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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-10-2020 Historic Preservation CommissionIOWA CITY HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Thursday, September 10, 2020 Electronic Meeting — 5:30 p.m. Zoom Meeting Platform Electronic Meeting (Pursuant to Iona Code section 21.8) An electronic meeting is being held because a meeting in person is impossible or impractical due to concerns for the health and safety of Commission members, staff and the public presented by COVID-19. You can participate in the meeting and can comment on an agenda item by going to htWs://zoom.us/meeting/register/jAofu-ygzOuG9�-JmVd R1koz5fkEOs--ilu to visit the Zoom meeting's registration page and submitting the required information. Once approved, you will receive an email message with a link to join the meeting. If you are asked for a meeting or webinar ID, enter the ID number found in the email. If you have no computer or smartphone, or a computer without a microphone, you can call in by phone by dialing (312) 626-6799 and entering the meeting ID 945 9675 6416 when prompted. Providing comment in person is not an option. Agenda A) Call to Order B) Roll Call C) Public discussion of anything not on the agenda D) Certificate of Appropriateness 720 N Van Buren (Chimney removal) E) National Register Nomination — Iowa City Central Business District F) Historic Preservation Fund Application and Information Sheet Review and Update G) Report on Certificates issued by Chair and Staff Certificate of No Material Effect —Chair and Staff review 1. 917 Bowery Street — Governor -Lucas Street Conservation District (foundation repair and reconstruction) 2. 1110 East College Street —East College Street Historic District (roof shingle replacement) Minor Review —Staff review 1. 331 South Summit Street — Summit Street Historic District (storm damaged attic window replacement) 2. 904 Bowery — Governor -Lucas Street Conservation District (removal of non -historic Cedar Siding and repair of original siding and trim) H) Consideration of Minutes for August 13, 2020 I) Commission Information J) Adjournment If you will need disability- related accommodations in order to participate in this meeting, please contact Jessica Bristow, Urban Planning, at 319-356-5243 or at Jessica-bristow@iowa-city.org. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs. Staff Report September 2, 2020 Historic Review for 720 North Van Buren Street District: Brown Street Historic District Classification: Contributing The applicants, Andrea Jensen and Matthew Steele, are requesting approval for a proposed alteration project at 720 North Van Buren Street, a Contributing property in the Brown Street Historic District. The project consists of the removal of the brick, stucco -coated chimney. Applicable Regulations and Guidelines: 4.0 Iowa City Historic Preservation Guidelines for Alterations 4.2 Chimneys staffComments This two-story Foursquare was built in 1913 with narrow lap siding and four -over -one double hung windows. A wide frontfacingdormer dominates the hip roof. The house has a full width front porch with two ornate columns on tall, stucco -coated masonry piers supporting a shallow- arched frieze board. A masonry pier frames the inside of the porch stair but does not include a column. The first floor and stair landing are trimmed with corner boards and topped with a band boar and heavy drip cap. The remainder of the second floor has no corner board and the siding is mitered instead. A tall stucco -coated chimney is located in the back half of the roof. An addition was constructed on the back of the house in the 1940s. A garage was constructed about 1920 and removed in the late 1970s. In 2000, the Commission denied an application for a wood stair railing and approved a simple black metal railing without spindles which is typical for a porch with high masonry piers. At that time, the porch stairs had no railing or sidewalls At some point the stucco -coated side walls were constructed and while they are appropriate, there is no record of approval of that project in our files. In 2013, the Commission approved the replacement of nine of the windows to match the existing. The applicant is proposing to remove the deteriorated, unused, and leaking brick and stucco -coated chimney and patch the metal roof to match the existing. Section 7.1 of the guidelines, Demolition of Whole Structures and Significant Features, recommends retaining any historic architectural feature that is significant to the architectural character and style of the building, including chimneys. Further, section 4.2, Chimneys, recommends retaining prominent chimneys that are important to the historic architectural character of the building. The existence of a brick chimney is an architectural feature on many historic homes, including Foursquares such as this, so staff initially recommended repair of the chimney and worked with the applicants toward this goal. The applicants contacted several masons who have experience working with historic chimneys and have worked on local historic properties. The applicant was unable to hire any masons to repair the chimney or even get much response from masons during an extended period of time, including those on the list of masons provided by the City. It is assumed that the stucco -coating and surrounding metal roof are complicating the work on this chimney. It is known, however, that much of the work needed to remove the chimney, such as building a platform to work in the area without damaging the metal roof, would also be used in its repair. The applicant has been planning for a repair and recoating of the metal roof so the same contractor could successfully repair this larger hole once the chimney is removed. This chimney is not a remarkable architectural feature on this home because of its utilitarian design. Because of the inability to repair the chimney, the fact that it is unused, is located toward the back of the house, and includes no specific detailing, staff recommends approval of its removal. Recommended Motion Move to approve a Certificate of Appropriateness for the project at 720 North Van Buren as presented in the application. AltI it �1J ^i k _ r.'� Detail of chimney Interior damage from chimney Towa City s_ Historic Preservation Commission City Hall, 410 E Washiugtou Sweet, Iowa City. IA. 52240 Memorandum Date: September 3, 2020 To: Historic Preservation Commission From: Jessica Bristow, Historic Preservation Planner Re: Iowa City Downtown Historic District nomination to the National Register of Historic Places The Iowa City Downtown Historic District has been nominated to the National Register of Historic Places. The State Nominations Review Committee will consider the property during their October 9, 2020 meeting. As a participant in the Certified Local Government Program, the Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission is required to review the nomination and comment on the attached form. The Commission should determine whether the nominated district meets the National Register of Historic Places criteria for significance and integrity. The Nomination finds that the district (described as a property for this purpose) is eligible for listing in the National Register in two Criteria categories: Criterion A: Event. A property associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history. Criterion C: Design/Construction. A property embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction. In addition, because of the development of the pedestrian mall during urban renewal, that altered the historic relationship between building facade, pedestrian sidewalk and vehicular, street, the Nomination also utilizes Criteria Consideration G for a property that is less than 50 years old or has achieved significance within the past 50 years. The Nominated District is located from South Clinton Street to South Gilbert Street and Iowa Avenue to the alley south of College Street. Maps of the area are shown beginning on page 82 of the Nomination. A table beginning on page 86 of the Nomination shows the properties included and their classifications. National Register listing will make tag credit funding available for appropriate rehabilitation projects on contributing buildings within the district. Otherwise, National Register listing is an honorarium that does not impose any regulations at the local, state, or federal level. Recommended Motion Move to Recommend that the Iowa City Downtown Historic District is eligible for hstmg in the National Register of Historic places in Criterion Category A and Criterion C at the local level and Criterion Consideration G for the development of the pedestrian mall and meets the criteria for both significance and integrity. CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENT NATIONAL REGISTER NOMINATION EVALUATION REPORT FORM As a participant in the Certified Local Government Program (CLG), the Historic Preservation Commission is required to review and comment on proposed National Register nominations of properties within its jurisdiction. The State is required to provide the CLG with a 60-day period for the review prior to a State Nominations Review Committee (SNRC) meeting. This form mast be received by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) five days in advance of the State Nomination Review Committee (SNRC) meeting. (Please print clearly) Historic Property Name: Address: Certified Local Government Name: Date of public meeting for nomination review: Applicable Criteria: (Please Check the Appropriate Box) ❑ Criterion A (Historical Events) ❑ Criterion C (Architecture) ❑ Criterion B (Important Person) ❑ Criterion D (Archaeological) Please check the following box that is appropriate to the nomination (Please print clearly). ❑ The Couunission recommends that the property should be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. ❑ The Commission recommends that the property should not be listed in the National Register for the following reasons: ❑ The Commission chooses not to make a recommendation on this nomination for the following reasons: ❑ The Commission would like to make the following recommendations regarding the nomination: (use additional Sheets if necessary) Official Signatures Required Below Historic Review Board Chair or Representative Print Name: Signature: Chief Elected Official Print Name: Signature: Professional Evaluation Print Name: Signature: Approved ❑ Not Approved ❑ Approved ❑ Not Approved ❑ Approved ❑ Not Approved ❑ NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Registration Form This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations for individual properties and districts. See instructions in National Register Bulletin, How to Complete the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form. If any item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "NIA" for "not applicable." For functions, architectural classification, materials, and areas of significance, enter only categories and subcategories from the instructions. Place additional certification comments, entries, and narrative items on continuation sheets if needed (NPS Form 10-9001 1. Name of Property historic name Iowa City Downtown Historic District other names/site number Name of Multiple Property Listing (Enter "NIA" if property is not part of a multiple property listing) 2. Location street & number Roughly, S.Clinton to S.Gilbert, Iowa to alley south of College not for publication city or town Iowa City vicinity state Iowa county Johnson zip code 52240 3. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended, I hereby certify that this X nomination _ request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, the property X meets _ does not meet the National Register Criteria. I recommend that this property be considered significant at the following level(s) of significance: _ national _ statewide X local Applicable National Register Criteria: X A _ B X C _ D Signature of certifying official/Title: Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Date State Historical Society of Iowa State or Federal agency/bureau or Tribal Government In my opinion, the property meets does not meet the National Register criteria. Signature of commenting Official Date Title State or Federal agency/bureau or Tribal Government 4. National Park Service Certification I hereby certify that this property is: entered in the National Register determined eligible for the National Register determined not eligible for the National Register _ removed from the National Register other (explain:) Signature of the Keeper Date of Action Sections 1 — 4 page 1 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State S. Classification Ownership of Property Category of Property Number of Resources within Property (Check as many boxes as apply.) (Check only one box.) (Do not include previously listed resources in the count.) Contributing Noncontributing X private X building(s) 73 21 buildings public - Local district 1 site public - State site structure public - Federal structure 1 7 object object 74 28 Total Number of contributing resources previously listed in the National Register: 8 6. Function or Historic Functions (Enter categories from instructions.) DOMESTIC/hotel COMMERCE/TRADE/business COMMERCE/TRADE/specialty store COMMERCE/TRADE/restaurant COMMERCE/TRADE/professional SOCIAL/meeting hall RELIGION/religious facility EDUCATION/library LANDSCAPE/plaza COMMERCE/TRADE/warehouse COMMERCE/TRADE/department store FUNERARY/mortuary EDUCATION/school Current Functions (Enter categories from instructions.) DOMESTIC/hotel COMMERCE/TRADE/business COMMERCE/TRADE/specialty store COMMERCE/TRADE/restaurant COMMERCE/TRADE/professional SOCIAL/meeting hall RELIGION/religious facility EDUCATION/library LANDSCAPE/plaza 7. Description Architectural Classification Materials (Enter categories from instructions.) (Enter categories from instructions.) EARLY REPUBLIC/Early Classical Revival LATE VICTORIAN/Gothic LATE VICTORIAN/Italianate LATE VICTORIAN/Romanesque LATE VICTORIAN/Second Empire foundation: Sections 5 — 7 page 2 BRICK United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Name of Property Johnson County, Iowa County and State LATE VICTORIAN/Renaissance STONE LATE 19TN& EARLY20TH C. REVIVALS/ Beaux Arts LATE 19T"& EARLY20TH C. REVIVALS/ Colonial Revival LATE 19T"& EARLY20TH C. REVIVALS/ walls: BRICK Classical Revival STONE LATE 19TN&EARLY 20TH CENTURY WOOD AM. MOVEMENTS/Commercial Style roof: LATE 19T"&EARLY 20T" CENTURY other: AM. MOVEMENTS/Chicago MODERN MOVEMENT Section 7 page 3 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Name of Property Johnson County, Iowa County and State Narrative Description Summary Paragraph (Briefly describe the current, general characteristics of the property, such as its location, type, style, method of construction, setting, size, and significant features. Indicate whether the property has historic integrity.) The Iowa City Downtown Historic District is located in the southeastern Iowa community of Iowa City. Largely defined by the presence of the University of Iowa, the community at large is characterized by the many features of that educational institution and the energy cleated by the daily overlap of the student and staff population with local residents; the proximity of the University to the Iowa City downtown assures that synergy. The Historic District is situated immediately east of the University Pentacrest with the Old Capitol at its center. The Iowa City downtown is typical of communities across Iowa in that it evolved organically in response to geographical or built features specific to its community. In some locales, a hilly terrain or waterway dictated the pattern of commercial development. In Iowa City, while a river town, it was the Old Capitol and the buildings of the University that impacted where the central business was established and in what manner it grew through subsequent decades. Less organic in nature, but no less powerful, were the desires and financial capacity of individual property owners, economic booms and busts, architectural trends, changing business models, pressures of growth, and intervention by local government and business groups to ensure economic viability that are all represented in the buildings and spaces of the Iowa City downtown. The urban renewal era of the 1960s-1980s was particularly impactful in the Iowa City downtown, and its role in creating the downtown of today is no small part of the significance of the historic district. Today, the area within the boundaries of the Iowa City Downtown Historic District is characterized as a collection of predominantly commercial properties representing architectural and city planning spanning from 1856 through 2021 — a period of 165 years. The result is a complex arrangement of historic and contemporary buildings that reveal the historic evolution of commerce and architecture over those many years. The district remains separate from but anchored by the adjacent Old Capitol building (a National Historic Landmark) and the University of Iowa Pentacrest (National Register of Historic Places) on the west and bound by the University campus on the north. The district contains the best -preserved commercial building including examples of Early Classical Revival; Late Victorian era expressions of the Italianate, Renaissance, Romanesque, and Second Empire; Revival styles including Classical Revival, Gothic, and Georgian; examples of Chicago Commercial Style; and multiple 20" century buildings designed in the Art Deco and the Art Moderne styles. Significantly, the district embraces the significant alterations that resulted from the City°s urban renewal program. The buildings constructed during the period associated with the program (1970-1979) represent the architectural trends and technologies of the Modern Movement. More importantly, they are directly associated with an historic period that contributed significantly to the character of the district today. Section 7 page 4 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form IN PS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State Narrative Description (Describe the historic and current physical appearance and condition of the property. Describe contributing and noncontributing resources if applicable.) (Iowa SHPO Additional Instructions: After the main Narrative Description, discuss any physical alterations since the period of significance under