Our Postville

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There are many places in Postville that we can work together to improve, and could help us achieve our goals of making Postville a better place, to live, visit, and work.

>How should we choose which to prioritize? We used a basic analysis of several different factors to give each parcel in our planning area a score. The highest scoring parcels are vacant buildings or lots along a highway- they can be re-used, and a lot of people pass by every day.

You can see the factors used to rank these sites below, as well as a map of downtown showing scores for sites that were at a 5 or above.

We also asked people where they would most like to see change. The answers were clear- scroll down to see the results!

>How did we come up with these scores? Several data points were used to rank sites from 0-15, with higher numbers having higher potential for redevelopment. Potential for redevelopment was determined by the following:

Let's take a look at how one area of our planning area, downtown Postville, scored according to this matrix. Only parcels with a score 5 5 or greater are shown.

It's clear that sites with high visibility from the highway have a higher potential for redevelopment. Places that are vacant or possibly undervalued score highly as well. This is just a basic analysis, so we are only considering objective factors.

>What places do Postville residents most want to see improved?

We asked people at meetings and events- here's what they said:

1. South Lawler area. (203-251 S. Lawler & 210 S. Lawler)

The main intersection in town is seen by people going to work and school, and by many outside visitors passing through town. It's the most prominent spot in town, but it currently has vacant lots or buildings on three sides. This was the area that people would most like to see improved.

2. The former Iowa Turkey Processors site. (715 W. Tilden)

This is another very prominent place in Postville, and the first thing that people see when they enter Postville from the west on Highways 18 & 52. It's been a vacant lot, partially fenced off and with broken concrete slabs, since the plant burned down in 1993.

3. The former bakery site downtown. (110 S. Lawler)

Many residents of Postville remember the large, historic building that was the long-time home to the bakery. The building burned in 2009, but nothing has been rebuilt. Currently, it is used by NEIT and by a local business to display goods for sale.

Site Score: 13

Resident preference: Highest priority

Current condition

Key barriers to reuse:

Ideas for re-use

Key elements for redevelopment:

Site Score: 11

Resident preference: 2nd highest priority

Current condition

Key barriers to reuse:

Ideas for re-use

Current condition

Key elements for redevelopment:

Site Score: 5

Resident preference: 3rd highest priority

Current condition

Key barriers to reuse:

Ideas for re-use

Current condition

Key elements for redevelopment:

There are a lot of different ways to organize our community, but most success stories start with a structure or framework that can help guide decision-making. Here are a few of them that have worked for other communities.

What do you think might work best here in Postville?

What could this look like all together?

Our Postville

Where change happens

sites

There are many places in Postville that we can work together to improve, and could help us achieve our goals of making Postville a better place, to live, visit, and work.

>How should we choose which to prioritize? We used a basic analysis of several different factors to give each parcel in our planning area a score. The highest scoring parcels are vacant buildings or lots along a highway- they can be re-used, and a lot of people pass by every day.

You can see the factors used to rank these sites below, as well as a map of downtown showing scores for sites that were at a 5 or above.

​

We also asked people where they would most like to see change. The answers were clear- scroll down to see the results!

>How did we come up with these scores? Several data points were used to rank sites from 0-15, with higher numbers having higher potential for redevelopment. Potential for redevelopment was determined by the following:

Let's take a look at how one area of our planning area, downtown Postville, scored according to this matrix. Only parcels with a score 5 5 or greater are shown.

It's clear that sites with high visibility from the highway have a higher potential for redevelopment. Places that are vacant or possibly undervalued score highly as well. This is just a basic analysis, so we are only considering objective factors.

>What places do Postville residents most want to see improved?

We asked people at meetings and events- here's what they said:

1. South Lawler area. (203-251 S. Lawler & 210 S. Lawler)

The main intersection in town is seen by people going to work and school, and by many outside visitors passing through town. It's the most prominent spot in town, but it currently has vacant lots or buildings on three sides. This was the area that people would most like to see improved.

2. The former Iowa Turkey Processors site. (715 W. Tilden)

This is another very prominent place in Postville, and the first thing that people see when they enter Postville from the west on Highways 18 & 52. It's been a vacant lot, partially fenced off and with broken concrete slabs, since the plant burned down in 1993.

3. The former bakery site downtown. (110 S. Lawler)

Many residents of Postville remember the large, historic building that was the long-time home to the bakery. The building burned in 2009, but nothing has been rebuilt. Currently, it is used by NEIT and by a local business to display goods for sale.

Site Score: 13

Resident preference: Highest priority

Current condition

Key barriers to reuse:

Several parcels

Brownfield potential

Costs associated with reuse

Ideas for re-use

Key elements for redevelopment:

Parcel consolidation

Analysis of site conditions and possible clean-up

Signage & Interpretation of scenic byway & Postville assets

Stormwater management and landscaping practices

Amenities for travelers on US-18 & US-52

Emphasis on Driftless Area Scenic Byway entrance

Site Score: 11

Resident preference: 2nd highest priority

Current condition

Key barriers to reuse:

Unknown condition

Large concrete slabs

No current easy access

Visually unappealing

Ideas for re-use

Current condition

Key elements for redevelopment:​

Analysis of site conditions and possible clean-up

Use of tree screening and native plantings

Stormwater management best practices

Visual "gateway" into Postville

Promotion for local businesses

Site Score: 5

Resident preference: 3rd highest priority

Current condition

Key barriers to reuse:

Small size

Use by two different businesses

Limited demand for new construction

Ideas for re-use

Current condition

Key elements for redevelopment:

Public space reuse

Historical interpretation

Public art

Landscaping & incorporation of community garden elements

Gathering places (top public priority)

Space used to support local business, show elements of Postville's identity, and

There are a lot of different ways to organize our community, but most success stories start with a structure or framework that can help guide decision-making. Here are a few of them that have worked for other communities.

​

What do you think might work best here in Postville?

What could this look like all together?

Key elements for redevelopment: