The month of May is dedicated to National Preservation Month, a time to celebrate the diverse and unique heritage of our country’s cities and states.…
Thanks to a building and manufacturing boom in the late 1800s and early 1900s, plenty of big industrial warehouses, factories, and similar structures stand in urban centers and small cities across the Midwest. Many now sit empty; stoic relics of a bygone time that present challenges to their communities.…
Whether you’re a commercial developer, public entity or homeowner, it can be daunting to consider how to make your historic property work for your needs yet remain feasible for future generations. But let’s be clear – much of what you may have heard about restoration projects probably isn’t true.…
A one and a half story, wood-framed structure sits just off Highway 141, south of Coon Rapids, Iowa.…
Hotel Maytag in Newton, IA Offers Great Reasons
“The City realized the building was going to go further downhill unless something was done. We stepped in, bought the building and began to search for a developer.”
So says Craig Armstrong, economic development specialist for the City of Newton, Iowa, about the distinctive and once-grand Hotel Maytag.…
Impressive homes, churches and other historic buildings dot the Heritage Hill Historic District in Burlington, Iowa, overlooking the downtown and giving unique character to this Mississippi River town. That character can translate to visitor and tourism economic gold in a community – if property owners and community members understand both the why and the how of appropriately preserving, restoring, and/or rehabilitating historic structures.…
The Iowa State Capitol, constructed from 1873 to 1884, has been a source of great pride for generations of Iowans. Over the last century, windows on the north and south wings of the building began to show signs of weakening and deterioration, and in 2001, RDG was contracted to take the lead on a series of major restoration projects.…
Communities are searching for ways to improve their local economies, enhance their quality of life and revitalize their neighborhoods while still preserving their own cultural and natural heritage. Historic preservation and heritage tourism are two prominent economic and community development strategies to accomplish these objectives.…
Once listed on Preservation Iowa’s list of Most Endangered building, the Beyer Building, located in Grinnell, Iowa has been saved, restored, and is back in circulation for business and commerce.
The original Beyer Block was built in 1883-1884, and was designed by the well-known Cedar Rapids architecture firm of Josselyn & Taylor.…