the subheading Alterations, the seven aspects of integrity as it applies to the property in a Statement of Integrity, and any future plans for the property under the subheading Future Plans.) Property Description: Iowa City Downtown Historic District Boundaries The Iowa City Downtown Historic District covers five full city blocks and three half -blocks (Figure 03); its boundary runs north along S. Clinton Street on the west, then two blocks east along Iowa Avenue where it turns south for 1/2-block along S. Linn Street, turning cast along the alley between Iowa Avenue and E. Washington to S. Gilbert Street, turning south to E. College Street, turning west along the rear of the Carnegie Library where it then turns south on S. Linn Street to the alley between E. Burlington Street and E. College Street where it runs west to meet S. Clinton Street. The district boundaries include the best -preserved commercial buildings in the downtown with a minimum of intrusions outside the period of significance. The streetscape facing S. Clinton Street bears particular significance for its proximity and historic relationship with Old Capitol and University Pentacrest and for its retention of late 19"' and early 20' century commercial buildings. S. Washington, E. College, and S. Dubuque streets also retain significant early commercial buildings. The near complete loss of historic fabric along E. Burlington Street prevented including that streetscape in the district boundary. Figure 03. Iowa City Downtown Historic District Boundary Map - 2020 IOWAAVENUE EAST 8URLINGTON STREET (Somcc: Bascrinc map, https://www.maps.noogrc.com.) The district boundary is noted in red with the blue outline marking the Ped Mall. Section 7 page 5 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State The boundaries also embrace the downtown's urban renewal resources, most significant among them being City Plaza (a.k.a., the Ped Mall). In stark contrast to similar landscape features that appeared in urban renewal projects across the country, the Iowa City pedestrian mall was a success — of approximately 200 urban renewal era pedestrian malls constructed across the country, Iowa City Ped Mall is one of only 11 retained. It is the only remaining, fully pedestrian mall in Iowa.r Where the majority of other such projects have been reversed in recent years (rettuned to vehicular traffic), the Iowa City Ped Mall remains a beautiful gathering place that contributes to the civic, social, and economic vitality of the downtown. Its place within the physical and historical context of the downtown commercial area cannot be overvalued. A range of American architectural styles spanning the latter half of the 19th century and the 20th century remain represented by the buildings in the Iowa City Downtown Historic District. The work of important local and Midwestern architectural firms and designers is represented in modest as well as large-scale buildings. They include Chauncey Lovelace of Iowa City; Proudfoot and Bird and their successor firm - Proudfoot, Bird & Rawson - of Des Moines; Dieman & Fiske of Cedar Rapids; Liebbe, Nourse & Rasmussen of Des Moines; Vorse, Kraetsch & Kraetsch of Des Moines; H.L. Stevens Co. of Chicago; Kruse and Klein of Davenport; and J. Bradley Rust of Iowa City. Urban renewal era designers have also made their impact in the historic district, including the Iowa City firm of Hanson Lind Meyer and the Des Moines firm of Brooks Borg Skiles. The work of these architectural firms, along with that of other designers and craftsmen whose names are not known, include examples representing the broad range of design styles found in the historic district. The resources of the historic district were evaluated using the standards and guidelines established by the Secretary of the Interior, National Park Service with further clarification of integrity standards specific to Iowa's downtown commercial buildings provided in the 2002 Multiple Property Documentation Form (MPDF) `Iowa's Main Street Commercial Architecture," written by Jan Olive Nash (now Jan Olive Full). Due to the limitations imposed by the MPDF's period of significance, this nomination is not made under the umbrella of the MPDF z Although not directly applicable to National Register standards for evaluation or to registration status, it is worth noting that in cases where mitigating factors such as rarity of a building type or architectural style within the historic district exists, an elevated local historical significance likewise exists. Although these buildings have a diminished historic integrity (preventing individual eligibility), their significance to the character of the streetscape elevates their contribution to the district specific to local evaluation. The resource descriptions on the following pages indicate these properties with an asterisk in order to underscore their importance to local agencies and property owners. In cases where a resource is not yet 50 years old, consideration of contributing status has been filtered through Criterion Consideration G, which provides guidance for evaluating the potential significance of resources that don't meet the age guideline. District resources associated with the City's urban renewal era have been evaluated in this manner. While evaluating individual buildings in a survey project such as the present one is important, it is necessary to keep in mind that, "the overarching significance for the majority of commercial buildings stems from their location on Main Street, not their individual status." Only by examining the role individual buildings ' Colc E. Judac, "Thc Experimcnt of Amcrican Pcdcshim Malls: Trcnds Analysis," prcparcd for the Fresno Futur-c Confcrcneq 2013. 2 Jan Olivc Nash, "Towa's Main Stixct Commcrcial Arehitccturc," National Register of Historic Places Multiple Propcity Documentation Form," 2002. Section 7 page 6 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State play as part of the larger district can we fully understand the significance of particular historic associations. As the heart of a community, the commercial downtown has long been central to the economic health of Iowa communities of all shapes and sizes. Just as importantly, the downtown serves as a community gathering space and as a civic space for the celebration of area events. As the city's historical commercial center and community gathering place, the Iowa City Downtown Historic represents significant historical contexts by which we are able to understand and appreciate the buildings, spaces, and sense of history retained there.3 Property Description: Resource Classification and Count The Iowa City Downtown Historic District is comprised of 103 resources representing 94 buildings, one site, and 8 objects. Of the 94 buildings represented in the historic district, 73 (including eight National Register listed properties) are counted as contributing resources. The remaining 21 buildings are non-contributing resources. The site (City Plaza a.k.a., Ped Mall) is counted as one contributing resource. Resources counted as objects are substantial in scale, relatively permanent, and impact the character of the historic district. Located on the Ped Mall, these objects include a series of integrated, large-scale planters/retaining walls that remain a significant element dating to the original landscape design. As a type of feature on the Ped Mall, the integrated, large-scale planters are counted as one contributing object. Also counted as objects on the Ped Mall are a number of freestanding, limestone planters arranged along the length of the intersecting path of the mall; the planters are grouped as a type of feature and counted as one non-contributing resource. Five contemporary sculptures are located on the Ped Mall; they are counted individually, representing 5 non-contributing resources. Finally, a playground area with equipment is counted as one non-contributing resource. In summary, the objects located on the Ped Mall (and counted separately from the Ped Mall) represent one contributing object, and seven non-contributing objects. The period of significance is 1856-1979 embracing the earliest extant resource (Franklin Printing) through completion of the Ped Mall (a.k.a., City Plaza). The period embraces the span of time in which the existing resources best represent the range of commerce and architecture that define the district's historic integrity. In addition, the period includes most of the urban renewal era resources. Only one large-scale, urban renewal era building post-dates the period of significance — the Holiday Inn, which was placed in service in 1984. Given the constraints of Criterion Consideration G, the period of significance has been terminated with completion of the Ped Mall, the community centerpiece of the urban renewal effort. The significant dates are 1856 (the date of the earliest extant resource) and 1970 which marks the beginning of the urban renewal demolitions within the boundaries of the historic district — an era that resulted transformation of the commercial downtown. 3 Nash, E-24. Section 7 page 7 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Farm NPS Form 10-900 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Name of Property Figure 04. Iowa City Downtown Historic District Resource Map - 2020 IOWAAVE OMB No. 1024-0018 Johnson County, Iowa County and State T E BURLINGTON ST O KEY: M District Boundary On l Contributing � Non -Contributing On Listed Pedestrian Mall - Contributing Resource (Somcc: Basclinc map, https://w .maps.aooglc.com.) Resource descriptions and classifications for the district follow, with "C" for contributing resources, NC for non-contributing resources, and `NRHP' denoting resources that are already individually listed on the National Register of Historic Place. A table of resources can be found in "Additional Information". Section 7 page 8 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Farm NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State S. CLINTON STREET 01. Dey Building — C*4 8 S. Clinton Street Classical Revival 1917 The Dey Building is a 2-story, limestone -clad, steel -frame commercial building constructed in 1917. The fire-resistant structure was erected with the structural capacity to be expanded from two to five or six stories for use as hotel rooms. The Dey Building housed the University Book Store, continuing a tradition begun in t870 of bookstores at this prominent corner; the building remains occupied by a bookstore today. 2-story, pilasters divide the west elevation into four bays and the north elevation into five bays. A simple cornice provides the visual termination for those elevations. The storefronts underwent major remodeling in the 1970s. The cast concrete canopies were installed in 2001 and recently painted in the University of Iowa Hawkeye colors of black and gold.' The Dey Building is a moderately well-preserved example of a Classical Revival commercial building. This contributing resource is locally significant under Criterion C as a well -executed stylistic expression in the Iowa City downtown. The building is also significant under Criterion A; contributing as it does to our understanding of the history of commerce in Iowa City. 02. Coast & Sons Building — C* 10-14 S. Clinton Street Classical Revival 1892 The Coast & Sons building is a 2-story, 3-bay, commercial building located amid a contiguous line of commercial properties. The building's visual character is derived from its overtly classical influence — the upper stories dominated by Roman and Greek forms. Coast and Easley, clothiers, occupied the north and middle bays (10-12) of the building from its construction in the fall of 1892 through 1898, at which time William P. Coast welcomed his son, William O., to the business. The named was then changed to Coast & Son and, when Preston C. Coast joined his father and brother in 1906, the business became known as Coast & Sons. The business remained associated with the family through the early 1930s, remaining occupied by a clothier through the 1960s. Although the building's storefronts have been altered significantly from the historic, the upper stories retain a very good level of historic integrity of design and materials. This contributing resource is locally significant under Criterion C as a well -executed, atypical stylistic expression in the Iowa City downtown. The building is also significant under Criterion A; contributing as it does to our understanding of the history of commerce in Iowa City, specifically in association with the longstanding and important clothing store of the Coast family, which operated under various names from 1892 through ca.1932. ° Note that resources designated with a * are considered, by local standards, key contributing resources. They are here noted as such to indicate their sil-gnificancc to the local fabric in confornumce with the Iowa City Prescntiation Ordinance. 5 The descriptive and histoical information provided on all resources is excerpted from site survey forms updated and submitted with the 2018 survey and evaluation by Alexa McDowell for are City of Iowa City. They will nor be individually cited in this docmvent. Section 7 page 9 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State 03. Namur Bakery Building- C* (a.k.a., McDonald Optical) 16 S. Clinton Street Ital ianate ca. 1874/ca.1884 The Namur Bakery Building is a 3-story, single bay, brick commercial building. The existing storefront has an off -center, recessed entrance with small shop windows and Vitrolite cladding. The upper levels have three windows, each with elaborate, pressed metal window hoods. The pressed metal cornice has a garland of pointed arches set beneath a denticulated crown molding. The building may date as early as ca.1874, but the Late Victorian era facade that is retained today dates to ca.1884. For much of its early history, Eugene Namur, confectionery and bakery, there, with the Namur family living in the upper story. The building had a variety of occup century. In 1956 the shop space was taken over by A.J. McDonald for his optical compa purchased the building in 1969 and the business remains in the storefront space. was located in ants in the 20"' ny. McDonald This contributing resource is a well-preserved example of the commercial form of the Victorian era Italianate. The resource is locally significant under Criterion C as a well -executed, stylistic expression in the Iowa City downtown. The building is also significant umder Criterion A, contributing as it does to our understanding of the history of commerce in Iowa City. 04. Commercial Building - C* 18-20 S. Clinton Street Mixed ca. 1874/ca.1944 This resource is a 3finish, -story, 2-bay, brick with stucco commercial building dating to ca.1874. Despite a significant face-lift in ca.1944, the - building remains characterized by two storefronts with a central staircase separating them, flanking firewalls at the roofline by parapets (ca.1874), and a north -south rid. -Cline (ca.1874). Through time, the building's storefronts have been occupied by a variety of retail enterprises representative of the evolution of the city's downtown commercial trends. Significant among the occupants were Short & Sons, which was located in the north storefront (18) from ca.1925 through the 1950s; the business was one of a handful in the downtown owned and operated by African - Americans. With several of the business operators also inhabiting the upper story apartments, the building also demonstrates the connection of commercial enterprises with downtown residential living practices. As a result of major facade modifications, the building is not eligible for registration under Criterion C. However, because the building retains its ca.1874 scale, storefront subdivisions, and roof form, and because much of the current facade dates to more than 50-years of age, the building retains sufficient integrity to bem considered a contributing resource under Criterion A in association with the history of comerce. Section 7 page 10 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State 05. The Airliner — C* (a.k.a., Townsend Building) 22 S. Clinton Street Modern Movement ca.1888/1950 Constructed in ca.1888, the resource is a 2-story, commercial building located mid -block. The building has been refereed to variously as the Townsend Building and Racine's Cigar Store No. 3, but "The Airliner" has been adopted as the historic name because it represents the occupant from the time the facade was altered in the mid-20' century to the present. The building's visual character is derived from its mid-20°i century Modern facade, which features an unadorned brick wall plane, broken only by a ribbon window. The mid-201h century storefront has an off -set, recessed entrance with a large window to the left. T.W. Townsend purchased the property in 1885 and it was likely he who _ was responsible for the new building constructed there a short time later. In F 1930 the storefront was combined with those at 24-26 and occupied by Racine's Cigar Store No. 3. In ca. 1944, the space was taken over by William Banek and operated as the Airliner Restaurant, with the re -facade completed in 1950. The Airliner provides a very good stylistic representation of the impact of Modern architecture on commercial properties. In that regard, the resource is locally significant under Criterion C. The building is also significant under Criterion A, contributing as it does to our understanding of the history of commerce in Iowa City. As a result, the resource is considered a contributing resource to the historic district. 06. Racine's Cigar Store No. 3 — C'* 24-26 S. Clinton Street Italianate ca.1874 This 2-story, 2-bay, brick commercial building was built in ca.1874. The ground level is divided into two storefronts with a unified visual character created through the use of common design elements and materials. The upper facade retains six, evenly spaced window openings with camber - arched heads; the original, ornate window hoods have been removed. While the historic openings are retained, the windows post-date 2001. The cornice, which is comprised of several corbeled courses of brick in geometric patterns, existed by the 1880s. Through time, the building's storefronts have been occupied by a variety of retail enterprises. Beginning in ca.1909, the north storefront began its long occupation by a smoke shop, the most notable in a string of proprietors being Racine's Cigar Store No. 3, which conducted business there from ca. 1922-ca.1943. Due to a loss of historic integrity, Racine's Cigar Store No. 3 is not eligible for the National Register under Criterion C. However, because the building retains its overall form and scale, historic upper story window openings with original sills, brick cornice, and recent renovations that are more sensitively representative of the historic storefronts, the building retains sufficient historic integrity to be considered a contributing resource under Criterion A in association with the history of commerce. Section 7 page 11 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State 07. Ewers Men's Store - C* 28 S. Clinton Street Commercial Style ca.l 874/ca.19-13 The Ewers Men's Store building is a 3-story, single bay building set near the south end of the block. The building constitutes the north half of a two -bay property likely constructed prior to 1874 (perhaps as early as 1857). A major modification of the building was completed in 1923when A.M. Ewers & Co.'s moved into the building; the south half of the original building (30 S. Clinton), which remainsIs largely unaltered, provides evidence of the early appearance of the upper story of the Ewers building. The 1923 re -facade replaced upper story Italianate window arrangements with Chicago -style windows. A Neo-Classical style terracotta corniceand the re -facing of the upper facade with glazed brick completed the re -facade. The Chicago -style windows were replaced and the storefront altered in 1981. The original building (28-30) was constructed by longtime merchant, Moses Bloom. In 1919 Bloom sold the north half of the original building to Arthur M. Ewers, but the storefront remained occupied by Shiley Variety Store until 1923. At that time, Ewers advertised that the building was to be remodeled as A.M. Ewers & Co. In ca.1947, A.M. Ewers & Co. became known as Ewers Men's Store, which continues to occupy the storefront. The resource is significant under Criterion C as a moderately well-preserved example of the Commercial Style; the 1923 facade reflects the architectural and material trends popular during the early 20' century. Further, the resource is significant under Criterion A in association with the history of commerce, specifically in its association with longtime occupant, the Ewers Men's Store. As a result, the resource is considered a contributing resource to the historic district. 08. Bloom -Ries Building - C* 30 S. Clinton Street Italianate ca.1874 The Bloom -Ries Building is a 3-story, single bay building set near the south end of the block. The building constitutes the south half of a 2-bay property likely constructed prior to 1874 (perhaps as early as 1857). The original building (28-30) was built with a storefront in each half and a combination of apartments and office spaces located on the upper floors. Typical of the Italianate style, the upper stories featured tall and narrow windows with heavy, window hoods and a prominent cornice. The Bloom -Ries Building remains largely unaltered despite the 1923 re- facing of the north half of the building. The building was constructed by longtime merchant, Moses Bloom. When son-in-law Max Mayer joined the business, the firm - became known as Bloom and Mayer. In 1914 Bloom sold the south half of the original building to John T. Ries, who had operated Ries Iowa Book Store from the south storefront (30) since ca.1909. John T. Ries continued to operate the Iowa Book Store through ca.195-1. The Bloom -Ries Building is a well-preserved example of the Italianate style in a commercial building with the historic, character -defining features retained, albeit altered, in the upper facade. This contributing resource is locally significant under Criterion C as an early and increasingly rare, stylistic expression in the Iowa City downtown. The building is also significant under Criterion A, contributing as it does to our understanding of the history of commerce in Iowa City. Section 7 page 12 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State 09. Whetstone Building — C* 32 S. Clinton Street Ital ianate ca. ] 868/1874 The Whetstone Building is a 3-story, brick commercial building consisting of two separate sections merged into a single ownership and business operation by the early 1880s. The corner building was constructed in ca.1868 and the east building was in place by 1874. The building's upper elevations feature a distinctive bracketed and denticulated cornice with a deep, wood cave. Although windows have been replaced, the original openings are retained complete, with stone sills and segmental arched stone lintels with keystones and corner blocks. The window openings of the 1874 section also have stone sills, with their flat heads ornament with pedimented hoods. The building's contemporary storefronts share a design approach which retains a sense of scale and design that is both contemporary and sympathetic to the historic character of the building as a whole. Whetstone Pharmacy, was the longest -lived business located in the building. By the early 1890s, John Whetstone was in business at this location, remaining there for some 30- years. The Whetstone Building is a well-preserved, early example of the Italianate style in a commercial building and as such is considered significant under Criterion C. The building is also significant trader Criterion A in association with Iowa City commerce, specifically in its longstanding use as a pharmacy. The resource is a contributing resource to the historic district. 10. Iowa State Bank & Trust — NRBP, 2017 (Johnson County Savings Bank) 102 S. Clinton Street Chicago Commercial Style 1912 Iowa State Bank & Trust is a 6-story, brick commercial building, the design of which references the influence of the Chicago Commercial Style. The influence of Louis Sullivan via the Chicago Commercial Style is seen in the arrangement of the elevation with a base, shaft, and capital. Classically derived decorative elements are executed in stone and terra cotta including a heavily articulated, stone first level and a deep, bracketed cornice. As a National Register listed resource, the Iowa State Bank & Trust is a contributing resource in the historic district. 11. Strub Building — NC 114 S. Clinton Street Contemporary ca. 1865/ca.2005 The Strub Building is a 2-story, brick commercial building constructed in ca.1865 to house the Strub Department Store. The building has undergone multiple, major fagade renovations, the latest dating to Section 7 page 13 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State ca.2005. The Stroh Building is a poorly preserved example of a late 19th century commercial building with a facade dating outside the period of significance. Because the scale, style, materials, and details of the building do not retain any character related to either the original 19th century building or the mid-20th century renovation, the building is counted a non- contributing resource to the historic district. 12. Hawkeye Barber Shop — C 124 S. Clinton Street Modern Movement 1979 This small, 1-story, concrete block and steel commercial building was under construction in December of 1978 and the business opened in February of 1979. Sandwiched between larger commercial buildings, the Hawkeye Barber Shop is dwarfed by comparison. The building has a mere 13-foot frontage on S. Clinton Street, but stretches east for a 78-foot depth. The building has an unornamented synthetic stucco finish with the entire storefront recessed between the walls of the adjacent buildings. The architect for the building was Hawkins Lind Meyer. The Hawkeye Barber Shop was built as part of the urban renewal program. As such, the building derives significance under Criterion A in that historic association. Notably, the building has retained the same occupant from the time of its construction nearly 50 years ago. The Hawkeye Barber Shop building is considered a contributing resource to the historic district. 13. Things & Things & Things — C 130 S. Clinton Street Modern Movement 1970 Things & Things & Things is a 2-story, commercial building built in 1970 as the first of the urban renewal constructions in the downtown. The building's visual character is indicative of its 1970 construction date, particularly in its fully glazed facade, steel framing, concrete block side walls, and stepped form. The glazed facade terminates with a corrugated shed roof that slopes back to meet a narrow metal cornice. Urban renewal plans for the Iowa City downtown were ready to proceed by the summer of 1970. The first major construction in the Iowa City urban renewal area was announced as the new $190,000 Things & Things & Things boutique, designed by Iowa City architect, William Nowysz. The business included a greenhouse, delicatessen, children's clothing and books, dinnerware, and men's and women's clothing as well as an assortment of' -trinkets" and other items. Things & Things & Things derives significance under Criterion A in association with urban renewal. Further, the building is significant under Criterion C as a well-preserved, architect -designed example of mid-20t1i century commercial architecture. As a result, Things & Things & Things is considered a contributing resource. Section 7 page 14 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Name of Property 14. Bill Hill Music Studio — C 132 S. Clinton Street Modern Movement 1971 The Bill Hill Music Studio building is a brick -faced (painted), concrete block structure. The building is L-shaped, with its primary entrance facing Clinton Street and secondary entrance at the rear of the building, fronting College Street and the pedestrian mall. The primary elevation is dominated by a fully glazed storefront featuring an off -set entrance flanked by display windows; the glazed door and display windows are set in chrome or Johnson County, Iowa County and State unpainted steel flames, indicative of the construction era. The secondary entrance is similarly configured. A mural was painted on the south elevation sometime after 2001. Built in 1971, the building was just the second constructed as part of the Iowa City urban renewal program, which resulted in the loss of dozens of historic buildings and reoriented the historic character of the city's Central Business District. As such the building derives significance under Criterion A in that historic association. The building retains a very good level of historic integrity and is indicative of its period of construction. The Bill Hill Music Studio building is considered a contributing resource to the historic district. 15. Safeway 2000 Building — NC 210-212 S. Clinton Street Contemporary/Post Modern 2000 This 6-story, brick building was under construction in 1999-2000 followingNo a fire that destroyed the previous building on this site. The building has commercial space on the first floor and apartments on the upper levels. It is constructed of red brick with a cast stone foundation, behcourse, and trim. Brushed metal work is used for decorative elements, window sash and cornice details. Metal "tins" project along the cornice giving the illusion of brackets. A vaulted roof surmounts the top floor which is set back from the metal cornice edge. As a resource dating to outside the period of significance, the building is counted as a non-contributing resource to the historic district. E. COLLEGE STREET 16. City Plaza — C* (Ped Mall) E. College from S. Clinton to S. Linn and S. Dubuque from E. College to Iowa Avenue Urban Renewal Landscape Feature 1979 The Pedestrian Mall is comprised of three blocks of two, former downtown intersecting roadways converted to a pedestrian walkway. The Ped Mall was the centerpiece of the City's urban renewal project, its revitalization designed to bring a centralized Section 7 page 15 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State gathering space, intimacy of scale, and room for outdoor events to the downtown. The Ped Mall was largely completed by the fall of 1979, with the final vegetative elements added in the spring of 1980. Officially named "City Plaza", Iowa City's pedestrian mall was designed by Jack Leaman of Associated Engineers, Inc., Mason City. The 3-block pedestrian mall was a downtown success almost immediately, operating as planners had intended by serving as a centerpiece for both informal and planned downtown activities. As an outdoor feature with numerous elements that support its function, the Mall is subject to wear by both weather and near -constant use. As a result, features in the Pedestrian Mall have been replaced and/or altered multiple times in the course of its existence - most extensively in 1999 and 2019. Those features include natural vegetation (e.g., trees and plantings), hardscape features (e.g., steps, fountains, and planters), moveable elements (e.g., seating, playground equipment, and kiosks), surfacing, etc. Due to the nature of the feature, such alterations are to be expected. Retention of the primary elements that define the function — namely, no vehicular traffic, no curbs, building to building surface, hard and soft landscape features, and direct relationship with the adjacent commercial buildings — are central to the historic character and those elements remain intact. The Pedestrian Mall was an integral component of the Iowa City urban renewal program, which resulted in the loss of dozens of historic buildings and reoriented the historic character of the city's central business district. Though a common feature of urban renewal projects across the country, the Iowa City Ped Mall represents a rare success of its type. As such the Pedestrian Mall derives significance under Criterion A in that historic association and is considered a contributing resource to the historic district. 17. Savings and Loan Building — C* 103 E. College Street Art Deco 1877/1940 and the This 3-story, brick and stone building was built in 1877 as an opera house and substantially remodeled in 1940 as a bank and office building. The 1940 facade is finished in buff -colored, brick and Bedford limestone. The first -floor window openings were filled with glass block that has A_] subsequently been replaced with tinted plate glass panels. The College Street entrance is Art Deco in style, utilizing an elegantly stepped-back 'C surround executed in stone framing a pair of brushed metal doors. "The Savings and Loan Building" is depicted in a Deco font above the entrance doors. The interior was also remodeled in 1940, with an elevator added Lipper floors converted to office spaces. This building is an example of a 19' century building being radically modified. As a result, it derives its architectural significance from the rehabilitation rather than its original construction. Alterations of the storefronts (including loss of glass block) on all elevations and painting of the upper stories' brick, diminish the building's historic integrity. In addition to the significance of its Art Deco stylistic character, the building has long been associated with the financial sector of the city's commercial history. As a result, the Savings and Loan Building is considered a contributing resource to the historic district under both Criteria A and C. Section 7 page 16 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Farm NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State 18. Dooley Block (west bay) - C* 109 E. College Street Late Victorian/Romanesque Revival ca.1874/19-19 The Dooley Block (west bay) is a 1-bay, 2-story, brick building that was constructed in ca.1874. The building is a remnant of the original, 4-bay building. From 1929, at which time the middle two bays of the Dooley Block were razed and replaced by the Sears Roebuck & Co. building, the west bay (109) has been, both functionally and visually, an autonomous property. The east bay of the ca.1874 Dooley Block (115) also remains, providing a bookend to the Seats building. The stylistic character of the Dooley Block presents a mixture of the Late Victorian Romanesque and Italianate styles. The upper facade is clad in red brick with elaborate, carved wood Roman arches over the single and paired 1/1 double -hung windows. The paneled wood cornice has returning ends and four large brackets with small dentil-like brackets in between. The storefront has a prism -glass transom spanning the full width of the storefront with contemporary plate glass windows extending to grade. The transom treatment, though not original, predates 1940. The building is a well-preserved example of a Late Victorian era commercial building, retaining a generally good level of historic integ ity specific to 1929, which marks the year the building became an autonomous resource. Given this, the Dooley Block is significant under Criterion C. The building is also significant under Criterion A, contributing as it does to our understanding of the history of commerce in Iowa City. As a result, this building is a contributing resource to the historic district. 19. Carson Building - C 109 E. College Street Chicago Commercial Style ca.1916 The Carson Building, a 2-story, brick building on a stone foundation, is located on the north side of the Pedestrian Mall. The building has a relatively simple facade, consisting of a brick upper level penetrated by a continuous run of windows. The storefront is a wood construction in a `Irish Pub" character. A well - scaled storefront cornice and signboard completes the contemporary storefront. Through time the ca.1916 Carson Building was occupied by a variety of businesses, beginning with a piano store in 1918 and soon followed by a bakery. In the 1960s, the building served as the College Street entrance for the Alden's Department Store (located on Clinton Street). The Carson Building is a moderately well-preserved early 20' century commercial building. Although the storefront has been altered from the original (likely multiple times over the course of some 100 years), the upper story retains a fair level of historic integrity, certainly to the degree that we can recognize and appreciate the building as a historic resource contributing to the overall character of the streetscape and the downtown generally. As a result, the Carson Building is considered a contributing resource under Criterion A in its longtime association with the history of Iowa City commerce. Section 7 page 17 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State 20. Commercial Building — NC 112 E. College Street Contemporary ca.1915/2013 This 2-story, commercial building dates to ca.1915. A major renovation in 2013 created a contemporized version of a 20th century commercial building. The 2013 storefront framing is sheathed in wood with molded edges. The west half of the storefront is glazed, with the east half recessed to provide shelter to the entrances. The 2nd story is sheathed in a contemporary modular system such as EiFS. Three windows are evenly located in the upper facade; they lack applied trim or decorative details. As a result of major alterations that date to outside the period of significance, building is counted as a non-contributing resource to the historic district. 