T-R FILE PHOTO Marshalltown Senior Residences, 201 E. Main St., shows damage shortly after the July 2018 EF-3 tornado. All tenants were required to vacate. Debris has been removed, and property is secured behind a tall chain link fence.

An historic downtown building key to providing affordable housing which suffered extensive damage from the July 2018 tornado is in the running for a major makeover.

Before the tornado, the Marshalltown Senior Residences building located at 201 E. Main St., provided 28 one and two-bedroom units of affordable housing.

Tenants were disabled individuals or those who were at least 55 years old. The building was at or near full occupancy pre-tornado. City officials declared it unsafe for occupancy.

At the Nov. 11 city council meeting, councilors voted to approve a $75,000 pre-application to the Iowa Economic Development Authority in Des Moines.

“The IEDA will review the application to ensure it consistent with their guidelines,” city administrator Jessica Kinser said. “If approved, it will be a major positive impact to the central business district.”

The $75,000 will come from a $1 million dollar Catalyst Grant fund awarded to the city by the state.

Building owner Cohen-Esrey of Overland Park, Kan. said the $75,000 in grant funds is earmarked to help pay for substantial interior damage repair. The rear portion of the fourth floor of the building was also heavily damaged and is in need of repair.

The company estimates building repairs will cost approximately $3.4 million.

Other resources to be applied toward repairs according to figures provided by Cohen-Esrey are:

• $36,000 Marshalltown Central Business Development grant

• $289,711 in cash

• $3 million from insurance.

President and CEO of Cohen-Esrey R. Lee Harris was delighted with the initial re-model when it opened to the public in August 2015.

“Our goal was to create a beautiful, as well as an affordable, housing development. In the process we fulfilled two public policy missions – delivering affordable housing as well as the preservation of a historic structure,” he said. “The collaboration of organizations, agencies and financial partners joining together on this project is a wonderful example of what a thriving community looks like.”

History of 201 E. Main St.

The history of the Marshalltown Senior Residences building is significant. It was constructed in 1894, and was financed by prominent residents – Thaddeus Binford, G. F. Kirby and F. J. Woodbury. It was originally known as the Letts-Fletcher building. There are still remnants of the former Letts-Fletcher building visible to the public. The business once contributed to Marshalltown’s legacy as “Little Pittsburgh” in the early 1900s. Above the Main Street entrance, two gray cherubs made of concrete can be seen holding an ornate stone banner with “L-F Co.” Two stately gray columns, one on each side of the entryway, serve as pedestals for the cherubs. In its heyday, Letts-Fletcher had 44 employees in several departments and annually handled around 500 rail carloads of merchandise, in addition to smaller shipments. Its floors and basement were completely stocked with thousands of articles that made up its wholesale grocery stock. Cheese, coffee, corn, soaps, syrups, sugar, tomatoes and more comprised its inventory which was sold to cafes, retail grocers, institutions, hotels and restaurants. In 1901, it became local headquarters for Western Grocer Co. Many residents remember Western Grocer’s famous Jack Spratt products.

The most recent owner prior to Cohen-Esrey’s purchase was former local businessman Lew Miller who operated Iowa Wholesale & Supply at the address for many years.

After the sale Miller retired to Colorado.

——

Contact Mike Donahey

at 641-753-6611 or

mdonahey@timesrepublican.com