MASON CITY – The former Globe Gazette headquarters in downtown Mason City will be turned into 15-bed shelter for those suffering from acute mental illnesses, according to state documents.
North Iowa Transition and Employment Residential Care and Crisis Stabilization Services, Inc., dba 43 North Iowa Expansion, will be taking on the project. This corporate entity’s “fictitious” name is “NIVC” and is registered to Sherry Becker of Mason City. The project will cost an estimated $4,470,457. The state of Iowa awarded $2,700,000 toward this total, using federal American Rescue Plan Act funds approved by and handed out to Iowa via President Joe Biden and Democrats in Congress.
The projects includes acquisition of an existing commercial building in the downtown area located at 300 N Washington – the former headquarters of a “newspaper” called the Globe Gazette. The once-bustling building which has been mothballed for years will be remodeled into 15 residential care beds. North Iowa Transition will provide transitional mental health services from 90 days to 9 months and create a new service – crisis stabilization – with a five-bed area to address the immediate and urgent needs of people with acute mental health crises.
Just what downtown needs, more crazy people. Why does this have to be here? There are plenty of vacant buildings elsewhere.