21. Schneider Bros. Furniture Store — C 114-116 E. College Street Chicago Commercial ca.1883/1906 Schneider Brothers Furniture Store is a 2-story, brick building fronting the Ped Mall. The building was constructed in ca.1883, with the facade renovated and a large rear addition constructed in 1906. The building's upper facade blends classically styled modillions with geometrically formed moldings. The two, upper level window groupings are a version of the Chicago -style window. The 2-bay storefront is faced in a golden -colored brick, each with a recessed entrance. The building was occupied by a furniture store, with tmdertaking services from 1883 through post -World War T; Schneider Bros. being the occupant from ca.1893 through ca.1919. Subsequently, the property was leased to a series of tenants including White's Consolidated Stores and the Kinney Shoe Store. The resource is an example of a late 19`h century commercial building that was significantly altered in the early 201h century — its current appearance retaining a good level of integrity specific to that alteration. The 1906 facade incorporates a mix of stylistic features, all of which illustrate the influence of architectural design coming out of Chicago. The building is a contributing resource to the historic district under both Criteria A and C. 22. Sears, Roebuck & Co. Building — C* 111-113 E. College Street Chicago Commercial 1929 Built in 1929, the Sears, Roebuck & Co. building is a 2-story, brick construction. The upper story is organized into three bays, each bay dominated by a Chicago -style window. Terra cotta is used in the stylized pilasters that frame the bays, and has relief tiles that provide decorative accents to the basket -weave patterned brickwork. The 3-bay storefront ha historic outer storefront piers of brick with terra cotta details retained. Section 7 page 18 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State preserved. the history Roebuck Co Prior to its construction, the site was occupied by the middle two bays of the 4-bay Dooley Block. The entire property was sold in 1928 and the parcel was then divided. Sooner thereafter, the two center bays of the Dooley Block were razed and, in 1929, the present building was constructed to house the Sears, Roebuck & Co. department store (see image at left). As a well-preserved example of the Chicago Commercial style, the Sears, Roebuck & Co. building is significant under Criterion C., alteration of the storefront historically sympathetic and the upper elevation, with its historic, character -defining features intact, well - The building is also significant under Criterion A, contributing as it does to our understanding of of commerce in Iowa City, specifically in association with its original occupant, the Sears & . The building is counted as a contributing resource to the historic district. 23. Dooley Block (east bay) (52-01088) — C* 115 E. College Street Late Victorian/Romanesque Revival ca.1895/1929 The Dooley Block (east bay) is a 1-bay, 2-story, brick building constructed between 1892 and 1899. The building is a remnant of the original, 4-bay building. From 1929, (at which time the middle two bays of the Dooley Block were razed and replaced by the Sears Roebuck & Co. building), the east bay (115) has been, both functionally and visually, an autonomous property. The building is a well-preserved example of a Late Victorian era commercial building, with character - defining features retained including the red brick cladding, ornate Italianate cornice, Roman arched window heads, prism glass transom, and storefront cornice details. As a result, the building retains a generally good level of historic integrity specific to 1929, which marks the year the building became an autonomous resource. Given this, the Dooley Block is significant under Criterion C. The building is also significant under Criterion A, contributing as it does to our understanding of the history of commerce in Iowa City. The building is counted as a contributing resource to the historic district. 24. Crescent Block — C* 117-123 E. College Street Commercial Style 1894 The Crescent Block is a large-scale, 3-story, dark brown brick building constructed in 1894. The building's four bays originally contained three shop spaces with an entrance to the upper floors in the narrow bay numbered 119. The storefront at 119 was remodeled in the 1930s, today retaining a curved glass display window with bands of black and white Carrara glass; the 19' century storefront treatment is retained in the west bay (117). Manley and Milton Moon, along with Iowa City architect Chauncey F. Lovelace, were responsible for the building's 1894 construction. In 1929 a major shift in composition of the storefront tenancy came with the Montgomery Ward and Co. department store located in 121-123; the business remained the anchor retail tenant in the building until the late 1960s. Throughout much of its history, the second Section 7 page 19 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State floor housed professional offices with the third floor meeting hall first occupied by the Elks Club and later the Knights of Columbus. The Crescent Block is a well-preserved example of a late 19°i century commercial building with stylistic influences reflecting the influence of Chicago architecture on Iowa City. Finally, as a mixed -use building, the Crescent Block has long associations with the history of commerce in downtown Iowa City and to the history of local fraternal groups that utilized the third floor hall. As a result of these associations, the Crescent Block is significant under Criterion C and likely under Criterion A as well. The building is counted as a contributing building in the historic district. 25. Commercial Building - C 118-120 E. College Street Romanesque Revival ca.1874/2017 This 2-story, brick commercial building was constructed in the Romanesque Revival style and subsequently altered on multiple occasions. In 2017, a thoughtful rehabilitation returned the Victorian era character to the facade. Although materials were lost to earlier alterations, the rehabilitation returned a simplified but historically sympathetic cornice, replaced upper story windows with glazing formed to fit the original arched headers, repointed the brick, and reconstructed the storefront. The building was occupied by a variety of retail businesses over time, including in 1874 a grocer, boot and shoe shop, and a restaurant. In the 1940s, JC Penney occupied the building and, by the 1960s, the building was occupied by a single tenant — the Osco Drug Store, which remained at this location until it relocated to the Old Capitol Mall in the early 1980s. This building is a recently rehabilitated example of an early Victorian era commercial building. Although some facade materials are contemporary replacements the rehabilitation returned a good level of design integrity to a building that had previously been dramatically altered. Due to the loss of integrity as it relates to historic materials, significance is limited to the building's historic association; the building is a contributing resource under Criterion A in association with the history of commerce. 26. College Block Building — NRHP, 1973 125 E. College Street Italianate 1883 was listed on the N contributing resource The College Block is a 2-story, brick building constructed in 1883. The building is significant as the earliest known commercial building designed by Iowa City architect, Chauncey F. Lovelace and stands as the most intact and ornate Victorian era commercial building in the historic district. Threatened by the city's 1970s urban renewal program, the architectural significance of the resource drove local support for its rehabilitation. Listing on the National Register in 1973 was undertaken by the Iowa State Historic Preservation Office for the purpose of supporting its preservation. The College Block is a well-preserved example of a late Victorian era, commercial building. The building features cornice, second floor window hoods, and historic storefronts. ational Register with significance under Criterion C and as such is in the historic district. 19' century, an elaborate The building counted as a Section 7 page 20 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State 27. Plaza Centre One — C 128 E. College Street Modern Movement 1977 This 5-story, brick office building was constructed in 1977 as a part of the downtown urban renewal process. It is the district's largest urban renewal building, having replacing 8 late 19t1i commercial buildings. The Plaza Centre One office building has a steel structural system with concrete floors and exterior walls clad in dark brown brick. The building's exterior has a distinctive clipped corner facing southeast onto the Ped Mall. The Iowa City office of Hansen Lind Meyer designed the building. Plaza Centre One was constructed as part of the Iowa City urban renewal program, which resulted in the loss of dozens of historic buildings and reoriented the historic character of the city's central business district. As such, the building derives significance under Criterion A while meeting Criterion Consideration G. The building is a contributing resource to the historic district. 28. Iowa City Masonic Temple — C 312 E. College Street Classical Revival 1914 The Masonic Temple is 3-story, freestanding, brick building constructed in 1913-1914. Designed by the Cedar Rapids architectural firm of Charles A. Dieman and Company in the Classical Revival style, the fraternal building incorporates multiple classically derived elements including a highly symmetrical fagade, a raised podium, an entrance pavilion with stone columns and surmounted by a stone entablature featuring a plain architrave and frieze and a denticulated cornice. The building remains in use by the Masons. The Iowa City Masonic Temple is a good example of an architect -designed, Classical Revival fraternal hall dating from a period of substantial new construction in the downtown. The building is a contributing resource under Criterion C and, under Criterion A, in association with the history of the Masonic Order in Iowa City. 29. Trinity Episcopal Church (52-01096) — NRIIP, 1974 320 E. College Street Gothic Revival 1871/1971 Trinity Episcopal Church a wood fiame building in the Gothic Revival style. The execution of the style is exemplified in the church building by the use of board and batten construction technique — establishing the church as the only such example found in Iowa City. The 1971 addition is of similar character. Trinity Episcopal Church derives its significance under Criterion C as a very well-preserved and important, extant example of a common design and building technique of the mid-19" century Midwest. It is also notable for being attributed to a design by Richard Upjohn, a New York architect, who was perhaps the most famous Gothic Revival advocate in the country, specifically of churches. As a National Register listed resource, Trinity Episcopal Church is a contributing resource in the historic district. Section 7 page 21 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State S. DUBUQUE STREET 30. Park House — C 1 S. Dubuque Street Romanesque Revival ca. 1867/ca. 1879/ca.1899 The Park House is a 2-story, brick building constructed in ca. 1867 (north half), ca. 1879 (south half), and ca.1899 (rear). In 1868 the Park House was one of eight hotels in Iowa City. By 1881 the first -floor space operated as a restaurant and remained so through the end of the century. At the turn of the 20' century, a grocery store, a plumbing contractor, and a merchant tailor occupied the first -floor with the upper story converted to apartments. The Park House is a moderately well-preserved example of a commercial property with stylistic elements representing the Victorian era Romanesque Revival style. The building is important as an early commercial building retained on a major downtown corner. Further, despite alteration of the storefront and upper story windows, the building retains its early form (in place by 1899), the rhythm of window openings across both upper story elevations, and the 2°d story bay window overlooking Iowa Avenue. As a result, the building is a contributing resource to the historic district under Criterion C as well as under Criterion A in association with the history of Iowa City commerce. 31. Market Hall — C 2-4 S. Dubuque Sheet Romanesque Revival/Modern Movement 1873/ca.1947 Market Hall was constructed in 1873 on a site formerly occupied by the first Market Hall, which burned in 1863. The 2-story, brick building has two storefronts facing Dubuque Street with a rear entrance facing Iowa Avenue. The south half (rt.) of the upper fagade of Market Hall was altered in ca.1947, resulting in a stylistic separation between the two bays of the building. Market Hall represents both its original architectural character and a mid-20' century renovation, illustrating the evolution common to a commercial district. Although the alteration of one-half of the upper fagade creates a level of visual confusion, the resource retains a level of integrity sufficient to be considered a contributing resource to the historic district under Criterion A in association with the history of Iowa City commerce. 32. F.J. Epeneter Building — C (north half) 5 S. Dubuque Street Commercial Style ca. 1883/ca.1913 The Epeneter Building was built as a 2-story, 2-bay masomy commercial building constructed in ca.1879 (south half) and ca.1883 (north half). For much of its history, the building functioned as a unit, the configuration of the storefronts and upper story changing through time. It wasn't until ca.1930 that the two halves of the building began to function autonomously. The re -facing of the north half was likely Section 7 page 22 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State undertaken at that time — a period in which Permastone was a new material thought to provide a relatively quick and easy way to alter an aging facade. The north half of the Epeneter Building remains independent of the south half, with each building under separate ownership. The building represents the evolution of downtown Iowa City commercial buildings over time. The Permastone facade, which has defined its historic character for nearly 90 years, remains in very good condition. Further, the retention of the prism glass transom is notable. All told, the building retains a good level of historic integrity. As a result, the building is considered a contributing resource to the historic district under Criteria A and C. 33. Ham's Hall — C (north two-thirds) 6-8 S. Dubuque Street Art Deco ca.l 873/ca.1930 Hann's Hall was constructed in ca.1873 as a 2-story, brick commercial block. At the time of its construction, the building featured a unified facade with three storefronts and an upper story facade that was dominated by nine, tall and narrow windows with rounded heads. By ca.1930, the north two-thirds of the building had been renovated; the upper facade is a product of that renovation. The storefront was likewise �— remodeled in ca.]930, though it has since been altered. Through the ® - years, a variety of businesses occupied the first -floor storefronts, gir including Deits & Hemmer, flour and feed in the 1870s. An agricultural implement and carriage repository business was located in the upper story in the 1890s and, after the turn of the 20' century, by Majestic Hatt. ! Because the facade alteration was undertaken more than 50 years ago, _ it is considered part of the historic fabric and the building's historic o integrity is evaluated through that lens. The later, and relatively recent . .. m change of the storefronts, altered the ca.1930 character significantly. However, through retention of form and the overall mass of the upper stories, as well as a clear representation as a ca.1930 renovation seen in the materials chosen and the asymmetrical arrangement of the windows, the building retains sufficient integrity to be considered a contributing resource to the historic district. The building is significant under Criterion A in its association with the history of commerce in downtown Towa City. 34. F.J. Epeneter Building — C (south half) 7 S. Dubuque Street Italianate ca.1874 The Epeneter Building was built as a 2-story, 2-bay, masonry building in ca. 1874 (south half) and ca. 1883 (north half). For the first several decades of its history, the building functioned as a unit; it wasn't until ca.1930 that the two halves of the building began to function autonomously. The Epeneter Building is representative of a post -Civil War shift away from the predominance of saloons and billiards halls in this block. After 1926 Joseph Rinella operated a produce business in the shop space in the north half of the building, while residing above. His son Joseph, Jr. continued to operate a pool hall in the south storefront, Section 7 page 23 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State while living with his wife in the apartment above the pool hall. `Catherine's" has been in the storefront since 1969. The building represents the evolution of downtown Iowa City commercial buildings over time. Although the building is now representative of the original appearance, the materials themselves are largely representative of a 1999 rehabilitation. However, due to retention of historic form and an historically sympathetic storefront, the building retains sufficient integrity to be considered a contributing resource to the historic district under Criterion A in association with the history of Iowa City commerce. 