Red Oak adding new business to downtown

RED OAK — Downtown Red Oak will be receiving a new tenant as soon as remodeling is completed, bringing six new jobs to the area.

In an interview last week with The Red Oak Express, local developers Earl and Cynthia Bangston said Healthy Homes Family Services have signed a long-term lease and would be opening an office at 306 E. Coolbaugh.

The company provides in-home counseling services for families and is expected to employ about seven people when they open next year, following remodeling of the building. The Red Oak location will be the company’s second, with its headquarters in Avoca.

Healthy Homes is now the third business that has either relocated or opened in Bangston-owned buildings in the last year.

“We aren’t the creator of jobs,” Earl said. “But if we have an inviting environment and the community is inviting, people will be more likely to come here,”

Bangston has helped create that inviting environment by renovating the entire south side of the 200 block of E. Coolbaugh.

The Green Hills Area Education Agency and Red Oak Concepts have filled two of the ground floor offices, combining for more than 60 jobs. Bangston is recruiting tenants for the two remaining offices.

Work on the 200 block of buildings was extensive and Bangston remembers having early doubts when he first looked at the dilapidated structures, seemingly destined for a wrecking ball.

“It was raining as hard inside the building as it was outside,” Bangston said. “I remember wondering ‘do I really want to do this?’ But I’m glad I did, because the facility turned out beautifully.”

Plenty of work remains though, as Bangston plans on construction of seven condominium units above the offices. The condos will be 1,200-1,600 square feet and will include access to an elevator and a to-be-constructed-garage off the alley.

“For the downtown to become the vibrant place it used to be, you have to have the vibrant residential core,” Bangston said.

In addition to creating foot traffic, it also creates demands for goods and services in the downtown, Bangston said.

The Bangstons are also very supportive of the ongoing downtown improvement plan, initiated by the City in conjunction with Daric O’Neal.

“Our goal is to continue to focus on downtown Red Oak because thats the most piece you have,” Earl said. “If you drive down Main Street and half of your Main Street is boarded up, you are going to have a hard time getting people to visit you and an even harder time getting them to stay.”

They have also been encouraged by the amount of citizen input into the improvement plan.

“It’s nice to know people are interested in participating,” Cynthia said. “Its nice to know there are more peple saying how they want it to grow.”

Cooperation and enthusiasm from local residents and city officials have been instrumental in the Bangstons development project.

“The city has been great. Working here has been a dream,” Earl said. “Where I’m from in Washington has been a nightmare. This was so pleasant to walk into a City Council meeting and not be ambushed at the door.”

But the Bangstons point out there is more going for Red Oak than just friendly, cooperative people.

“One of the reasons we like this community is the access to good health care, cultural events and the proximity to a major airport,” Cynthia said.

Earl said before choosing Red Oak, they looked at several communities.

“We settled in Red Oak because we believe it is the center of the hub in Southwest Iowa,” he said.

And the Bangstons are looking forward to selling off their Washington properties and making Red Oak their permanent home.

“It feels good when we come here and when we aren’t here, we miss it,” Cynthia said. “It is more the people that draws us. Its not a house or a place, its the feel of Red Oak.”