13 Fourth Street South Central City, Iowa 52214
A Volunteer-Driven Program of Downtown Revitalization
About Mainstreet
Central City Mainstreet is part of a nationwide program founded by the National Trust for Historic Preservation to rehabilitate and revitalize America's downtown business districts.
The Main Street program is designed to improve all aspects of the downtown business district, including economic development, historic preservation, strengthening public participation, and making downtown a fun place to visit.
In 1985, the Iowa Legislature adopted the National Main Street Center's Four-Point approach to downtown revitalization by approving the establishment of Main Street Iowa within the Iowa Department of Economic Development.
There are 40 active Main Street Iowa Communities, one of the most successful state Main Street programs in the nation. Central City was accepted into the Main Street Iowa program in 2000. Because it is a locally driven program, all initiatives stem from local issues and concerns.
The Central City Mainstreet program was recertified as a National Main Street Iowa program based on its Annual State Review in September 2008.
Central City Mainstreet Board Member, Committee Member and Director Information
Central City Mainstreet - In the beginning
In the summer of 2000 a small group of volunteers, concerned about the crumbling appearance of the downtown area in Central City organized a town hall type meeting with interested local citizens and officials from the Iowa Mainstreet Program. At that point in history many of the late nineteenth century buildings in the downtown area were sitting empty and wasting away from years of neglect and misuse. A half century of misguided remodeling attempts had covered over or completely destroyed many of the original architectural details and compromised the structural integrity of these buildings.
Over three hundred people turned out for the July 31st meeting, pledging more than $90,000 out of their own pockets toward establishment of the Central City Mainstreet Organization.
Mainstreet means Results in Central City
In the
eight years since that first meeting the turnaround has been remarkable.
A dozen downtown storefronts have been restored and now house a variety of established and new businesses. Click Here for Central City Downtown Before and After Photos
Three buildings at the south end of Fourth Street which were deemed too far gone for restoration have been razed and replaced by a brand new six unit apartment complex featuring a historically sympathetic architectural design.
Over two million dollars in public and private funds have been invested in the various restoration projects.