35. Patterson Block — C (north half of north halt) 9 S. Dubuque Sweet Renaissance Revival 1879/1899/1982 This 2-story commercial building represents the north bay of the original four -bay Patterson Block (see image below), which extended from 9-15 S. Dubuque Streets. The north bays (9 and 11) were in place by 1879;today, 9 and 11 have separate property owners and, as such, are considered separate properties. A major fire in December, 1982 resulted in damage requiring the demolition of the south two bays of the Patterson Block. The north bay of the Patterson Block has plain brick framing piers with a projecting metal cornice of simple molding and dentil bands. A pair of recessed doors accesses the interior staircase to the upper level, and the ground level storefront. The name "Patterson" survives in the floor tile at the entrances. The storefront was occupied by a wide variety of businesses, ranging from a boot and shoe shop to a restaurant; some of the business owners resided in the apartment above their storefront. Although this building represents only one -quarter of the original Patterson Block, it survives as a relatively well-preserved example of the Late Victorian era Renaissance Revival in a commercial building — a type that is rare in the Iowa City downtown. The fact that half of the block was destroyed by fire and that the other extant bay is more altered, increases the importance of this surviving section of the original building. The building is significant under Criterion A in association with the history of Iowa City commerce and under Criterion C as an example of the Late Victorian Renaissance in a commercial building. The building is a contributing resource to the downtown historic district. 36. Ham's Hall — C (south one-third) 10 S. Dubuque Street Romanesque Revival ca. 1873/ca.1925 Ham's Hall was built in ca.1873 as a 2-story, brick commercial block. When constructed, the building featured a unified facade with three storefronts and an upper story facade that was dominated by nine, tall and narrow windows with rounded heads. Today, the building facade reflects the visual and functional separation of the south bay from the north two bays in ca.1930. The storefront began its longtime function as a restaurant in the late 1920s, with the Hawk's Nest located there from 1928-1934, Munn's Grill (1935-1937), and the D. & L. Grill and Spanish Room (1938-1952). Section 7 page 24 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State Although a remnant of the ca.1873 Ham's Hall, the building has functioned independent of the original building since ca.1925. Significantly, the south bay remains representative of the original building, with character -defining features intact. Through retention of the original form and the Late Victorian era elements of the upper facade, the building is considered a contributing resource to the historic district, significant under Criterion A in its historic association with the history of commerce in downtown Iowa City and under Criterion C as a reasonably well-preserved representative of one of district's earliest commercial buildings. 37. Patterson Block — C (south half of north half) 11 S. Dubuque Street Romanesque Revival 1879/1899/1982 This 2-story commercial building represents the south half of the north section of the original 4-bay Patterson Block that extended from 9-15 S. Dubuque Street. The bay is characterized by the three windows on the upper level that are divided by plain brick pilasters set beneath a series of adjoining, semi -circular metal window hoods. Although occupied by a variety of businesses through its history, the storefront was most typically occupied by a restaurant. This bay of the original Patterson Block has been significantly altered from the original, to a degree which limits its contribution to architectural history of the Iowa City downtown. Retention of historic form, traditional commercial facade organization, original window openings in upper facade with arched form discernable, and a reasonably sympathetic, non -historic storefront convey a solid understanding of the historic building and sufficient integrity to be considered a contributing resource to the historic district, significant under Criterion A in association with the history of Iowa City commerce. 38. Commercial Building — C 12 S. Dubuque Street Ital ianate ca.1870 The commercial building at 12 S. Dubuque Street is a 2-story, brick — building (at right) located in a contiguous line of commercial buildings of similar form and construction eras. Today, the storefront is the middle bay of a 3-bay configuration occupied by the Sports Column bar. 12 S. Dubuque Street retains a sense of individual character through the articulation of the upper facade, which features three window openings located regularly across the wall plane and corbeled cornice. The history of the storefront indicates a longtime use as a grocery (J.J. Lorack and Heck's Grocery) and, after 1910, a bakery — Barry's Bakery through ca.1936. In 1946 Old Mill Ice Cream opened at this address, remaining there for a decade. By 1960 Joe Rossie's Cafe occupied the building, remaining there through 1966. Due to the historic rehabilitation of the upper story, the building retains a good level of historic integrity, despite the recent alteration of the storefront and replacement of the upper story windows. Through retention of the original form and the Victorian era elements of the upper facade (namely, the window openings and corbelled cornice), the building is considered a contributing resource to the historic district. The resource is significant under Criterion A in its historic association with the history of commerce in downtown Iowa City. Section 7 page 25 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State 39. Prairie Lights Book Store — NC 13-15 S. Dubuque Street Contemporary 1983/1993 The Prairie Lights Book is a 2-story, masonry commercial building constructed following a fire that occurred in December of 1982. That fire destroyed the two, south bays of the original, 4-bay Patterson Block, which historically extended from 9-15 S. Dubuque Street. The north half of the building (9-11) remains today, with each bay of the remaining building functioning autonomously. This building is an example of a late 20th century commercial building built in a contemporary style with a reference to Prairie School design. Due to the building's relatively recent construction it is counted as a non- contributing resource to the historic district. 40. Mueller Block —NC 14 S. Dubuque Street Contemporary 1909/ca.1970 The building at 14 S. Dubuque Street is located at the end of a contiguous line of commercial properties of a similar scale and construction date. The building is located mid -block, with its secondary elevation (south) facing the alley. The 2- story brick building bears little resemblance to its 1909 appearance or to a facade replacement undertaken in ca.1970. This mid -block, alley adjacent, commercial building is an example of an extensively reconstructed facgade based on a contemporary design. The building is a non-contributing resource to the historic district. 41. J.J. Stach Saloon — C 17 S. Dubuque Sheet Romanesque Revival ca.1876 This 2-story commercial building represents the north one- third of an original 3-bay building that extended from 17- 21 S. Dubuque Street. The J.J. Stach Saloon (at right) has a Late Victorian era Romanesque Revival style design with a continuous metal cornice connecting the 3-bay building. The building was occupied by a variety of retail uses beginning with J.J. Stach operating a saloon and then a boots and shoes business from this storefront; the shift away from the saloon reflected the shift away from saloon -keeping on this block of the downtown. The Stach family's shoe store continued from this location into the years after World War T, with the family retaining ownership of the building through World War IT. The upper level was leased as office space for a number of doctors at one time. Although visually and functionally autonomous from the adjacent building to which it has a shared history, the building remains an important component to that building — either building would be significantly impacted by the loss of the other. Further, the J.J. Stach Saloon building retains many of the historic, Section 7 page 26 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State character -defining features of the upper story including the unusual and elegantly composed cornice — the monochromatic paint scheme diminishes but does not erase its beauty. With these considerations in mind, the building is counted as a contributing resource to the historic district, significant under Criterion A in association with the history of Iowa City commerce and under Criterion C. 42. Scanlon Saloon/Maresh & Holubar Tin Shop— C 19-21 S. Dubuque Street Romanesque Revival ca.1874/ca.1875 This 2-story commercial building represents the south and center thirds of the original 3-bay building that extended from 17-21 S. Dubuque Street. The Romanesque Revival upper facade features a continuous metal cornice connecting the three bays, red brick walls, and semi- circular arched windows. Both storefronts are modified from the original. Several retail businesses occupied the south bay (21) overtime, beginning with Maresh and Holubar, stove and tinware in 1879. For many years, the space was occupied by Reich's Chocolate Shop and Cafe, which was established in ca.1901 as a candy kitchen and ice cream parlor before shifting to focus to food service and soda fountain. The center bay (19) of the building was occupied by the Scanlon Saloon in 1876. A drug store occupied the center storefront for much of the 20" century. Despite the loss of historic windows and alteration of the storefronts, the building remains an important example of an early commercial building expressive of Late Victorian era commercial design. The building is a contributing resource to the historic district, significant under Criterion A in association with the history of Iowa City commerce and under Criterion C in association with its period of construction and design. 43. Commercial Building — NC 23 S. Dubuque Street Contemporary ca.1879/ca.1970 This 2-story commercial building pre -dates 1879 when a building first appeared on the fire insurance map for that year; an 1893 historic image documents its 19th century appearance. Today, the building is an example of an extensively reconstructed facade based on a contemporary design. Due to the quality of design character, the building has not since the time it was renovated, contributed to the historic character of the downtown. The building is a non-contributing resource to the historic district. 44. Jefferson Cafeteria — C 109 S. Dubuque Street Commercial Style ca.1915 The Jefferson Cafeteria is a 1-story, brick, commercial building located on the pedestrian mall. The building features a simple, commercial front with decorative devices limited to a brickwork cornice and cast stone parapet coping. A 1-story, narrow glazed infill extends from the building's north storefront pier to the south wall of the adjacent Hotel Jefferson. The Jefferson Cafeteria building was constructed following the 1912 fire that destroyed the 1860 Metropolitan Section 7 page 27 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State Block and led to the 1913 construction of the Hotel Jefferson. The building remained occupied by food service businesses through the 1920s, after which time a series of retail businesses located there. A recent, historic rehabilitation revealed previously camouflaged facade details and minimized the visual distraction of the glazed link to the adjacent building. As a result, the Jefferson Cafeteria is considered a contributing resource to the historic district. The building is significant under Criterion A in association with the history of commerce in the Iowa City downtown and trader Criterion C as an example of small-scale commercial property. 45. Commercial Building - C'^ I I I S. Dubuque Street Early Classical Revival ca.1860 This 3-story, brick commercial building was constructed in ca. 1860, its ,Mom MM_ character representing the Early Classical Revival (see right). The upper levels originally had three evenly spaced window openings with stone I-W sills and lintels and 6/6 double -hung sash; the center openings have been bricked shut. The pressed metal cornice has four large brackets with pendants and a narrow frieze with a dentil-like detailing between each bracket. The storefront is a 21't century renovation that is historically sympathetic in proportions, composition, and materials. A range of - - - businesses occupied the building overtime, with the upper story housing professional offices and a cigar factory. By 1909 the first floor was operated as the Dreamland Theatre, followed briefly by the American Theatre, and then the Iowa Candy Kitchen. Regular turn -over continued through 1944 when the property came under the ownership of the Koza family, which had owned the adjacent property since 1911. This building is a moderately well-preserved example of a commercial block dating to the mid-19"' century; alter the adjacent Franklin Printing House, the building is the oldest in the historic district. This building is considered a contributing resource in the historic district, significant under Criteria A and C. Additional investigation of the interior may indicate that the loss of exterior integrity is balanced by retention of interior features, early construction date, and/or significant historical association. 46. Franklin Printing House - NRHP, 1986 115 S. Dubuque Street Early Classical Revival 1856 The Franklin Printing House is a 3-story, brick commercial building. The building was constructed in 1856 to house the Iona Capitol Report during the city's brief reign as the state capital. The building is significant as the earliest commercial building built for newspaper work and associated with a notable early newspaper in Iowa City. It is the oldest remaining building in the Iowa City Downtown Historic District. The resource derives its significance under Criterion A in association with the history of journalism in Iowa City and under Criterion C as a well-preserved and rare (and earliest) example of a pre -Civil War building in the Iowa City downtown. The Franklin Printing House is counted as a contributing resource in the historic district. Section 7 page 28 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State 47. Commercial Building — C* I IS S. Dubuque Street Late Victorian — Second Empire ca.1881 /ca.1890 This resource is a moderately well-preserved example of a Late Victorian commercial building form that was once common in downtown Iowa City the Second Empire or Mansard style. Today this building is the only remaining example. The building was constructed sometime between 1879 and 1883 with the third floor (with its mansard roof and pitched -roof dormers) added in the following decade. An historic rehabilitation completed in the 1980s included the reinstallation of a cornice between the mansard roof plane and the brick facade, construction of an historically sympathetic storefront, and removal of non -historic paint from the brick walls. A hardware store occupied the building in 1883, remaining in the building for some 40-years. In 1924 a shop specializing in roasting and blending coffee opened, later expanding to sell peanuts, popcorn, and candy. In 1940 the upper- floors were converted for use as the "Piper Apartments". Despite the fact that the facade alterations represent a non -historic alteration (the materials appear to represent a nearly wholesale replacement of the historic), the building is without question a significant historic resource representative of a vanishing architectural type in the Iowa City downtown. Further, the building has been associated with the history of Iowa City's downtown commerce since its construction in ca. 1881. The building is a contributing resource to the historic district under Criterion A. 48. Iowa Theater — C 124 S. Dubuque Street Art Deco 1936 This building is an example of a small theater constructed as a movie house during the late 1930s; the Iowa Theater opened in November of 1936. Designed with a contemporary look at the time it was built, the facade had a brick fi-ont with tall vertical windows set in the center of the upper level with corbeled brick dividers between and a wedge-shaped theater marquee with two sets of plate glass double doors beneath it. After closing in the early 1980s, a major rehabilitation of the building was completed with more recent renovation accounting for the current character. The Iowa Theater building is an example of an architectural style developed for a specific type of building, the modern cinema. Loss of the theater's marquee and changes in the front facade for conversion to a new use has significantly diminished the building's historic integrity. However, the building retains its historic form without addition and, most significantly, the angled brickwork that works its way across the facade to rise above the height of the parapet creating a sort of lance form. Further, the Iowa Theatre building is the only remaining representative of a modern cinema in the Iowa City downtown. As a result of these various considerations, the Iowa Theatre is considered a contributing resource to the historic district, significant under Criterion A in association with the history of commerce. Section 7 page 29 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Name of Property 49. Holiday Inn — NC 220 S. Dubuque Street Modern Movement 1984 The Holiday Inn is a 9-story hotel building visually defined by its pre -cast concrete construction, asymmetrical massing, and ribbon windows. Placed in service in 1984, the Holiday Inn was constructed daring the final stage of the Johnson County, Iowa County and State Iowa City urban renewal program. As such, the building is significant in that historic association. However, the district's period of significance ends with the completion of the City Plaza (Ped Mall) in 1979, leaving the Holiday Inn outside the period of significance and therefore counted as a non-contributing resource to the district. E. IOWA AVENUE 50. Bushnagel Building — C 113-115 E. Iowa Avenue Romanesque Revival ca.1875 The Bushnagel Building, a 2-story brick, 2-bay commercial building is the oldest remaining building in this block of Iowa Avenue. Although camouflaged by a coat of flat black paint, the upper facade retains design elements indicative of the Italianate style including a pressed metal cornice and semi -circular arched window openings with brick, window hoods. The building was occupied by A. Bushnagle confectionery from its construction through the early 1880s. Later, the two storefronts housed a variety of businesses including a restaurant, saloon, and printing company. The upper story was, in the early 20°1 century, occupied by a cigar factory. Despite storefront alterations, replacement windows, and the diminished impact of historic details due to the use of a dark monochromatic paint, the Bushnagel Building retains sufficient historic integrity to be considered a contributing resource to the historic district under Criterion A in association with the history of commerce. 