Shenandoah, Iowa, has had a spirited debate over the past year about the fate of the historic Johnson Brothers Mill building. The Shenandoah Urban Renewal Plan involves four properties but the main focus has been on Johnson Mills. The reason for this is simple. It does have historic value to many Shenandoah residents and because of it's location and blighted state it has become an eyesore for the downtown area.
I will briefly pose both options here which will be also be discussed further at the City Council meeting on March 12. Between now and then the Council members are gathering public feedback on the two plans. A link is provided at the bottom of this post to a poll I've put together. Otherwise the poll is listed at the right.
Option 1 - On busy Sheridan avenue Johnson Mills and the old Radio Shack will be demolished. Also on Sheridan and at the epicenter of downtown retail the Shenandoah Home Furnishings building will be purchased and renovated for the Shenandoah Chamber to relocate. They will reside in one half the building and use the other half as a new business incubator. A couple blocks off Sheridan by the Earl May offices the Nishnaland Seed building will also be demolished. In addition, Option 1 includes the replacement of the downtown Walk of Fame tiles. They are going on twelve years old and will be replaced with granite tiles as is used in Des Moines.
The benefits of Option 1 is the removal of three blighted eyesore properties from downtown Shenandoah and the placing of the Shenandoah Home Furnishings building back on the tax rolls.
In my opinion the negative affects of Option 1 is that because of the location of Johnson Mills next to a railroad that only carries hazardous chemicals the possibilities are slim that anyone would purchase the land and build on it. If this happens then we are looking at a huge hole in downtown Shenandoah for the next couple generations. Though not as big the same can be said of the old Radio Shack.
Option 2 - On busy Sheridan avenue Johnson Mills and the old Radio Shack will be renovated. No change from Option 1 on the Shenandoah Home Furnishings building, Nishnaland Seed building or the Walk of Fame tile replacement.
The benefits of Option 2 is that we save a historic building. Renovating it would not only alleviate an eyesore but make it an intriguing focus for the downtown area. Plus we retain the hope, possibility and more of a likelihood of an investor to seriously consider the property. This also retains the hope of putting the property back on the tax rolls.
There is already a business owner interested in the old Radio Shack building. That should be enough said. Renovating and readying that building for business will place it back on the tax rolls. It's a "win win."
No change in pros and cons from Option 1 on Nishnaland Seed and the Shenandoah Home Furnishings building.
It is obvious why the Johnson Mills building is the focus. Visitors primarily enter downtown Shenandoah from the west end of Sheridan. After a few businesses, a few housing establishments and the Iowa Wester Community College branch you hit Johnson Mills as the gateway to downtown. It's blighted nature inherently marks a negative impression. Immense positive feedback has been offered from visitors, especially corporate, about the Shenandoah Inn and also the theater. They are convenient, clean and have both been erected and revitalized with City oversight. To increase traffic and retain the quality of downtown impressions it is necessary to renovate the Johnson Mills building. A nice unique building with a flatiron design is a much better option than a huge empty plot with visitors unavoidably wondering what was there.
These are the two options of the Shenandoah Urban Renewal Plan as I interpret it. It is also obvious which one I am leaning toward. Since November or December 2012 I was starting to lean toward demolishing Johnson Mills but still held hope that it would hold out. When this new proposal of Option 2 came it was a relief and retained a vital element needed in all progress and revitalization - hope!
Click on the poll - Renovation
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