At the 6-year post-tornado point, we have to be more than 60 percent toward the 10-year watermark that sees cities brag about their new and greatly improved downtown. Take Cedar Rapids for example. At a recent bench-bar conference there, we enjoyed the verve downtown and at the Czech Village. Restaurants, visitor sites, trails, shops, hotels, the convention center and even the parking system were better than ever before.

Except for our tree population that will take three decades to replenish, Marshalltown will see the same 10-year revival. Our medical community already has a brand new hospital with a phenomenal surgical theater and wound center, and three medical clinics and a mental health center all in newer and better spaces. The college has a new and more attractive face. Residential building is happening at the fastest pace in decades, with other developers inquiring about opportunities. The south side is booming.

On the north side, Karl Auto significantly expanded and improved the buildings and inventory, and created the number of well-paying jobs they had predicted. Riverview Park improvements are continuing, and there is a much safer, better street directing truck traffic to JBS.

It is the center of town that was hit hardest by the tornado and is now showing the most improvements visible to visitors. Some of our grandest, oldest buildings are back to life with new facades.

Upper story living is visible when driving down Main at night. Even those without lights on now have new windows where there had been plywood for years. The Orpheum is alive with school district events such as the state esports competition. The Outlet co-work space provides business and meeting spaces such as its artist collaborative gatherings, next to the newly opened Century 21 office.

Across the street, Doo Dah’s has reopened under new ownership with potential plans for upper story development. Retail is alive in the recently relocated Oliver Beene Store and continues in the Real Deals store. Jeff Simms has the skill set to remake the old Gildner’s Building into retail and living space, while uncovering the beauty of the original brick facade. The courthouse is now as pretty inside and out. The empty lot created by the Fantles Building destruction came to life as an ice-skating rink, albeit for only a few days given the early thaw.

Brit Marie’s moved into a bigger space and now has men’s clothing, and Nina’s moved into her space next to Hellberg’s. Four busy restaurants occupy the same block on Main Street, with BBQ, Italian and Asian fare, one having sushi that in my opinion rivals any that we enjoy in Des Moines.

A huge part of the Main Street renovation is attributable to the hard work of our Chamber of Commerce and our Central Business District organizations, now sharing space in the gorgeous Willards-Hopkins, with snazzy living space above them. Continuing to the west, La Michoacána, which has all kinds of flavors of ice cream made onsite and with tacos, was opened by a former Marshalltown resident. Nied’s Pharmacy, built by an MHS grad, recently added an attractive sign out front. Yes, there are still spaces that can be developed, but rest assured that our chamber director is in communication with investors to do just that.

Every anniversary, my mind goes back to the three worst problems we faced immediately after the EF-3 tornado. How many people died or were seriously hurt? Would Lennox rebuild or relocate? Well, rebuild they did and the new building front with its museum is gorgeous and the plant is in full operation.

Will JBS get back into operation after the country’s largest cooling building was ripped open? It sure did. And will those whose houses and apartments were destroyed or badly damaged find living spaces? That one took longer, and the school district definitely saw an immediate drop in attendance, but the neighborhoods hit hardest have seen a lot of repairs, and some new construction, but housing permits and new multi-unit buildings have been increasing our housing stock significantly.

Reflecting back, we are doing just fine in our recovery, and, if we get the Linn Creek and River’s Edge Trail grants we are applying for, we will have phenomenal things for tourists and locals of all ages to enjoy!

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Joel Greer is the mayor of Marshalltown and is currently serving as the acting city administrator.