51. Studio Tea Shop — C 117 E. Iowa Avenue Commercial Style ca.1922 This 1-story, brick building was constructed in ca.1922. The mid -block commercial building is an example of a small vernacular commercial building with decorative elements limited to the upper section of the front facade where a simple geometric design is inset in the brickwork. The storefront has been remodeled. In 1922 the occupant was the Studio Tea Shop and, in 1935 was purchased by Joseph and Hang Bremer, downtown property owners and operators of a men's clothing store. After that time, the building was occupied by a variety of retail businesses. The Studio Tea Shop building retains sufficient historic integrity to be considered a contributing resource to the historic district under Criterion A in association with the history of Iowa City commerce. Section 7 page 30 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State 52. Commercial Building — NC 119 E. Iowa Avenue Contemporary 2004 This 1-story building was built in 2004 on a parcel that was occupied by a diminutive, 1-story concrete block building which, in the 1930s and 1940s, housed the Hamburg Inn (first location). The building is a reinforced concrete structure faced in a red brick. Although the function of the building is interconnected with that adjoined on the west (Joe's Place), the facade remains visually autonomous. Its facade design, while contemporary in execution, utilizes historic precedents that result in a visual character sympathetic to the historic streetscape. Dating to outside the period of significance, the building is a non-contributing resource to the historic district. 53. Brunswick Hall —C 121-123 E. Iowa Avenue Mixed/Commercial ca.1890/1946/1974 When constructed, this building was strongly Victorian in design character. The building facade was substantially altered in 1946, with the cornice removed and the facade re -faced in brick. Additional alterations were made in 1974 to accommodate a new tenant, the Burger Palace. The building was occupied by a billiards hall, a bowling alley, and a barbershop for many years with a physicians' supply house and a dental supplier located on the upper story. After World War I, the first floor became the Athens Print Shop, later the Athens Press, and remained so for 20 years. In 1947 the building was sold triggering the re -facade that forms the basis of the exterior character today. The building's facade has been substantially modified. However, because the initial, and most significant loss of original character -defining features, occurred more than 50 years ago and because, relevant to the post-1946 appearance, the building retains the original form, historic delineation of storefront and facade, and rhythm of upper story windows, the building retains sufficient integrity to be considered a contributing resource to the historic district under Criterion A. 54. C.O.D. Steam Laundry — C 211 E. Iowa Avenue Italianate ca. 1895/c.1960 The C.O.D. Steam Laundry building was constructed in ca.1895 with a laundry operated from the first floor and the upper story leased to the Iowa City Public Library from ca.1897 through ca.1903. As originally constructed, this 2-story, freestanding brick building had a late Victorian design with an ornate, pressed metal cornice (see image below). Today, the facade reflects mid-20`^ century renovations that removed the most ornate of the Victorian details and reconfigured the storefront. Section 7 page 31 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Farm NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State Although much altered from the original, the C.O.D. Steam Laundry building reflects facade alterations that now date to more that 50-years. Further, the building retains its historic, freestanding form without additions and the character - defining fenestration of the upper story. Further, the building has a significant association with the history of commerce in the Iowa City downtown, specifically as a representative of a laundry business, which rose along Iowa Avenue to service the university staff and students. The building has a raised degree of importance due to the increasing rarity of historic buildings on this block of Iowa Avenue. As a result, the C.O.D. Steam Laundry is considered a contributing resource to the historic district, significant under Criterion A in association with the history of Iowa City commerce. 55. Reardon Hotel — C 213 E. Iowa Avenue Ital ianate ca.1900/1932 This 2-story brick building was built in ca.1900 as a single-family dwelling and converted for use as the Reardon Hotel in 1926. The building facade, with entrance on the left, glazing on the right, and a bracketed cornice, reflects the arrangement of elements dating to the 1932 expansion and renovation of the original residence. After purchasing the residence in 1926, William and Minnie Reardon undertook a series of alterations that, in addition to the 1932 facade addition, included a clay block addition on the rear, hotel rooms and baths. The hotel operated until the late 1960s and was subsequently converted to eight small apartments and a single retail space. It remains so configured today. The Reardon Hotel is considered a contributing resource to the historic district. The building is significant under Criterion A as a well-preserved and rare functional type representing the transformation of a ca.1900 single-family residence to a small hotel. In its current form, the building exterior appears much as it did when remodeled in 1932 and, as a result, is considered a contributing resource under Criterion C. 56. Capitol Square Condominiums — NC 219 E. Iowa Avenue Contemporary 2001 Capitol Square Condominiums is a 4-story, concrete structure faced in brick and stone. The building was built in 2001 on the site of the t970s First Christian Church — that church building having replaced the 19th century Christian Church. Unlike most of the CBD, which is characterized by contiguously arranged commercial buildings, this block of Iowa Avenue was historically (and remains today) populated by freestanding buildings. Today the streetscape is much altered from its early character, with three of the five buildings constructed in the last 20 years. The character is also impacted by the scale and height of both the Capitol Square Condominiums and the Vogel House, which is located on the east end of the block. Dating to outside the period of significance, the building is a non-contributing resource to the historic district. Section 7 page 32 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State 57. Bruegger's Bagel — NC 225 E. Iowa Avenue Contemporary 2013 The Bruegger's Bagel building was built in 2013 on the site of the ca.1909 People's Steam Laundry Building, which was destroyed by fire in late September 2011. The building is a 2-story, reinforced and concrete block structure faced in dark brown brick. Small in scale relative to the other recent constructions on this block, the building exhibits a stylistic character reminiscent of early 20th century commercial buildings — the scale, rectangular form, flat roof, and cornice all contribute to that character. Unlike most of the historic district, which is characterized by contiguously arranged commercial buildings, this block of Iowa Avenue was historically (and remains today) populated by freestanding buildings. Dating to outside the period of significance, the building is a non-contributing resource to the historic district. 58. Vogel House — NC 229 E. Iowa Avenue Contemporary 2001 The Vogel House (condominiums) was constructed in 2001 on the site of an 1898 residence of the same name. The building is a 7-story, reinforced and concrete block building with a dark brick veneer. The building facade is characterized by the expansive use of glass over a skeletal Steel structure. The juxtaposition against the dark brick vertical mass combines with an angular roofline to create a dramatic form on the primary elevation. The building has retail space on the ground level, the entrance to which fronts E. Iowa Avenue. Dating to outside the period of significance, the building is a non-contributing resource to the historic district. S. LINN STREET 59. 7 South Linn — NC 7 S. Linn Street Contemporary 2019 7 South Linn is a 7-story, steel panel clad apartment building constructed in 2019 on the site of the last 19' century residence in Iowa City's downtown commercial area. A fire, which significantly damaged the historic residence, resulted in its demolition and led to construction of the present high-rise. The building is a non- contributing resource in the historic district. Section 7 page 33 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State 60. Hohenschuh Mortuary — C* 13-15 S. Linn Sweet Georgian Revival 1917 The Hohenschuh Mortuary is a 2-story, brick building constructed in 1917. The building is comprised of two primary sections: the public space is identified on the exterior by the fully articulated facade, which faces S. Linn Street on the east; the non-public space extends west from the main building and its identified by a flat roof and lack of ornamentation. =� The building is a relatively well-preserved example of the Georgian 01 Revival architectural style. It is associated with the business career of William P. Hohenschuh, operator of a local mortuary and a statewide leader in the mortuary business. Hohenschuh's funeral parlor business had operated in conjunction with a furniture store previous to the construction of this new building. The 1917 building had a private family parlor and a "trimming and embalming room" with the second floor used for a stock room, three "show rooms" and bedrooms for people who wished "to stay with their dead." A garage at the rear of the main building housed the mortuary ambulance and truck. The building is an important and unusual example of the Georgian Revival style in the Iowa City downtown and it has a long association with the history of commerce in the downtown. As a result, Hohenschuh Mortuary is a contributing resource to the historic district, significant under Criteria A and C. 61. Old Post Office — NRHP, 1977 28 S. Linn Street Beaux Arts 1904/19/1 The former Post Office was constructed in 1904 and expanded to the present size in 1931. The building is a concrete and steel fiame structure clad in Indiana limestone. The building is designed in the classically derived Beaux Arts style with a raised foundation; seven by five bay elevations; corner quoining; symmetrical elevations; large, Roman - arches of first floor openings with keyed headers; a deep belt -course, and a balustraded parapet wall. The Post Office was listed on the National Register in 1977, significant under Criterion C. As a National Register resource, the Post Office is a contributing resource to the historic district. 62. J.A. O'Leary Velie Co. Garage/Iowa Apartment Building — C 104-116 S. Linn Street Commercial Style 1919/1924 When constructed in 1919, this quarter -block building was a 1-story brick building on a reinforced concrete foundation. The building was constructed to house an auto showroom on the north end with a 40-car garage in the center and a repair shop on the south end along the alley. In 1924 all but the south section of the ground floor was converted to retail shops and a low-pitched hipped root, 2-story addition with a U- shaped plan was added above (historic rendering below). The stucco -clad floors contained 32 apartments. Section 7 page 34 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State This building is an example of an early 20"' century building foam - -- m-,� - -,. — the automobile garage — that was later expanded to include two f floors of apartments in response to the growing need for downtown housing between the World Wars. The 1990s"`#`" �"•'.' �' installation of synthetic stucco and new windows has diminished its historic integrity, but the building retains a sufficient level of 10smug,� historic integrity specific to its period of significance and bears a T' demonstrable association with the history of commerce related to _ both the automobile era and downtown housing. As a result, the O'Leary Velie Garage and Iowa Apartment Building is a contributing resource to the historic district. 63. Meardon Building — C 122 S. Linn Street Modern Movement 1977 The Meardon Building is a freestanding, 1-story brick office building built in 1977. The building's visual character is presentative of its construction era and of the skill of the architects (Brooks, Borg & Skiles of Des Moines) that designed it. Generally restrained in character, the building relies on the juxtaposition of reiterated arched forms against the simple rectangular box, a low and elongated form, and elegant details. Built in 1977, the Meardon Building is associated with the Iowa City urban renewal program. As such the building derives significance under Criterion A in that historic association. Its location at the end of the pedestrian mall — the "centerpiece" of the City's urban renewal program — underscores that historic association. Further, the building is considered significant under Criterion C as a well-preserved example of mid-20" century commercial architecture, which departed from the historic precedents that typify 19' and 20t1i century downtowns of Iowa. As a work of the architectural firm of Brooks, Borg & Skiles, the building has additional significance under Criterion C. The Meardon Building is a contributing resource to the historic district. 64. Iowa City Public Library — NC 121 S. Linn Street Contemporary 2004 The present Iowa City Public Library represents the 2004, major renovation of and addition to an existing, urban renewal era public library. The building continues to occupy a prominent corner site, with its facgade facing S. Linn Street and its secondary elevation (south) fronting the Pedestrian Mall on E. College Street (2017). Generally, the building is rectangular in form with a flat roof-, its exterior is clad in a combination of limestone blocks and brick with the placement of the cladding used to identify interior functional separation and visual primacy. Windows are predominantly large-scale and gridded, with glazing set in steel dames. Due to the scale of alteration, the building is considered a new construction and is counted a non-contributing resource to the historic district. Section 7 page 35 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State 65. Plaza Towers/Hotel Vetro — NC 201 S. Linn Street Contemporary 2004 Plaza Towers was built in 2004 on a parcel at the east end of the Ped Mall that had been a parking lot for many years. The building's construction created some local debate due to its scale and contemporary architecture. The building has since won important awards that recognize it as an innovative approach to property use — the building combines condominiums, a hotel, professional offices, a health and wellness business, a restaurant, and a grocery store. In most aspects it has ultimately been accepted as a positive contributor to the downtown, though opinions about its impact on the historic downtown remain divided. Dating to outside the period of significance, the building is a non-contributing resource to the historic district. 66. Iowa City (Carnegie) Public Library — C* 218 S. Linn Street Classical Revival 1903 This 2-story public library building was built in 1903-04 utilizing _ fonds provided by Andrew Carnegie. Its design incorporates both Classical Revival design features and Beaux-Arts elements. The library was designed by the Des Moines architectural firm of Liebbe, Nourse & Rasmussen, a firm without experience in designing public libraries at the time they accepted this commission. The Carnegie Public Library was vacated in 1981 when its replacement was completed. The building is a well -executed example of a Classical Revival style public library building. It was one of a series of quasi -public or civic buildings consuucted along S. Linn Street in the decades immediately preceding and following the turn -of -the 20' century. Despite modifications to the entrance and the renovation of the interior for conversion to housing, the Carnegie Library retains sufficient historic integrity to be counted a contributing resource to the historic district under Criteria A & C. E. WASHINGTON STREET 67. Hands Jewelry Building— C* 109 E. Washington Street Modern Movement ca.1868/1968 This 2-story, brick commercial building was likely constructed by 1868 when a jeweler was first listed in city directories at this address. Multiple alterations of the building and its facade occurred over the ensuing 150 years, the most recent dating to 1968. In May of that year, Hands Jewelry undertook the renovation of its store, which resulted in expanded retail selling space through utilization of the second floor and the basement. The first floor became dedicated to jewelry, the second to china, glassware, and silver, and the basement to repair and manufacturing work Section 7 page 36 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State with an elevator connecting the three stories. The primary interior feature was a second -floor balcony overlooking the entrance, which is marked on the facade by the trio of 2-story, glazed arches. The project architect was the Iowa City firm of Hansen Lind Meyer. Although completely altered from the 1868 original, the 1968 Hands Jewelry Store is a well-preserved example of an architect -designed, commercial building representative of mid-20°1 century Modern architecture. The building is a contributing resource to the historic district. Hands' Jewelry Store is significant under Criterion A in association with the history of Iowa City commerce. The building is particularly significant for the 109 year association with the Hands family of jewelers — a remarkable and rare feat in any community. Further, the building is significant under Criterion C as an example of Mid- century Modern commercial architecture. 