Seawall placed on the National Register of
Historic Places
Clear Lake’s iconic Sea Wall, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Sea Wall, a WPA project completed on July 1, 1936, was constructed by workmen from a transient camp located north of Mason City. Restoration work was completed in May 2022.
On Jan. 6 of this year the City of Clear Lake and the Clear Lake Historical Society received notice from the National Historic Landmarks Program of the National Park Service that the Sea Wall had been approved for placement on the prestigious National Register of Historic Places.
Surf District project underway
The Destination Iowa Surf District project gets underway as members of the City Council approve professional services agreements with several firms, each undertaking a specific component of the whole project.
RDG, of Des Moines, was selected to design the Surf District Gateway and Streetscape, as well as the Lake Connection pieces of the district plan. This component, unveiled at a September City Council meeting, involves a complete streetscape makeover with destination gateways, lighting, public art, and interactive features aimed to draw visitors in from Highway 18 and the lakefront.
City leaders decided to enlist the expertise of hotel asset manager CHMWarnick as plans were developed for “The Oaks,” a 45-room boutique hotel to be located on the former site of the Hilltop Motel. The hotel will be reminiscent of the former hotel by the same name which stood on that site from 1893-1922.
Last, but not least, Atura Architecture from Clear Lake was chosen to provide architectural services for the design of the new Music Enrichment Center (MEC), which were also presented to City Council members in September.
Fausnaugh makes Lion history
Clear Lake senior Olivia Fausnaugh put her name in the record books by being the first Clear Lake High School student-athlete to qualify for the inaugural Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union State Championship in girl’s wrestling. Fausnaugh was seeded 20th in the bracket of 32 at 155-pound competitors. The senior didn’t earn a placement at 155, but Fausnaugh exhibited the will of a champion and has provided inspiration for the program, according to her coach.
Sukup opens facility in
Clear Lake
Sukup Manufacturing Co. has made Clear Lake its fourth North Iowa location. The company formally announced that they began production in the former Serta building located on 4th Avenue South.
It’s a momentous time to expand the Sukup® Dryer line. This year marks 25 years since the company started making dryers. It is also 60 years in business for the family-owned and operated bin and grain-handling manufacturer.
Airport projects are ready for takeoff
These are high-flying times at the Mason City Municipal Airport. Dean Snyder Construction of Clear Lake is building the new $12.7 million terminal with Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding. The foundation for the 23,000 square foot building, which will be located immediately west of the existing 1966 facility, was completed shortly after the fall 2022 groundbreaking.
The airport was notified in March that they had been awarded another $1.2 million from the U.S. Dept. of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Airport manager David Sims said the money will be used to include a passenger boarding bridge to the airport terminal project. The new facility is scheduled to be substantially complete by May 2024.
Sisters Prairie Trail opens
A bike trail on 235th Street will connect the Sisters Prairie Trail to Dogwood Avenue by creating a designated oversized shoulder on the north side of the road. This was just one of several connective trails across the county due to the collaborative efforts between the City of Mason City and the Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors in applying for the ‘Bike North Iowa’ grant from Iowa’s Destination Iowa program.
Work began on May 10 and a portion of South Shore Drive was closed off for eight weeks. The road reopened prior to the 4th of July holiday.
Restoration of iconic downtown building
The restoration and transformation of the iconic building at the corner of Main Avenue and 4th Street, best known as Corner Drug, will soon be complete.
Jessica and Austin Wood purchased the building in 2021 and following renovations that same year three retail businesses filled the street level of what was originally the Cerro Gordo County Bank.
In May of this year, the 1,000 square feet of former office space in the upper level was redeveloped into two 2-bedroom and one 1-bedroom apartments. A Community Development Block Grant (Coronavirus Housing Conversion Grant) of $500,000, administered by the Iowa Economic Development Authority, was awarded to assist in the development of the second floor residential apartments. The three apartments were completed in May and all rented by June 1.
Brownlee wins gold
Clear Lake sophomore Reese Brownlee became the first Lion since 2011 to win a girls running event at the Iowa High School Girls State Track Meet. Brownlee qualified for State in four events and placed in all. She captured the title in the 400 meter run, was third in the long jump and fifth in the 200 meters. She also anchored the Lions’ third place Sprint Medley Relay team.
She broke the tape in the 400 meters in a time of 56.34 to win the gold medal.
Sale of GHV school
The Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Board of Education approved a resolution for the sale of the school district property at Ventura to KAH Enterprises, LLC of Clear Lake for $1.5 million. The sale includes the two-story main classroom building (originally built in 1923); a one-story former elementary classroom building, bus barn and athletic fields. The school buildings were purchased for Clear Lake Classical, a private, non-profit Christian school founded in 2014, who assumed the loan upon the Sept. 1 closing date.
Approximately 140 students, Grades PreK-12, from the Hancock, Cerro Gordo and Winnebago County area are enrolled in the school. According to Clear Lake Classical School Board member Gregg Nicholas, their upper class, comprised of 7th-12th graders, will move to the Ventura location for the 2024-25 school year, but their intention is to keep the lower class, grades PreK-6, at the 408 Mars Hill Drive location in Clear Lake.
Ground broken for new homes
South Shore Properties LLC broke ground July 10 on a 7.34 acre subdivision, formerly 2605 S. Shore Drive, for the development of 15 single-family homes and eight twin homes, for a total of 31 new residences.
Plans for the development were approved by the Clear Lake City Council in September 2022. South Shore Properties developer Brian Ridge said the total capital investment to purchase the land and develop it into sellable lots is $2,312,330 and they will primarily be funding the project with equity and local bank financing. Ridge also mentioned that they expect to sell each twin home for $395,000 per unit.
