A project that has been several years in the making in Jefferson has leaped over one major hurdle as the planning process continues.

Jefferson resident and engineer Chris Deal is working with developer Nate Adams and NGA Ventures to convert the former Greene County Middle School into apartments. Deal tells Raccoon Valley Radio they received notification in April from the State of Iowa Historical Preservation Office that the entire property, including the gymnasium, has qualified for the historic tax credit program.

Deal says they have submitted a modification proposal for the apartment project as part two of the historic tax credit program. He points out the design has the connecting corridor between the school building and the gym removed, creating two stand alone structures, which the Greene County School District will remain the owner of the gym. 

Greene County Schools Superintendent Brett Abbotts says in April the School Board approved to remove the demolition bid for the gym and that the historic tax credit program stipulated that the exterior of the entire structure could not be altered for five years after completion of the project and would consider removing the gym after that. 

Deal is thankful for the notification and says this is a major step forward in this project.

“And we’re lucky that we’ve got a wonderful community, wonderful organizations in the community, whether that be the school district, or the City (of Jefferson), or GCDC (Greene County Development Corporation), or (Jefferson Matters) Main Street, or any of these organizations that all have to come together to make things like this happen. The individuals involved in the program, they know what we’re trying to do, they want to see it happen too. We’re happy with where we’re at and we’re excited about the potential to still see a really special project happen.”       

Deal adds the historic tax credits make up about $2 million of the $7 million project and there are a few other funding resources that still need to be secured.