A New Era for a Historic Downtown Market Analysis for Marshalltown, Iowa Project Summary Community: Marshalltown, Iowa Technical Assistance: Market Analysis Former Use: Retail/Vacant Future Use: Mixed-Use Development patronize the downtown areas. One site is surrounded by retail, thus should be developed for either retail or service- based opportunities such as a department store, florist, pet shop, hobby shop, chiropractor, or salon, to bolster the downtown shopping district. The other site sits across from City Hall and acts as a gateway to the community. This central location makes it a prime lot for a restaurant or drinking place, such as a destination brewery or distillery. Marshalltown is a vibrant medium-sized rural community located in central Iowa. The city has unique character and small-town warmth. Marshalltown acts as a hub for rural communities within a 60-mile radius and is also home to a commuter workforce, both those coming in from and going out to urban areas in central Iowa, such as Ames and Des Moines. In 2018, Marshalltown experienced an EF-3 tornado resulting in significant damage to the downtown followed by an August 2020 derecho high-speed wind event that resulted in more damage, leaving many buildings unable to be occupied. The Community's Challenge Two downtown sites present a unique opportunity for Marshalltown to support retail and service-based redevelopment activities following damage from the 2018 EF-3 tornado, August 2020 derecho high-speed wind event, and the COVID-19 pandemic. EPA's Land Revitalization Technical Assistance In 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Land Revitalization Program provided contractor technical assistance to conduct a market study of Marshalltown and provide recommendations to the city that will guide future redevelopment that matches the community's priorities for population and job growth. The study includes an overview of current site conditions, local demographics, the retail marketplace, housing and personal services, and concludes with recommended development opportunities and next steps. Findings from the analysis indicate that the most viable uses for the two sites is mixed-use development that supports ongoing downtown revitalization efforts, which provides key community assets to encourage residents to For more information, contact David Doyle, EPA Region 7 Brown fields Program, at dovl6.david@epa.gov. Renderings of the Recommended Uses for the Sites SEPA United States Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization Environmental Protection Agency 560-F-23-329 ------- |