Comments from jmetten

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jmetten
jmetten commented about Historic Stage in Northwest Iowa free to the right entity on Dec 5, 2006 at 1:23 pm

Mr. Rankin:

Thank you for taking the time to look at the project and for your kind input. I will do my very best to put your contribution to productive use.

Jason

jmetten
jmetten commented about Historic Stage in Northwest Iowa free to the right entity on Dec 5, 2006 at 5:29 am

Thanks for your comment Jim. By crow’s nest, I meant “a platform raised high above the ground”. It was really used for lack of a better term. My apologies for the confusion.

One can find pictures, as well as a detailed property report here. View link . If you are interested in the building, I can email you more.

This building is located at 715 Central Avenue, Hawarden , IA 51023 in the central business district of Hawarden (pronounced HAY-WARDEN). As this building was the original City Hall and Community Center for the City, it has always been owned by the City. The “I” referred to is Jason Metten, the City Administrator for Hawarden who happens to be charged with the task of finding a productive use for the building or arranging for its demolition if a productive use cannot be found.

It is really a beautiful old building. It has been evaluated by a structural engineer and found to be structurally sound. Unfortunately, no one locally has stepped forward to rehab the building. It is my hope that someone with theater experience, equipment and resources will come in and turn it into something we can be proud of rather than have another hole on Main Street of this small Iowa city. This in addition to the fact that there is not another theater within 20 miles, yet Hawarden is less than an hour drive away for more than 300,000 people leads me to believe that such an endeavor would meet with success if done properly.

Please let me know if you have further questions.