Challenge Grants

The objective is to add upscale loft housing to the second floor of this corner building located at the main intersection in Le Mars' historic downtown district. The owner's goal for the second floor, which has been vacant for over 40 years, is to have two large loft apartments for rent and a small storage area for the business while retaining key historical features including windows, stamped tin ceiling, hardwood floors, glue chip glass, interior doors and skylight.

Statement of Significance: The Claussen's building sits at the major intersection of Highway 3 and Central Ave. The building is directly across from The Brown's Theater, which this year alone has brought over 27 bus loads of visitors to Le Mars. This building has strong associations with historic commercial development in downtown Le Mars. It is one of the contributing buildings to the downtown historic district designation. It represents a late 19th century building remodeled in the early 20th century as part of a documented trend of downtown commercial improvement. The building retains integrity from the period of significance and contributes to an overall sense of past time and place in downtown Le Mars.

Building character: The architectural classification is late 19th & Early 20th Century American Movements Prairie School. The character of this building is made up of unique qualities that range from architectural style, which lends to a strong, visually beautiful anchor for the downtown; and the function, which has been a clothing store since 1910. Aesthetic components on the second floor exterior include large windows and tile décor.

Current Physical Condition: This two-story building is two bays wide (west elevation) and five bays deep (South Elevation). Upper-story fenestration defines the bays. The street-level façade has two-non-historic display windows at the north end and a historic storefront at the south end. The south storefront features a recessed central entrance, an aluminum-framed storefront system and display windows resting on low, marble-clad bulkheads. Additional historic character-defining features include: the tan brick cladding; the original multi-light wood casement windows in the upper story; the corbel brick courses forming a subtle cornice; the glazed terra cotta inlaid blocks forming pendants in the upper-façade wall and surrounding transom windows; the stone belt course delineating the first story from the second story; the high-set leaded glass windows in the south elevation of the first story; and the historic storefront canopy anchored to the upper façade wall. The two upper floor bays have been vacant for forty years,the skylight has been boarded in, all windows were recently rehabbed, the tin ceiling requires minor repairs, the hardwood floor in the south unit needs refinishing and the floor in the north unit needs to be replaced.

The City of Le Mars, the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce and the Le Mars Main Street program all want to see the development of second floor spaces and are committed to see these spaces transformed into added housing for the community. Enhancing downtown housing is a key element of our strategy to improve the viability of the Le Mars Mainstreet district. Our community is in need of additional housing opportunities and the Claussen's project will be an example that will showcase the importance of utilizing all available building spaces. These lofts will add to the atmosphere of the downtown living experience: Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor, The Brown's Theater, Royal Theater, grocery stores, shopping and restaurants.

We will hold an open house for the public to view the space. Viewing the changes to the interior space will definitely spur other building owners to consider doing something with their second floor and will demonstrate our capacity to assist them with their projects. The owner, Terry Claussen, widely known and a community leader in Le Mars, will be a vocal proponent to other building owners about the project.

We see an opportunity to piggyback on other downtown projects, supported by public and private investment. Community Betterment II, a City of Le Mars project, will enhance the downtown cultural event center, allowing for additional green space and a more welcoming environment for outdoor concerts, family events and performances. Public investment (CDBG) has stimulated private investment in numerous buildings in the Main Street district. Streetscape enhancements have created a positive image and reestablished downtown as an exciting destination.

Additionally, a tax abatement program through the City of Le Mars allows for a five-year tax abatement on the housing portion.

The award for this project was $75,000.