We want to be a porch light of hope in our community.

Building project

Learn more about the PVILLEYI GEM CENTER

Take a Sketch Tour

Construction Phases

  • This phase will involve the demo of the old building and laying the foundation.

  • This phase will involve building structural aspects of the project.

  • This phase will be the finishing touches on our building project.

PVILLEYI Building project (PVILLEYI GEM CENTER)

Current progress

Current Phase:

Phase 3

Phase 3 Progress:

  • Projected grand opening will be late August 2026, with our Pilot season tentatively scheduled to begin on September 1st.

Important Community Information:

Please watch for volunteers in this area during construction and use caution when walking in red zones.

A satellite map of a small town area showing streets, buildings, and a park. A building on Jefferson Street is marked 'Under Construction' with a red outline. Nearby are businesses and landmarks including Myers, Myers, Danks & Smith, and a Halftime Bar & Grill.

Project leadership

  • Construction worker smiling, wearing sunglasses, a gray and black cap, red gloves, and a blue long-sleeve shirt, leaning on a cinder block wall during daylight.

    Mike Caulkins

    PROJECT MANAGER

    Mike Caulkins is the Jobsite Supervisor for J Larson Homes. He has always had an interest in construction and enjoys being on site with subcontractors to help and troubleshoot anything they may need. His experience, expertise, and connections in the construction field give him all the tools he needs to lead this project. Mike is a co-founder of PvilleYI and has served as a volunteer since day one.

    Since beginning construction on the project, Mike has been onsite on Fridays and Saturdays managing the build, working with volunteers and professionals, and building with his own hands.

    If you have questions for Mike or are interested in volunteering services during the project, you can contact him through us at info@pvilleyi.org

  • Portrait of a woman with short blonde hair wearing a blue shirt, standing indoors.

    Jenna Wiegand, AIA

    ARCHITECT

    Jenna Wiegand graduated from Pleasantville High School in 2003. Always passionate about design, she pursued and achieved her goal of becoming an architect. Jenna has served as an advisor to our board of directors in the planning process and served as the architect of the project. Because of her contributions, Jenna was recognized for her work by the American Institute of Architects, Iowa Chapter’s (AIA Iowa), as a participant in the Citizen Architect Program. Her work was highlighted in IA Architect Magazine in Spring of 2024. Read it here (page 8): AIA Iowa recognizes members who advocate for the profession through community leadership.

Donate

3% Cover the Fee

Funds designated to help with the building construction.

Help us get the job finished! Your contributions will help us as we complete the phases of construction.

To see a more detailed list of what we need for construction, go here.

To see ways you can donate toward supplies for our pilot season, go here.

