Two prime Main Street properties are opening up for redevelopment, and Marshalltown city leaders are seeking the public’s input on what should come next.

Last week, a public survey, which is available in English and Spanish, went live on the city website asking what should be built at the corners of First and Main Street and Center and Main Street.

“It doesn’t take very long. We want to get input on what you want to see on these two corners,” said Michelle Spohnheimer, Housing and Community Development Director.

The survey will be open until early August. Additionally, city representatives will be posted up at both locations during Bee Ridiculous Days on July 30 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The public is asked to stop by to voice their ideas and share their visions for future development.

The survey has received more than 200 responses since opening, which Spohnheimer considers a fantastic start. She hopes to see 500 or more responses by the time it closes.

“We want people to be thinking creatively about what they want to do downtown,” she said. “What do you want your experience to be? What do you want to visit downtown for? Is it coming for live entertainment, food, retail?”

Both spots are being redeveloped as part of the brownfields program, which targets properties that carry some risk for potential developers due to the presence of hazardous materials or pollutants. Asbestos removal was a part of the demolition of both previous buildings.

The projects are funded through the Environmental Protection Agency, grant funding and a technical assistance partnership.

After the visioning process is complete, the project will move to the market analysis phase. Astig Planning, a consulting firm contracted with the city, will collect data and lead the event on Bee Ridiculous Days. They will then study the data to find what the top priority visions were. From there, the EPA will conduct a market analysis to determine which projects are viable and what funding gaps need to be filled.

Doing research up front will help the city find developers for its projects, Spohnheimer said.

“We try to connect with developers that have done similar projects around the state and region,” she said. “We’re doing a lot of that marketing closely with the Chamber especially. Ideally, it would be great if we have a local developer. We definitely want to have a conversation with them too.”

Although Spohnheimer isn’t exactly sure when, the results of the survey, community engagement event and market analysis will be made publicly available in some way. In the past, citywide survey data has been made available on the city’s website.

The Reimagining Downtown Marshalltown survey is open on the city’s website at marshalltown-ia.gov. It can be taken in English and Spanish.

A community engagement event will be held at the corners of First Street and Main Street, and Center Street and Main Street during Bee Ridiculous Days on July 30, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.