Opening its doors

Sharon (Ridnour) Pinske stood inside her new room in The Iowana Tuesday morning and gazed out at Uptown Creston.

“So many memories,” she said quietly.

Sharon and her brother Bob Ridnour are the first people who began the moving-in process at The Iowana Tuesday morning.

Tuesday was the first day occupants of The Iowana could move into the restored former hotel building.

Bob and Sharon were born and raised in Creston in the mid-20th century. Sharon graduated from Creston in 1954.

However, they have previously lived in North Carolina and Osceola. Now, they are both retired. Bob said he remembers when The Iowana was a hotel.

“I was in a singing group, and we sang in the mezzanine,” he said. “I remember singing up there.”

It has been a long process to get people to be able to live in The Iowana.

Background

The city of Creston obtained ownership of the seven-story Iowana building in 2008, and the total cost of renovation is an estimated $5.4 million.

MetroPlains LLC, The Iowana restoration developer, secured a $1 million Section 515 loan from the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development, historic tax credits and $4.4 million in low-income housing tax credits from Iowa Finance Authority (IFA).

After a few years of trying to secure a syndicator, or buyer, to purchase the tax credits, a year ago, MetroPlains announced it found a syndicator for the tax credits, as well as other agencies and investors for the project.

The city has more than $110,000 invested in the project’s updates, such as architect drawings and engineering designs, in preparation for the senior-living apartments at the former Iowana Hotel.

Apartments

There are 24 apartments in The Iowana. There are six floors inside building, but The Iowana actually has seven stories. A mezzanine level is between the first and second floors.

The first floor and mezzanine level each have two housing units.

There are four units each on the second through sixth floors. On these floors, the corner unit has two bedrooms and the other three units have one.

A washer and dryer is in every apartment, and the kitchen is equipped with a disposal, dishwasher, refrigerator, stove and microwave.

Each apartment has central air-conditioning, ceiling fans and an energy-efficient furnace with individual temperature controls. The apartments are also furnished with custom blinds, carpeting and vinyl flooring.

There is high-speed Internet access available in the apartments. The building will also offer handicap-accessible apartments.

Features

As for the rest of the building’s features, it will have an exercise room with keyed 24-hour access, community space that includes the original grand lobby, community room, crafts room, computer learning center with wireless Internet, elevator accessibility, controlled access entries for secure living, on-site leasing office, separate storage areas and parking.

The Iowana is a rent-assisted location. This means residents who qualify for leasing the property qualify for rental assistance. They pay 30 percent of their gross monthly income, which is their rent amount.

People age 62 or older or disabled individuals of any age are eligible to rent the apartments.

According to Kristin Studer, assistant operations manager for T&L Properties, the building has approximately half of its unit rented.

Six occupants were scheduled to move in Tuesday, and three more are expected today. Two more occupants are scheduled to move in by Dec. 1.

Looking forward

One of the things Bob said he was impressed with was the design of the first floor and mezzanine level, which were basically kept the same as their original format.

Bob and Sharon had been back and forth from North Carolina to Creston many times throughout the years, and were always interested in the upkeep of The Iowana.

“I’m kind of a historical buff, and I just hated to see it go to waste, and it be a big eyesore,” Bob said.

With their Shih Tzu dog named Lucky, Bob and Sharon are looking forward to many things with living in Creston again.

Bob said he is excited to live in the center of town.

Sharon added, “It’s within walking distance. You don’t have to drive every place you’re going. It’s just good to be home.”