MCBD installs arch, new lights in pedestrian alleyway

Between Executive Director Deb Millizer and its legion of volunteers and board members, the Marshalltown Central Business District (MCBD) has played a key role in the process of bringing downtown back to life in the years since the 2018 tornado and 2020 derecho. The organization recently added another feather to its cap with the completion of an arch over the pedestrian alley between Wax Xtatic Record Shop and the Tremont on West Main Street -- complete with a vintage 'M' -- and new lights to go with it.

Along with Millizer, MCBD Board Member Jim Johnson was also on hand Wednesday night to explain how he feels the arch and lights improve the overall aesthetic of that block and downtown as a whole.

"I just think the goal is (that) we're always trying to better downtown, make it look nicer and more inviting, and this is a walkthrough that goes from the parking area to the downtown. So we're just trying to make it look as inviting and nice as possible," Johnson said.

Millizer noted that the project is part of a larger creative placemaking effort around the community, and she hopes it will help those who park in the lot to the south feel safer as they walk up to Main Street to shop, especially in the winter months when the sun sets so early. The lights will be adjusted with each season to reflect different themes.

"Part of placemaking is security, safety and comfort, which all of this adds. It's an experience. There's been summers where we have had concerts in the back parking lot. This just adds to the ambience and experience," she said. "It just adds to the overall experience."

With the benches in the alleyway, those who order food from one of the nearby restaurants could choose to eat it outside as well, Millizer added. Marshalltown City Councilor Gary Thompson, who happened to be leaving Wax Xtatic while Millizer and Johnson were being interviewed, said he "loved" the project.

"I absolutely love it. I love the lights. I hope we can do more things like that," Thompson said.

Plans for some sort of an archway have been in development for a few years now, and the MCBD worked with Central Iowa Machine Shop on the finished product -- both Johnson and Millizer were quick to credit the company for providing a deep discount. The MCBD budgeted for the project for four years and paid for it out of its own operational fund.

Originally, there were conversations about placing the archway in the back for those who were walking in from the parking lot, but they ultimately decided it should be facing Main Street where it has maximum visibility.

"Jim and I had done some research on different ways the arch could look, different styles, and we decided that we really wanted to do something that was directional. As (with) our arrows on the ground, you know, you're coming and going, you're going forward, and so we really wanted to kind of match the design in that," Millizer said. "We came up with the design (and) took it to Central Iowa Machine Shop. We knew we wanted to have a lit sign. The Central Business District is downtown, so we wanted to make sure we paid homage to that as well."

Johnson was excited to report that there are more projects like this one to come -- "decorative things that everybody can enjoy" -- in the near future, and he, Millizer and the rest of the MCBD's board members and volunteers can't wait to share them with the community.

"We've got some big projects coming next summer. We hope they work out, and we'll keep everybody informed on those," Johnson said.

Millizer is excited about the potential for a larger downtown Renaissance and wants projects like these to help catalyze it.

"Let's face it. Aesthetics do matter, and we have been beat up downtown for five years. And I hope the city takes this as a symbol of revitalization and embraces it and looks forward to adding more to the downtown," she said.

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Contact Robert Maharry

at 641-753-6611 ext. 255 or

rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.