68. Western Union Building — NC 110 E. Washington Sweet Classical Revival 1930 The Western Union building, constructed in 1930 is a simplified example of Classical Revival style design that is found in a handful of downtown buildings constructed just before and shortly after World War I. In 1991 the facade was modified to create a 2-story commercial space for the jewelry store occupying the building. The metal cornice was retained along with the pressed brick walls and geometric designs of brick and stone displayed on the building front. The balance of the front was substantially modified with addition of a recessed 2- story window extending from the entrance way to the top of the flat brick arch of the original upper level window group. Though attractive, the changes significantly diminish the historic integrity. Although the renovation retained the historic form and character -defining details in the upper wall plan, the design removed the historic delineation of storefront and upper story, fully glazing the opening create by removal of the historic storefront cornice and transom. As a result, the building lacks sufficient historic integrity to be considered a contributing resource to the historic district and is thereby counted as non-contributing. 69. Surlier Music & Jewelry Store — C 112 E. Washington Street Classical Revival ca.1900/1929 This 2-story, brick commercial building was constructed in ca.1900 and remodeled in 1929. Beginning with its construction, the business focus of the occupant Surlier & Son evolved to include the sale of sheet i music, sewing machines, jewelry, and = clocks. Surlier announced its closing in December, 1928 and the new owner =ar3 undertook a renovation to convert the G� �l nf_'� building "into a modern store room and to make apartments on the second floor." In the 1970s (image, left) the building was occupied by Lorenz Boots & Shoes, a longtime Iowa City business. The building is an example of a simplified, Classical Revival style with a contemporary styled storefront. Section 7 page 37 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State This building is a moderately well-preserved example of a Classical Revival commercial building built during an era of substantial growth in the central business district before World War I and altered in 1929. Non -historic changes are largely confined to the storefront, though a penthouse addition contributes to a change in character from the historic. The building is a contributing resource to the historic district, significant under Criterion A in association with the history of Iowa City commerce and Criterion C as a representative of Classical Revival commercial architecture. 70. Corlett Livery/M. Moon Drug — NC 114-116 E. Washington Street No Style ca.1874/1963 Lnm In IN This 3-story, commercial building was constructed in ca.1874. The facade was altered in 1963, with metal cladding and reduced windows introduced at that time; ■ ■ the present character is largely in keeping with that alteration. The first floor is so divided into two unequal retail spaces reflecting the original function of the west section, which served as an access passageway for wagons entering the center of the block to reach the livery stable located at the rear of this building through at least 1912. Because the facade alteration occurred more than 50-years ago, the changes are considered part of the historic fabric and is evaluated as such. In contrast to multiple buildings in the Iowa City downtown, renovation of the building at 114-116 E. Washington does not represent a stylistic shift in the design of downtown buildings. Rather, it appears as an uninspired and inexpensive alteration, perhaps as a quick solution to issues with the historic facade. Due to the method in which the alteration was undertaken, the building has not, since the time it was renovated, contributed to the historic character of the downtown. As a result, the building is counted as a non-contributing resource to the historic district. It is important to note, that a portion of the building's original facade may remain beneath the metal cladding. Should the cladding be removed and the historic facade be historically rehabilitated, the building should be re-evaluated for eligibility as a contributing resource. 71. Younkers Department Store — C 111-117 E. Washington Street Modern Movement 1951 The Younkers Store held its official opening on February 7, 1951; the Iowa City store was the largest of the six Younkers chain stores. The store facade was modern in design, featuring granite and stainless -steel storefronts, stainless canopies, and a brick upper story. Two stainless steel revolving doors were used for temperature control. This building is a moderately well-preserved example of a mid-20t1' century commercial building associated with a wave of new construction that occurred in the downtown prior to urban renewal. Despite the alteration of the storefront and retrofitting of the upper story windows, the building retains a sense of time and place. As a Younkers Department Store, the building has an important association with the history of Iowa City commerce and its construction marks an important shift in the visual character of this block of E. Washington Street; with the adjacent S.S. Kresge building, Section 7 page 38 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State the Younkers building (and in the following decade the new facade of the Hands Jewelry building) represents a modem character tied to the mid-20°i century. As a result, the Younkers Store is considered a contributing resource in the historic district under Criteria A and C. 72. Freeman Building — NC I IS E. Washington Sweet Commercial Style ca.l 874/ca.2002 This 3-story, brick commercial building occupies a mid -block position along the north side of E. Washington Sheet between S. Clinton and S. Dubuque streets. The building was constructed by 1874, but perhaps as early as 1868. The building received a new facade in 1939 with another major renovation after the 1963 fire at Bremers' clothing store to the east. The 1963 facade was replaced after 2001 with the present appearance reflecting that renovation. Although thoughtfully designed and executed to be sympathetic in scale and character to the historic downtown, the renovation resulted in a near complete loss of historic materials and historic design elements. As a result, the building is counted as a non-contributing resource. 73. Bremer's Building — C 120 E. Washington Street Modern Movement 1964 This 2-story commercial building was placed in service in 1964 following a 1963 tine that destroyed the previous Bremer's building. The building was designed by Des Moines architect William R. Wagner. The building design departed from earlier design conventions, not only in the organization of the facade, the finishes used, and the type and arrangement of windows, but in the positioning of the building itself. The building's setback created a sense of enclosure by the changed relationship of the adjacent building's — that character is repeated nowhere else in the Iowa City downtown. The Bremer's building is a reasonably well-preserved example of an architect - designed commercial building representative of mid-20°i century Modem architecture — while the storefront has been altered, the upper story retains its original Modern character. The Bremer's building is a contributing resource to the historic district, significant under Criterion A in association with the history of Iowa City commerce. Further, the building is significant under Criterion C as an example of Mid-century Modern commercial architecture. 74. S.S. Kresge Co. Building — C 121 E. Washington Sweet Modern Movement 1930/1956 The S.S. Kresge building is a 2-story, tan, brick commercial buildii constructed in two phases beginning in 1930. Kresge's came to Iowa Ci after a careful survey which revealed a likelihood for "growth, stability of standing." The company choose this specific site for its location at the cer the option for subsequent enlargement Construction of the new $30,000, 's shopping area and )-sq. ft. building was Section 7 page 39 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Farm NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State underway by early summer 1930. Enlargement of the store was celebrated in the fall of 1956. The expanded 60-ft. storefront had a sales area of 9,061-sq. ft. with new features including a new stainless -steel luncheon fountain with seating for 27 that was served by an "all stainless -steel Pullman -type kitchen." Store offices were located in the upper story of the 1930 building with an employee's lounge occupying the upper story of the addition. The S.S. Kresge Building is a moderately well-preserved example of a 1910s commercial building exhibiting the influence of the Modern Movement and is counted a contributing resource to the historic district. The building is representative of both the 20' century transformation of this streetscape and the national rise of the five and dime of which S.S. Kresge was an important example. In those historic associations, the building is significant under Criterion A. Further, the building form and stylistic details are expressive of the in which it was constructed and expanded. As a result, the S.S. Kresge Building is also significant under Criterion C. 75. Security Insurance Co. Building — NC 124 E. Washington Street Romanesque Revival ca. 1869/ca.2010 The 2-story, brick Security Insurance Co. building dates to ca.]869. The building's original front is clearly depicted in a photograph in that year (below), its occupant prominently advertised as the Security Insurance Co. The building retained its 19th century facade through the mid-20rt' century when fire damaged the building and a new, Modern style facade was installed. A significant renovation in 2010 replaced the Modern version of the building facade. Referencing the building's 1869 design character, red brick facing, an overhanging cornice with decorative brackets, and arched headers on the upper story windows were all created in a contemporized version of the historic facade. Although of a high quality in both materials and design, the recent major renovation represents a new facade. As a result, the building is considered a non-contributing resource to the historic district. 76. Commercial Building — C 126 E. Washington Street Early Classical Revival ca.1869 This 2-story, brick commercial building likely dates to ca.1869, when a glimpse of it is captured in a photograph of its neighbor to the west (see above image). Although the building facade has undergone at least two major renovations, the appearance today is representative of its original appearance. During its some 151- year history , the property has been occupied by a wide variety of tenants beginning with a furniture store (1874), billiards hall (1879-1883), restaurant (1888), Saloon (1892-1899), millinery shop (1906-1920), and hat shop (1920-1952). Renovation of the building occurred in February, 1936 with a local newspaper describing the remodeling by local architect J. Bradley Rust, as "colonial in design." It does not appear that the facade was altered as part of the remodel. The present appearance of the building represents the ca. 1981 removal of a 1930s renovation that had included removal of the original cornice to accommodate the adherence of Section 7 page 40 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State structural glass cladding. Removal of the structural glass cladding in the 1980s likely damaged the original brick. Despite facade alterations, the resource retains sufficient integrity to stand as a contributing resource to the historic district. Its extended association with Iowa City commerce and representation of early commercial architecture support significance under Criteria A and C. 77. Arcade Building — C* 128 E. Washington Street Chicago Commercial Style ca.1874/1926 The Arcade Building is an example of a late 19" century commercial block that was significantly altered in 1926. As noted in the Press -Citizen in 1925, "In the heart of the business district, a rather shabby, old building has been displaced by a beautiful, modern structure." In addition to installing a new facade and storefronts, both floors of the interior were renovated with two shops on the first floor and four suites of offices on the second floor. More recently, most all of the storefront glazing was removed to create an outdoor seating area within the footprint of the former display area. That alteration significantly impacts the historic character, a loss that is partially mitigated by retention of the sill plate of the historic footprint, which would facilitate reconstruction. retention of the character -defining terra Gotta cladding, Classical Revival elements, and fenestration results in a good level of historic integrity despite the loss of storefront glazing. Further, the upper story Despite the recent removal of storefront glazing, the building retains a good level of historic integrity and is therefore a contributing resource to the historic district. The building is significant under Criterion A in association with the history of Iowa City commerce and under Criterion C as an important example of 20" century commercial architecture. 78. Hotel Jefferson — C* 129-131 E. Washington Street Chicago Commercial Style 1913/1926 Designed by the Chicago firm of H.L. Stevens Co., the 8-story Hotel Jefferson was constructed in two phases; the lower six floors in 1913 with two floors added in 1926. When placed in service, the hotel was one of eight hotels in the downtown and was touted as the `only fireproof hotel in Iowa City." The hotel had an electric elevator, a 250-ft. artesian well, rooms with hot and cold running water, telephones, steam heat, and electric lights. Artwork in the lobby and mezzanine artwork was commissioned through the WPA federal artist's project in 1933-34. The Hotel Jefferson is a well -executed and well-preserved example of a Chicago Commercial style high- rise with classically derived design elements. Tts scale and design were atypical of similar Iowa sized Iowa communities reflecting the impact that the State University of Iowa had on the commercial health of the community. Because of its historical association with the construction boom in downtown Iowa City in the years immediately preceding and following World War I and quality of architectural design, the building is a contributing resource to the historic district under both Criteria A and C. Section 7 page 41 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Name of Property 79. Pryce & Schell Building — C IJ2 E. Washington Street Ital ianate ca.1879 The hardware business of Samuel D. Pryce and William J. Schell was located in this corner property in 1879. The building continued to house hardware sales through 1915, with Lichty & Thomas in place by t904 and Will by 1911. Thomas' "hardware pumps guns paints & oils" located there Johnson County, Iowa County and State Fred Racine operated Racine's Cigar Store No. 1 from this location through the 1950s. The Pryce & Schell Building has seen multiple alterations. Most detrimental to the historic character was removal of the elaborate cornice and window hoods, replacement of historic windows, relocation of the corner entrance, and brick infill of storefronts. However, because the building retains its historic form without additions, the rhythm of the upper story window openings, historic finish material, and its significant relationship to both the Dubuque and Washington street corridors, the Pryce & Schell Building is considered a contributing resource in the downtown historic district. The building is significant under Criterion A, in association with the history of Iowa City commerce. 80. ParkC201 — NC 201 E. Washington Street Contemporary Glass Block High Rise 2012 ParkC201 is a 14-story, steel and glass tower with a poured concrete elevator tower at the rear. The building, which was placed in service in 2014, is sited on the downtown pedestrian mall (S. Dubuque Street), with its fagade facing Black Hawk Park on the north. The building is occupied by retail/trade on floors 1-4 with residential condominiums and apartments on floors 5-14. Dating to outside the period of significance, the building is a non-contributing resource to the historic district. 81. First National Bank — C* 202-214 E. Washington Street Mixed 1888/1911 /ca.1990 This property includes four separate structures built and remodeled over a 120-year period with all of the space now included as bank and offices for a single financial institution. The primary building in this grouping is the historic First National Bank, constructed prior to 1888 and fully remodeled in 1911. To that core building has been added a pair of 19" century commercial buildings fronting S. Dubuque Street (20- 22 and 24-26) and a contemporary addition on the east (210-214). �. This complex of buildings represents an unusual combination of commercial buildings built and remodeled for use as a bank. The principal block is a moderately well-preserved example of the Classical Revival Style. Two other building sections retain elements of the commercial Italianate and Romanesque styles. A fourth section consists of a modern addition. Because, in their current form, the buildings Section 7 page 42 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State function as a single business under the same ownership with the interior functionally united and the exterior visually united, they are considered a single property comprised of four resources. As a unit, the property retains sufficient historic integrity to convey a sense of time and place. Therefore, the building is counted as a contributing resource to the historic district under Criterion A in association with the history of Iowa City commerce. 82. Paul -Helen Building — NRHP, 1986 207 E. Washington Street Chicago Commercial Style The 1913 Paul -Helen Building is a 3-story, brick commercial building. The property is, with the adjacent Englert Theatre (1912), the Jefferson Hotel (1913), and the Iowa State Bank and Trust (1912), representative of a commercial boom in Iowa City during the years prior to World War T. The Paul -Helen Building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986, significant under Criterion C as the first "modern commercial building" in downtown Iowa City. As noted in the nomination, the building is representative of the wide-ranging impact of Chicago's architects, builders, and architectural periodicals on architectural design. The building is also significant under Criterion A in association with the history of Iowa City commerce, specifically as a representative of the impact of the commercial boom of the period. 