last week. Stone was director of Marshalltown Transit system for a number of years. “He did a nice job managing the city’s system,” Greer said. Stone also served on the Senior Citizens Council, which set policy for the Senior Citizen Center.

• Council approved a new Class C Liquor License for the Opa Grill, 4 W. Boone St. (location of former Brew House). One of the business owners told council the restaurant will feature Greek and Mediterranean food. It will open in the near future.

• After extensive debate, council approved a plan to allow staff to proceed with getting cost estimates to construct a 100 x 120 foot airplane hangar at the Marshalltown Municipal Airport. Greer and other councilors said it was necessary to get a cost estimate and determine financing options.

“We could lose a prospective industry to Grinnell, Newton or Pella,” Greer said. “Those communities have recently expanded their airports to allow for larger corporate aircraft. Currently, there is not a hangar big enough at our airport to park a JBS corporate aircraft. They must drop off their passengers and fly to Newton, who does have a hangar large enough. JBS employs 2,600 here with a payroll in the millions, we need to show them good faith. Of course, we must examine all financial resources available.” His comments were echoed by Lamer, who said the city must get accurate cost estimates and be aggressive in seeking out grants and other financial resources to help lower city cash commitment.

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Contact Mike Donahey at

641-753-6611 or

mdonahey@timesrepublican.com