T-R PHOTO BY LANA BRADSTREAM On Friday, a construction crew pours cement for the Marshalltown Lofts being built on the corner of State Street and First Avenue. Construction for the project began weeks ago and was temporarily slowed down due to snow.

Construction of the long-awaited Marshalltown Lofts project is underway.

Construction on the first floor of the $8.9 million four-story apartment complex is taking shape. The complex will feature 52 residential units. Thirty-three of the units will be one bedroom apartments, eight will be two bedrooms and 11 will have three bedrooms.

“We’re racing forward to get this project up,” said Richard Sova, president of Landover Corporation. “We’re anxious to get the framework up.”

Housing at the lofts will be income restricted. There is not an age restriction. The projected finish date is October for the complex at 20 E. State St.

It may seem spring has arrived abruptly but Sova said it was a slow start to the construction season. His crew had to deal with frozen soil while starting its underground work but he said it is not uncommon for this time of the year.

“We lost probably two or three weeks just because of that,” he said. “Then we lose time because of snow because they have to go out and clear snow off the site. We’ve lost several days because of that also.”

The loss of days to the weather has not thrown Landover off of making the expected completion date though.

“It’ll depend on the weather and how much rain we get in the spring,” he said. “As soon as we get through the spring we don’t lose very many days.”

What the public can expect to see in the coming weeks is the building’s truss and frame to be finished. Then the roof, siding and windows will be installed. Afterward a majority of the work will be on the interior, running utilities, drywalling and eventually adding fixtures.

“The city has been working with us on the various inspections required,” Sova said. “I think we’re working well with the city and everything is moving forward nicely.”

The need for more housing options has long been discussed at the city level.

“This will be a positive project for downtown and for those needing affordable housing,” said Jessica Kinser, city administrator. “It is one of the many bright spots on the horizon for Marshalltown.”

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Contact Joe Fisher at

jfisher@timesrepublican.com