Mother-daughter duo Beverly Franklin and Jackie McIntyre are back at it again. Their minds are jumping with floor plans, light fixtures, paint swatches.
As their newest project, a single-story duplex unit just south of G&W Foods of Iola, takes shape, it’s this stage when they begin to have the most fun.
“We enjoy decorating the home,” said Jackie, who is now a substitute teacher after over 40 years of teaching elementary school in USD 257. “We enjoy the design. Part of the enjoyment is putting the pieces together.”
The two have teamed up with LaHarpe-based contractor David Driskel and his brothers Jeff and Troy to build at the southeast corner of 1st Street and Madison Ave. Franklin and McIntyre were given the land from Iola Industries. The gift’s condition? That the land be used to build new housing.
The new structure’s sewer work is done, and the utilities are in, reported Franklin. The duplex will be built on a concrete slab. Each unit will feature two bedrooms and two full bathrooms. A walk-in shower for each will be built, and the plan is for the homes to be ADA-accessible with 36” doorways. Designs call for an oversized single-car garage and a concrete pad for another vehicle.
Construction is scheduled to start June 1, and the duo expect the home to be finished after three or four months, weather permitting. They plan to put it on the market this fall, “and we may even do so before it’s finished,” said McIntyre. “That way, if the buyer has any special instructions, we can take those into account.”
Asked if they’ll rent the units, both reject the notion as quickly as possible. “We have no interest in being landlords,” said Franklin. “We’ll sell the duplex or the units separately. We’re open to options.”
The duplex is the duo’s first, but they agree on the rationale for heading in a new direction.
“Iola needs some more affordable homes for sale, especially for single and elderly people,” said McIntyre. She pointed out how the grocery store and Allen County Regional Hospital’s primary care clinic are both across the street.
“It’s a great location, very convenient,” agreed Franklin. 
THE DUPLEX will be the fifteenth new build in Iola for Franklin and McIntyre. They’ve remodeled and “flipped” three other homes.
“We try to build homes we’d like to live in, comfortable spaces for families,” said McIntyre. “We’re proud of the homes we’ve built, and we work hard to make them affordable. This new duplex won’t have anything luxurious or fancy flooring.” That said, she’s eyeing granite countertops in the kitchen, and the unit will come furnished with appliances.
They work exclusively with the Driskel brothers. “We wouldn’t do this with anyone else. David and his crew have built 14 of our homes.” The late Richard Sigg built the other one — “only because David was too busy,” Franklin points out.
“David has put up with a lot from us over the years,” McIntyre says with a laugh.
Franklin and McIntyre do their best to shop local, purchasing as many of their materials in town as possible. They’re appreciative of Steve Eisenbart at New Klein Lumber. “It’s important for us to put the money back into the community,” said McIntyre.
But for as closely as they work together, they both note the absence of an important part of the team. Jack Franklin, Beverly’s husband of 68 years, now lives at Heritage Health Care in Chanute. He moved there last week. At 89 years old, his condition is “fair at best,” said Beverly.
