The former AirTemp building (lower) and the current look (upper)
Some of the downtown area buildings in Jefferson continue to get a facelift.
City Administrator Mike Palmer tells Raccoon Valley Radio the exterior work on the former AirTemp building on the east side of the downtown square is completed. He says Heritage Insurance is up and running in the north bay and the south bay that was purchased by Philip and Bridgette Heisterkamp still needs the interior to be done before their healthy food and coffee business, Mustard Seed Coffee House, can open.
Palmer says two other buildings have taken advantage of the city’s facade rehabilitation grant program, including the REMAX/Legacy and Midwest Behavioral Health that is owned by Nikki Uebel, as well as Breadeaux Pizza on the south side of the square. He points out the program is an application process with a 50/50 match from the building owner to use tax increment financing (TIF) to pay for the exterior renovations.
“By TIF rules, we have to incur a debt but then ask for reimbursement through the city. I believe the limit they’ve (the city council) set is no more than $600,000 a year. Long range, a lot of these facades are getting complete now. So we’re going down to more like $300,000 a year is what we’re estimating we’ll be asking for.”
Palmer talks about another requirement for the program, which utilizes a free service through the Main Street Iowa program.
“One of the requirements to apply for this facade improvement program is to get some conceptual drawings completed by Main Street (Iowa). Those are very powerful in their nature on what they show can be done by these architects (that) do historic work.”
Palmer says both buildings have completed that step and gotten approval for the grant through the city council. Uebel’s building plans include repairing and restoring the brick storefront, along with replacing windows and doors, and installing a decorative rooftop for a total between $235,000 and $275,000. Breadeaux’s plans include installing new brickwork and new storefront glass, following damage from recent storms for a total of $47,979.