Several downtown buildings in Jefferson recently have new facades, while others are in the process of getting a facelift.

Jefferson Matters Executive Director Matt Wetrich tells Raccoon Valley Radio one of those buildings is on the corner of Wilson Avenue and East Lincoln Way, with Legacy ReMax and Midwest Behavioral Health Services.

“A lot of demo this week and it’s going to be really neat to see the modernized, yet reflection of the original historical look of the building. We’re really excited to see. These corner buildings are crucial. We have really, I think done a rockstar job on a lot of our corner buildings and more to come, obviously.”     

The building owners, Nikki and Rudy Uebel were also one of the most recent recipients of an Iowa Economic Development Authority Challenge Grant for $100,000, a Jefferson Facade grant and other funding resources. 

Another building that is undergoing an exterior renovation is the “Courtyard on State Street,” across the alley from the Sierra Community Theatre, where owners Greg and Shirley Hacker are going to turn into an event rental space. 

Wetrich points out one downtown building that recently completed exterior improvements include the Highland Medical Group, which was the former Prairie Lake Area Education Agency on the north side of the square. 

“And they’ve done a beautiful job on that facade, kind of matching Fudge’s (Flowers and Gifts) next to them, and Methayler’s (Photography) next to them. It’s a nice little trifecta there. It’s going to be neat to see. They’re really looking at big investments in that entire building too. So it’s really cool to see what else they’re going to do.”   D

The final building is Greene Bean Coffee with building owner Rich Osborne. He recently had new glass windows installed and repaired the roof, along with renovating the upper story apartment.