Former Kirk Apartments site purchased, to be developed, Susie Q to be saved

MASON CITY — Mason City’s mayor says the old Kirk Apartments property downtown will soon be developed.

Bill Schickel says a local investor wants to transform the property into a mix of commercial and residential use. “That lot has been purchased by a local businesswoman. Sara Carlsson has purchased that lot and she plans to develop that in partnership with the city and in partnership with Dev Partners out of Des Moines that is also developing the Federal Avenue Rowhouses just to the north of here.”

Schickel says Carlsson and Dev Partners are interested in preserving the historic nature of the Kirk Apartments in their development. “She plans for a commercial office development on about 5000 square feet on the first floor there and then two floors above it to have residential housing in that area, about 24 units in that area. So that’s a very exciting project.”

Schickel says the lone standing building on the Kirk Apartments property will remain there. “Plans are also in the works to preserve the Susie Q restaurant that is right next door there.”

The 120-year-old Kirk Apartments building was destroyed by fire in April of last year. Schickel expects groundbreaking on that project will take place in the spring.

Schickel made his comments on our first “Ask the Mayor” podcast program which you can find by clicking on this link