Spencer buildings on fire in January 2023
Spencer, Iowa — The Spencer City Council is promising to provide 50 thousand dollars in matching funds if a developer planning to restore fire-damaged structures in downtown Spencer gets a state grant for the project.
Spencer City Councilman Loren Reit chairs the city’s Finance Committee.
A fire in early 2023 heavily damaged buildings on on Spencer’s Grand Avenue that housed five businesses and eight apartments. Eric Meter is with M and M Grand Ventures, the firm working on the restoration project. He says while the flames didn’t reach six of those apartments, they were heavily damaged.
The structure most damaged by the fire was torn down. The plan calls for that open lot to be converted into a courtyard and the entire ground floor of the building that’s still standing to become an events center. The developer is seeking a state Catalyst Grant. The grants are for building remediation in the downtown areas of Iowa communities.
