Valley Junction Wins $150K Main Street Preservation Grant

WEST DES MOINES, IA — The hard work and social media campaign that brought the need for repairs to Valley Junction's Lyric Building to the public's attention has paid off. The project to upgrade the exterior and its historic marquee was awarded a $150,000 grant by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the group announced today.

The "Partners in Preservation: Main Streets" campaign asked the public to select the most worthy projects among 25 nationwide. Each of 11 winners will receive the $150,000 for work on buildings that are part of historic commercial corridors. More than 900,000 votes were cast as part of the campaign over approximately five weeks, the group said.

The Lyric Building, known to most today as the home of the Theatrical Shop, is owned by Debbie Westphal Swander. She has long wanted to renovate the building at 145 Fifth St. and said the grant would allow that project to begin. The grant will be awarded to the Historic Valley Junction Foundation.

In selecting the Lyric Building, the National Trust said this: "For a century, the Lyric Theater and Hotel entertained Iowans with vaudeville, silent films, and the 'big screen.' The heart of Valley Junction and the largest, most prominent building in the neighborhood, The Lyric is the nexus for district events and hopes to be the tipping point in revitalization for Valley Junction. Through respectful renovation, the $150,000 grant will enable the Historic Valley Junction Foundation to revitalize The Lyric, a community gathering place and iconic symbol of Main Street America, aiming to maintain the architectural integrity of the original building and inspire the entire Valley Junction district to invest local as the gathering place for America’s heartland."

Partners in Preservation is a community-based partnership created to raise awareness of the importance of preserving historic places and their role in sustaining local communities. This year’s campaign emphasized Main Street communities around the U.S. and their positive local impact.

The other winners of the grant are:

● Parker Hall and the John Trower Building in Philadelphia, PA

● Vintage Neon Sign Park in Casa Grande, AZ

● Formosa Café in Los Angeles, CA

● The Carolina Theatre in Greensboro, NC

● E. Romero Hose and Fire Building in Las Vegas, NM

● The Alabama Theatre in Birmingham, AL

● The Woodward Theater in Cincinnati, OH

● Ivers Square in Cape Girardeau, MO

● McKinney Performing Arts Center in McKinney, TX

● Utah Pickle Company and Hide Buildings in Salt Lake City, UT

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EARLIER: Valley Junction Vies For Votes In National Campaign

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Image via Historic Valley Junction Foundation