People in costumes walking past a wooden building under construction illuminated at night, with a decorative pumpkin and Halloween-themed decorations.
A construction worker on a scaffold taking a photo of a tall water tower labeled 'Pleasantville' under a clear blue sky.
Two men working on a construction site, one using a power tool, the other holding a piece of wood, with brick and plywood walls in the background.
Two men working on framing a wall during construction inside a building. One man is kneeling on the floor using a tool, and the other man is standing holding a piece of wood.
A man in a white t-shirt and a gray and maroon baseball cap with logo, holding onto a wooden frame against a pine wall, with tattoos on his arm.
Three people working on a construction site with wooden framing. One man in a gray shirt and sunglasses is holding a tool and working on the wood. A woman in a pink shirt and a black cap is standing next to him, and another man in a white shirt with
A young girl with glasses, a white sun hat, and a light blue t-shirt stands in front of a partially built wooden wall, smiling.
A construction worker in a white t-shirt, camouflage pants, and a trucker hat, working on a wooden framing structure at a building site with insulation material visible in the background.
Wooden framing of a ceiling or wall under construction, with horizontal plywood panels and vertical support beams, with a brick wall in the background.
A woman and a young boy sit on a wooden floor against a brick wall. The boy holds a hammer and wears an orange shirt and a cap, while the woman wears a gray sweatshirt with a graphic design and black-striped leggings.
A construction worker cutting wood with a power saw at a building site, wearing an orange shirt, safety glasses, and a tool belt, with stacks of lumber and a brick wall in the background.
A man wearing a gray t-shirt, khaki shorts, and a gray baseball cap is building a wooden frame on a construction site. He is using a carpenter's square to measure or mark a wood piece. There is a metal ladder leaning against the frame and a brick wal
Construction site with wooden framing for a wall, with some support beams and plywood panels installed.
A young person wearing a black baseball cap and a light-colored t-shirt is working on a wooden construction project outdoors, holding a large wooden beam while walking up a partially built frame.
A sign on a construction fence announces the upcoming opening of a Pleasantville Youth Initiative building, with a QR code and website for donations, and a photo rendering of the future building.
A construction site with a sign that says 'Construction Entrance' in front of a partially built brick building, trees and street lamps in the background.
A water tower with the words 'Pleasantville' and the number '50225' on it, standing above a mound of dark soil or rocks against a clear blue sky.
A brick building under renovation with insulation and plywood panels on the upper part, construction equipment and fencing visible, American flags and street lamps in the background.
A stack of weathered concrete slabs with holes, outdoors with a blurred background of a building and trees.
Construction site with concrete blocks and formwork for a wall at an outdoor location.
Concrete being poured into a wooden and metal formwork for a building foundation.
A construction site with concrete forms and rebar ready for pouring concrete.
Road construction sign on a sidewalk indicating that the sidewalk is closed.
Construction site with wooden and metal framing for a new structure, exposed pipes, and concrete bases, with houses and a trailer visible in the background.
Close-up of a rusty, vintage, cast-iron wheel with the brand name and origin, working as a component in a machine.
Construction site with concrete foundation, dirt, and formwork, surrounded by residential houses.
Construction site with deep excavation trench, concrete sidewalk, orange safety barriers, and chain-link fence, with a pink building and trees in the background.
Construction site with concrete formwork for building foundation, reinforcement bars, and supporting wooden braces.
A weathered sign attached to a chain-link fence that reads 'Sidewalk Closed Ahead Cross Here'.
A man with a beard wearing sunglasses, a baseball cap, and a gray T-shirt standing outside near a construction site with a wooden framework.
A person in a white T-shirt and black cap uses a miter saw to cut a piece of wood on a construction site, with another person in sunglasses and a cap visible in the background.
A smiling man with sunglasses, a yellow T-shirt with a beaver logo, and red shorts carries a piece of wood while working outdoors on a construction site.
Three people holding up a wooden ceiling beam in a construction site.
Two men building a wooden structure outdoors with a brick wall in the background, using wooden beams and support braces.
A group of kids and teenagers laying on their stomachs on a construction site, working together on a project outdoors on a sunny day.
A man wearing an orange shirt, red gloves, and a gray cap is working with a tool near a black trailer. The man has a beard and is looking upward, possibly inspecting or working on something above him.
A construction worker on a construction site holding a large white pipe, with a partially built brick wall in the background and construction tools in the foreground.
A man working on a construction site, lifting wooden beams while standing on a wooden platform. He is wearing a blue shirt, gray shorts, sunglasses, and a watch with a measuring tape attached to his pocket.
Wooden construction truss hanging above a building under construction with a cloudy sky background.
A young man wearing glasses and a black cap with a WTNR logo, carrying a wooden plank over his shoulder outdoors.
View of a yellow construction vehicle, possibly a crane or excavator, through a rectangular opening, with power lines and a cloudy sky in the background.
Person walking through a wooden construction frame on a house site, with houses and cars visible in the background.
Three young men are standing outdoors on a construction site, with a large pink wall of sheathing in the background and blue sky overhead.
Three men are standing outdoors in front of a partially constructed building, with the focus on a young man wearing a white cap with the word 'Bad' on it, and the other two men are wearing hoodies and caps.
A man wearing a dark hoodie and cap, standing on a roof under construction, with a metal scaffold nearby against a gray sky.
A man operating a yellow construction loader through a framed opening, with power lines in the background.
A woman with long hair wearing a plaid shirt, jeans, and gloves is sweeping a concrete floor inside a house with exposed wooden studs.
A man with a beard and hair tied back, sitting inside the cab of a yellow construction vehicle, looking out through the window, with large muddy tires visible in the foreground.
A man wearing a gray and black trucker hat, plaid shirt, and hoodie standing outdoors on a street with brick buildings and trees in the background.
A person with sunglasses and a black cap raising their right hand with the middle finger extended during daytime, with construction wall and another person with a cap in the background.
Person wearing cowboy boots and jeans walking on a wet wooden floor inside a building under construction.
A man with a beard and mustache wearing a gray hoodie with Meta logo, smiling, standing in front of a partially constructed building with pink insulation panels.
Man wearing black cap, sunglasses, and gray shirt working on a construction site with wooden framing.

Project History

Featured
Building Site Memories
Building Project, History, Pleasantville
Building Site Memories
Building Project, History, Pleasantville
Building Project, History, Pleasantville

Phase 2 COMPLETE

Phase 2 Progress:

  • 6-7-25: Framing Begins

  • 6-13-25: Framing Lower Level Continues

  • 6-14-25: Framing Lower Level Continues

  • 6-19-25: Floor Joists Scheduled to Arrive

  • 6-20-25: Framing Continues

  • 6-27-25: Framing Continues

  • 7-11-25: Framing Continues

  • 7-18-25: Framing Continues

  • 7-25-25: Framing Continues

  • 8-1-25: Framing Continues

  • 8-15-25: Framing Continues

  • 8-30-25: Framing Continues

  • 9-6-25: Framing Continues

  • 9-13-25: Trusses

  • 9-21-25: Trusses

  • 9-26-25:Sheeting

  • 9-27-25: Sheeting

  • 10-4-25: Roof Prep and Sheeting

  • 10-11-25: Roof Prep and Sheeting

  • 10-18-25: Mechanical Rough Ins

  • 10-25-25: South Windows Installed, Curbs for Rooftop Units Installed

  • 11-1-25: Mechanical Rough Ins

  • 11-11-25: Roof Installation

  • 11-12-25: Roof Installation

  • 11-13-25: Window Frame Installation

  • 11-17-25: Window Glass Installation

  • 11-22-25: Temporary Door Installation

  • 1-16-26: HVAC Rooftop Units Installed

  • 1-31-26: Rooftop Work

  • 2-2-26: Door Installation

    Phase 1 COMPLETE

Phase 1 Progress:

  • 4-28-25: Demolition Begins

  • 5-1-25: Demolition is complete.

  • 5-7-25: Foundation Prep Work

  • 5-8-25: Foundation Work Begins

  • 5-12-25: Foundation Footings

  • 5-13-25: Foundation Walls

  • 5-14-25: Continued Foundation Work

  • 5-16-25: Groundwork

  • 5-21-25:Groundwork

  • 5-23-25:Backfill and Groundwork

  • 5-31-25:Pour Concrete Floor