A line of people at the entrance to The Jeffersonian Wednesday afternoon harkened back to decades when students flowed through the doors to go to school. Some of those in line were returning to their old haunt, to where they went to high school.
A ribbon cutting event was held Oct. 7 at the 1921 three-story brick building in Jefferson. The building where students once learned trigonometry, chemistry, and American government, and where middle school students then tried to figure out growing up, is now an apartment building with 25 upscale apartments decorated in the now popular muted earth tones.
Chris Deal, 2003 Jefferson-Scranton graduate and developer of the project, doing business as NVA Ventures, noted that several groups were involved in putting together funding, saying, ”This would not happen had it not been for the community we’re in, for the state that we’re in, and people willing to dream big, people willing to see an audacious goal and collaborate together to make it happen.”
He named Greene County Development Corporation and Ames Regional Economic Alliance, city of Jefferson staff, and the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) and Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) as groups that had helped along the way. He thanked them for being “willing to think outside of the box” on financing the project.
Deal named Schemmer Associates as architects, Benjamin Design Collaborative, Modus Engineering and Woodruff Construction as being involved in the project.
The project was discussed in 2016 as Greene County Schools officials and patrons began talking about the future of the old building and the possibility of building a new high school. Deal and his wife Tracy were among the volunteers who spearheaded the campaign for the bond issue needed for the new school. Deal thanked the school district for seeing a potential future for the old building rather than razing it.
The project was in its early stages in 2021, with Nate Adams of Carroll working with Deal. It was delayed when the State Historic Preservation Office reversed a decision and said the attached 1950s gymnasium had to remain. The gym is still there and must remain for a few more years. In the interim, Adams went a different direction.
Deal persevered and a new design was finally approved in August 2024. Work to secure financing began in earnest. Work on the building began in 2025.
Jefferson mayor Craig Berry spoke briefly at the ribbon cutting, noting that the council has worked for the last 10 years to add rental housing stock to the community. “I think this is going to prove to be a benefit not just for the Deals, but for the whole community, for the location, the access, and for the people who will be renting here,” Berry said.
Debi Durham, director of IEDA and IFA, also spoke. She said IEDA put “a stack of money” into the project. She commended the Deals on meeting a short time line, and called The Jeffersonian “a legacy for future generations.”
The 25 apartments range in size from 580 sq ft to 1,590 sq ft. A limited number are available to persons with low to moderate incomes.
According to rental manager Laura Brown, half the units are already leased. Of the incoming residents, about 75 percent are retired, though there’s “a smattering” of professionals and younger people. Cats and most breeds of dogs are allowed as pets. The first move-in day will be Thursday. Oct. 15.
