Earlier this year, the MCBD nominated two downtown projects and one volunteer for the annual honors, and the Willard-Hopkins project was announced as the winner of the Main Street Building Rehabilitation Project Award for communities with more than 5,000 people.

Willard-Hopkins owners Janelle and Joe Carter and Cutler Construction, the developers they worked with, accepted the award.

The Willard-Hopkins project was one of eight submissions. MCBD Director Deb Millizer described the project as a catalyst for downtown Marshalltown that hits many of the organization’s goals: additional housing options with 13 upper story apartments and one main level apartment; honoring the integrity and designation of the Historic District; providing additional renovated retail spaces for future businesses; being a catalyst for retail activation and development in the downtown; and an elevated MCBD presence in the community by having a renovated, modern, first-class building to house the MCBD office, which is shared with the Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce at 34 W. Main St.

“It sets a standard for what we’d like in the downtown. Janelle and Joe went above and beyond what we currently had and what we need to have,” Millizer said. “And I think it gives inspiration to other people to look at those other upper story spaces and what they can do with it. They can see somebody who’s set a fantastic example of how to work with different agencies (and) different organizations with a historian, with architects and the different layers that go with it. You set a roadmap of how it can be done, and the things that you have learned, I know that you are willing to offer and share that knowledge with other people.”

The Carters, Millizer and Parks stand on the staircase of the upper story of the building. A total of 13 upper story units and one main floor apartment have been created as a result of the renovation.

Janelle Carter led the way on the project with a vision to honor and renew the historic features of the interior and exterior, and she said that a key element was utilizing the existing footprint to keep the integrity of the spaces while modernizing the units to provide a usable space for years to come.

Millizer added that Janelle’s passion was infectious as she worked on the project once she purchased the buildings in 2021. Willard’s Fur and Fashion, one of the oldest stores in Marshalltown, had closed after the derecho, and the Hopkins building had been vacant since the tornado in 2018.

Carter said she fell in love with the Hopkins building 20 years ago when Jim Clark owned it and was excited about the opportunity to reteam with the Cutler brothers, who she had worked with on the Crosby Park housing development.

“My goal and my wish for the buildings was not to alter the look of the buildings too much, and I think we accomplished that. Of course you have to put in everything modern. We did tear out the ceilings in some of the rooms so that we could get services in there and things like that,” Janelle said. “This building was originally built in 1868 and redone in 1902 to 1906, somewhere in there, so you can tell that it didn’t really have a whole lot of modern amenities.”

Significant work was put into rehabbing the buildings back to their original charm. The brick work on the exterior of the building received a 2023 façade restoration award from the Masonry Institute of Iowa, and the Carters worked closely with the State Historical Preservation Office.

“That’s why we have the exterior elevator. I just felt like it was really important to get one downtown,” Janelle said.

Other key participants included the city of Marshalltown, the MCBD and the Chamber. In October of 2021, the project received a $550,000 housing grant from the Iowa Economic Development Authority, which was followed by a $100,000 Main Street Iowa Challenge Grant for exterior facade improvements just a few weeks later.

The apartments, many of which are already rented, have a decidedly vintage feel and charm paired with modern amenities and views overlooking the resurgent downtown area. Ultimately, Carter said she was “super proud” of the community support they received, and Millizer was quick to reciprocate the praise.

“We are thrilled to have Main Street Iowa recognize this first-class project that Janelle Carter has led. We work with Janelle closely, so it’s easy for us to see the blood, sweat, and tears that have been put into making this project a leader in downtown rehabilitation,” she said. “When others outside our community recognize the brilliant work, it helps our community see the truly amazing things that are happening right here in our downtown. It’s not easy to take on a project this size, but the impact will push our downtown forward for years to come!”

The Hopkins building now serves as the shared office space for the MCBD and the Chamber, while the Willard building remains available for retail.

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Contact Robert Maharry at 641-753-6611 ext. 255 or

rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.