Developer seeks demolition permits for Iowa City cottages

Council to discuss as petition pushes for historical landmark status

By Mitchell Schmidt, The Gazette

December 2, 2014 | 5:59 pm

IOWA CITY With demolition permit applications submitted and conflicting structural integrity reports for three mid-19th century cottages south of downtown, the Iowa City Council now plans to pick up discussion on the fate of the buildings.

The council decided Tuesday to schedule a special meeting within the coming week to discuss whether or not to schedule a public hearing on pursuing historic landmark status for the three cottages. If a public hearing is scheduled, a 60-day moratorium would be placed on issuing a demolition permit for the roughly 150-year-old cottages at 608, 610, and 614 S. Dubuque St., which were submitted Nov. 25 by Ted Pacha, the owner of the properties.

"I think the fair thing to do would be to schedule a special meeting to resolve this ...Its going to bring on an even greater avalanche of pressure on both sides," said Mayor Matt Hayek.

The demolition permit applications follow a Nov. 20 structural engineers report that states the buildings are unsafe and need to be razed.

Owners of the businesses occupying the three buildings, the Book Shop, Suzys Antiques and Gifts, and Moy Yat Ving Tsun Kung Fu Academy, have since been notified that they have to vacate the premises so they may be repaired or demolished by Dec. 8.

Demolition permits could be issued as soon as Dec. 10 unless a moratorium is enacted,Iowa City transportation planner John Yapp said.

However, a Dec. 2 report from Shanna Duggan, structural engineer with Morning Star Studio in Cedar Rapids, from her Nov. 24 evaluation of the three buildings, states that the cottages are structurally sound, despite some exterior cracks and deterioration, which is expected with buildings of their age.

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Developer seeks demolition permits for Iowa City cottages