Main Street gives downtown Le Mars renovation boost

A Main Street Design grant enabled Rod, Sheila and Todd Anderson to restore the entire front of The Mantrap in Central Avenue in Le Mars. (Sentinel photo by Beverly Van Buskirk) [Click to enlarge]

As a Main Street community, Le Mars businesses located in the Main Street designated area have the opportunity to improve their visual appearance.

Main Street director Mary Reynolds explained the Main Street design aspect allows those qualifying businesses to improve their facades or new signage, with the local Main Street organization providing grant funds.

"We're lucky that the City of Le Mars has funded our program," Reynolds explained.

The second story windows above The Perfect Image on Plymouth Street were replaced with help from a Main Street grant. The grants are offered for facade restoration and signage. (Sentinel photo by Beverly Van Buskirk) [Click to enlarge]

Since 2004, the Le Mars Main Street program has received a total of $100,000 from the City of Le Mars.

"The city council awards us the money to be able to help businesses in the Main Street district to improve their facades and signage," Reynolds said.

According to program guidelines, building owners must put in at least 50 percent of the total cost of the project.

Assistance also comes from the Iowa Department of Economic Development Main Street Division.

"Tim Reinders, a designer from Des Moines, comes to Le Mars twice a year to assess buildings we might want to have work done to," Reynolds said.

In 2009, Reynolds said 11 projects were completed, with four done in 2008.

"We've had major work done by JRE Property Pros, located across the street from Olson Cultural Event Center," Reynolds said.

Lisa Wagner-Manthe is moving the business to that new location. Renovation there includes new windows and an awning.

"The Mantrap restoration was a very big project and we are very pleased with it," Reynolds said.

Owners Rod, Sheila and Todd Anderson restored the building facade to a more historical look.

Todd Anderson had talked with Reynolds about redoing the front of the Mantrap building.

"She told me about the Main Street program and the grant money available," Anderson said. They applied and were approved for the grant, enabling them to finish the project this fall.

"The Main Street Grant helped us," Anderson said. "We thought we would only do the bottom of the business. With the grant, we were able to the top and painting of the scroll work."

They added old-fashioned lights to the front of the business.

"We've gotten tons of comments on the older style lights. People like it," Anderson said.

Anderson met with Reinders who made suggestions, took pictures of the business and then provided computer-generated options.

"We went with one of those options," Anderson said. "We were both on the same page as far as what we were thinking for the front."

They added a window to the front to even out the look of the building, enhancing the brick facade. Reinders suggested painting the top.

"It's a great opportunity to use the Main Street program to help," Anderson added.

Reynolds said the committee is pleased with the improved brick work and old fashion lights.

"We're delighted they painted the unique brickwork at the top of the building," Reynolds said. "Now you look up and see a beautiful new look to the building. It ties in with the color of the canopies on the windows. It's another project we're very happy to have done."

Another project Main Street has worked on for more than a year is Perfect Image on Plymouth Street, which included restoration of the second story windows.

"That was quite a job. The windows fit in, but we sometimes forget that brickwork is not the same now as it was a long time ago," Reynolds said. "They had to do some extra insulation work to fill in those gaps where the bricks jig and jag."

Other projects include the awning on the handicap access at the Le Mars Community Theatre and new signage for Bixenman Insurance above the building.

"We still have funds available and want to make sure building owners are aware of that," Reynolds said.

Reynolds encourages building and business owners looking into restoration and signage to talk with her and Design Committee members to find out if their qualify for assistance.

Any building or business owner must fill out a Main Street Grant Application.

"Our Main Street Design Committee assesses the request for funds and project," Reynolds explained.

Once the grant is approved, the owner may begin the restoration work.

Acceptable projects, according to the application, includes metal removal; awnings and signage; exterior painting; repainting/cleaning and/or repair of bricks (no sandblasting); upper window and transom repair or replacement; and restoration of architectural details.

The Main Street Design Committee members, Linda Mayrose, Peg Worden and Randy Becker, have been working with several businesses for projects to be worked on in 2010.

Reynolds noted Jim Flaherty plans work on his State Farm Insurance building and the group is working with trustees of the American Legion.

The look of the downtown does make a difference, according to Reynolds.

"When we were doing the market analysis study, a gentleman working with us from Chicago was very impressed with how our downtown looked," she said. He told Reynolds Le Mars has a great looking downtown and a wonderful combination of stores.

"We have to appreciate that fact and stop and take a look, rather than saying what we're missing," Reynolds said.