83. Stillwell Building — C* 216 E. Washington Sweet Italianate ca.1880 The Stillwell Building is a moderately well-preserved example of a Late Victorian Italianate Style commercial building with a pressed metal cornice featuring a paneled fascia with embossed brackets separating and pairs of modillions. Byron Stillwell operated his paint, oils and wall paper business in Iowa City beginning in ca.1878. In 1900 Stillwell purchased the building at 216 E. Washington St., where he had been occupying as a lessee (see bottom, left). Under the management of subsequent owners, Stillwell's Paint Store remained at this location through 1981. Once common in downtown Iowa City, well-preserved examples of the Ttalianate are now relatively rare. Along with the remaining bays of the r IXL Block adjacent to the east (below), the Stillwell Building remains one of the best -preserved examples of Italianate architecture in the Iowa 666 City downtown; standing as a block of three, the Stillwell Building and the TXL Block represent the best -preserved grouping of Ttalianate style 1 buildings in the downtown and the only remaining block of 3-story - _ Italianate buildings. Despite the modernization of its storefront, the building retains the character -defining features that tie it to its early construction date and Ttalianate style. As a result, the Stillwell Building is counted a contributing resource to the historic district under Criterion C. Further, the Stillwell building is significant under Criterion A in association with the history of Iowa City commerce. Section 7 page 43 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State 84. IXL Block — C* (west bay) 218 E. Washington Street Italianate 1883/ca.1970 This 3-story building is the west section of a triple -width block built in 1883. The easternmost section of the original block building is non -extant (ca.1970) and the center section remains extant as 220 E. Washington St (below, right). The TXL Block is an example of a Late Victorian era, Ttalianate commercial building with a pressed metal cornice featuring a pediment section with a radiating sun pattern, a decorative geometric design on the fascia, and embossed brackets. The building's storefront was variety of businesses through time, with no significant association known. Beginnin continuing for nearly three decades, the upper floors of this building and the building were occupied by a business school that appeared under various names includi Commercial College and School of Shorthand" and the "Iowa City Academy." occupied by a wide g in the 1890s and sections to the east ng the "Iowa City The west bay of the TXL Block is a moderately well-preserved example of a Late Victorian Ttalianate Style commercial building that was common in downtown Iowa City during the latter decades of the 19°i century. Along with the Stillwell Building on the west, and the center bay of the IXL Block, the building remains one of the best -preserved examples of Ttalianate architecture in the Iowa City downtown; standing as a block of three, the buildings represent the best -preserved grouping of Italianate style buildings in the downtown and the only remaining block of 3-story Italianate buildings. The building retains the character -defining features that tie it to its early construction date anditalianate style. As a result, the TXL Block is counted a contributing resource to the historic district under Criterion C. Further, the building is significant under Criterion A in association with the history of Iowa City commerce. 85. IXL Block — C* (center bay) 220 E. Washington Street Italianate 1883/ca.1970 This 3-story, brick commercial building (above, right) is the center section of a 3-bay block built in 1883. The east bay is non -extant (ca.1970) and the western section remains extant as 218 E. Washington St. The IXL Block is an example of an Italianate Style commercial building with a pressed metal cornice featuring a curved name block section, a decorative design on the fascia, and embossed brackets. This building was constructed in 1883. The center bay of the building housed an agricultural implement dealer through at least 1915. Beginning in the t 890s and continuing for nearly three decades, the upper floors of this building and the buildings to the east and west were occupied by a business school that appeared under various names including the "Iowa City Commercial College and School of Shorthand" and the "Iowa City Academy." The center bay of the TXL Block is a moderately well-preserved example of a Late Victorian Ttalianate Style commercial building that was common in downtown Iowa City during the latter decades of the 19°i century. Along with the Stillwell Building on the west, and the west bay of the IXL Block, the building remains one Section 7 page 44 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State of the best -preserved examples of Ttalianate architecture in the Iowa City downtown. In addition, standing as a block of three buildings, they represent the best -preserved grouping of Italianate style buildings in the downtown and the only remaining block of 3-story Italianate buildings. The building retains the character - defining features that tie it to its early construction date and Ttalianate style. As a result, the IXL Block is counted a contributing resource to the historic district under Criterion C. Further, the building is significant under Criterion A in association with the history of Iowa City commerce. 86. Englert Theatre — NRHP, 2001 221 E. Washington Sweet Renaissance Revival 1912 Constructed in 1912 and substantially rebuilt after a fire in 1926, the Englert Theatre's facade maintains its original classically derived design elements rooted in the Italian Renaissance Revival. The theater interior was rebuilt after the fire, incorporating a Tudor Revival theme that reflects the design trends of that period. The Englert Theatre was listed on the National Register as a locally significant resource under Criteria A and C and thus contributes to the historic district. The resource is significant in its association with the history of culture and entertaimnent and, in that capacity, has become a cultural landmark and venue. Further, the Englert Theatre was constructed to be among the best of the stage and movie houses in Iowa City. Historically and as an architectural property type, it is the last of its kind in the city. 87. Schump Transfer & Storage — C 225 E. Washington Street Commercial Style 1910 This 2-story, brick building was under construction in 1910 and in service as Louis Schump Transfer and Storage by 1911. In 1919 Louis Schump advertised his business of "furniture & piano packing and moving" which specialized in "storage of household goods," "long distance moving by auto truck," and "baggage and parcel delivery." According to city directories, Schump continued at this location in the 1920s, but by 1924 the building was occupied by Parks Transfer & Storage Co. The upper level was converted to ey located to the ground floor into the late 1960s. Significantly, the building's concrete and steel beam construction reflect its original function as a storage facility — a structural system necessary for storage of large and heavy items such as pianos and, later, automobiles. This building is a moderately well-preserved example of a commercial building in the historic district. The upper facade retains a good level of historic integrity; although windows have been replaced, the openings remain intact as do the window details and the brick cornice, which contribute the historic character. The succession of uses the building housed, including a warehouse, a parking garage, and bowling alley, make it an unusual commercial type in the downtown. The building is a contributing structure to the historic district under Criteria A and C. Section 7 page 45 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Name of Property 88. Stillwell Building — C 227 E. Washington Street Modern Movement 1911 /ca.1949 Johnson Cot County and State The Stillwell Building is a 3-story, brick building dating to 1911. The tall and narrow building was constructed to house Bell Telephone, which leased all three floors of the building. A telephone company remained in the building through ca. 1930 after which time it was owned and occupied by the Larew Company, a plumbing contracting business. Soon thereafter, the facade was replaced and it is likely that apartments were installed dining a 1948-50 remodeling. Iowa The Stillwell Building is an example of an early 20"' century building with a mid-20d' century re -facade in a modern character. The building is counted as a contributing building to the historic district with significance under both criteria A and C. 89. First National Bank Drive -In — C 228 E. Washington Street Colonial Revival 1962 The First National Bank hive -In is a 1-story brick building constructed in 1962 with an addition completed in 1980. This drive- in bank and parking lot replaced the previous city hall, fire station, and commercial building located on this lot after the buildings were cleared as part of municipally sponsored urban renewal efforts. The building is an example of a free-standing drive-in bank constructed when this form was still relatively new in the United States. Cars enter the lot and drive-in bank bays from Washington Street, turn east, and exit onto Linn Street. The bank building has a T-shaped plan with three drive-in teller bays, each serviced by bank tellers located in small buildings rather than by pneumatic devices. The north section has a closed gable roof with a pillared portico extending over the entrance. Each of the teller bays has a 9-light window facing east and west with a round arched panel above and applied shutters. A small cupola complete with imitation weather van surmounts the gable roof section over the teller bays. This building is an example of a contemporized version of the Colonial Revival style in a commercial building. The resource is considered a contributing resource to the historic district with significance under Criteria A and C. 90. Meacham Travel — C 229 E. Washington Street Modern Movement 1971 This 1-story, corner building is constructed of reinforced concrete with a white exposed aggregate finish. The heavy cornice design includes three wide bands of concrete set at staggered depths with the storefront windows set beneath at a recessed depth. The building was designed by Iowa City architects Hanson Lind Meyer. Meacham Travel Service was established in 1952 by Frank E. Meacham and remains in business at this location. Section 7 page 46 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State Built in 1971, construction of the Meacham Travel Service building was example of a downtown building "taking the place of weed - filled holes which resulted from the removal or destruction of old structures" (far left in image at right). The building, which derives significance under Criterion A in association with the city's urban renewal program and is considered significant under Criterion C as a well-preserved example of mid-20t1i century commercial architecture, is a contributing resource to the historic district. 91. Iowa City Press -Citizen Publishing — C* 319 E. Washington Street Moderne 1937 The Iowa City Press -Citizen Building is kL a freestanding, I -story, brick office building constructed in 1936- 37. The building has a steel structural system with reinforced concrete floors and a light-colored vitrified brick exterior finish. The building was built to house the printing operation and offices for the newspaper, which it did until 1990. The building is an example of the Moderne Style of architecture developed daring the 1930s. Conversion of the building to housing in the mid-1990s resulted in alteration of the historic windows and some reconfiguration of the interior floor plan. This building is a moderately well-preserved example of a rare commercial architectural style in Iowa City. The Iowa City Press -Citizen Building is significant under Criterion A in association with the history of communication, specifically in the role and impact of the longtime occupant, The Press -Citizen. Further, the building is significant under Criterion C as a rare representative of the Art Moderne in Iowa City. The building is counted a contributing resource to the historic district under both Criteria A and C. 92. Ecumenical Housing —NC 320 E. Washington Street Modern Movement 1980 Ecumenical Towers is a 11-story apartment building constructed in 1980-81 as housing for elderly and disabled tenants. It is connected to the Iowa City Senior Center located in the former Iowa City Post Office building to the west. Because the building's function, property owner, and construction date are separate from the Old Post Office, the building is considered an individual resource, not an addition to the older building. The building has a skeletal steel structure sheathed in pre -cast concrete slabs that were erected on site. The absence of stylistic features results in a utilitarian design character. Ecumenical Towers is an example of a late 20th century apartment building constructed using utilitarian design methods in order to provide affordability for tenants. Because the building dates to outside the period of significance, it is counted as a non-contributing resource to the historic district. Section 7 page 47 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State 93. The Abbey Apartments — NC 328 E. Washington Sweet Contemporary 2011 The Abbey is a 5-story brick and stone -faced building constructed in 2011. Typical of 21 st-century trends, the first floor was constructed to accommodate retail/trade with the upper storied arranged for apartment/condominium living. The building maintains the historic setback established by the Boerner-Fry building on the east corner and the adjacent Eldon Miller building. The building exhibits a contemporized Neo-Classical influence — seen in the tripartite definition (base in stone, column in brick, and a cornice as capital). The stepped form of the roof line and arched headers of the upper story fenestration also point to the classical. Because the building dates to outside the period of significance, it is counted as a non-contributing resource to the historic district. 94. Eldon Miller Building —C (Gabe's) 330 E. Washington Sweet Modern Movement 1955 The Eldon Miller building is an example of a mid-century Modern commercial building. The building retains its Modern design character including a lack of applied ornamentation and layering of geometric form as demonstrated in the brick framing element surrounding the flat plane of the upper wall clad with Ashlar split -faced limestone. Eldon Miller, Inc. a trucking firm, was established in 1935, opening its Iowa City office in 1955. Miller operated in 27 states and had 16 branch offices scattered throughout the Midwest. Gabe's moved into the building in 1975 and has remained a local haunt from that time. This building is an example of a mid-20°i century, infill commercial building executed in the Modern style. Although the storefront has been altered from the original (including painting of the west '/2 of the stone cladding which camouflages the window retained at that location), the upper facade retains the original, modern design elements and finishes including the original cladding. The building is considered a contributing resource to the historic district, significant under Criteria A in association with the history of Iowa City commerce and under Criteria C as a representative of mid-20tt' century Modern style executed in a commercial property. 95. Boerner-Fry Company/Davis Hotel — NRHP, 1982 332 E. Washington Street Italianate 1899 The Boerner-Fry Company/Davis Hotel is a 3-story brick and stone building with Late Victorian era stylistic elements. Per the National Register nomination, "The Boerner-Fry Company/Davis Hotel building is closely and most significantly associated with the career of Emil Louis Boerner (1852-1933), one of the founders Section 7 page 48 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State and first dean (1885-1904) of the University of Iowa Department of Pharmacy." In partnership with Emil Boerner, was William A. Fry, who was also a significant figure in city history with connections to the Iowa City Water Company and the Johnson County Savings Bank. The Boerner-Fry Company was established in the fall of 1897 to produce toiletries and light pharmaceuticals and moved into their new factory in December, 1899. The factory building was constructed by contractor/builder, Jacob J. Hotz. The Boerner-Fry Company developed a national market with a particular reputation for production of vanilla extract. The building became a hotel in 1922, most significantly operating as the Davis Hotel from 1952-1972. The building was listed on the National Register in 1982, significant in its association with Emil Louis Boerner. As such, the resource is a contributing resource to the historic district. Statement of Historic integrity The resources of the Iowa City Downtown Historic District include the best -preserved commercial buildings in the city's historic downtown area with a minimum of resources dating to outside the period of significance. Together the resources represent the evolution of the district from 1859 through 1979 through a cross-section of construction dates, property types, scale, materials, and architectural styles. Together the resources retain the level of historic integrity necessary to convey a sense of time and place as well as to provide an understanding of the variety of influences that impacted the district over time. The historic district retains its historic location at the heart of the Original Town Plat and in adjacency with the Old Capitol and University of Iowa Pentacrest. As a result, historic integrity as it relates to location is high. Historic integrity of setting is good Retention of the historic pattern system of roadways with historic widths largely intact contributes to the character of setting. Integrity of setting is negatively impacted by the replacement of the early University buildings north of Iowa Avenue. While the University properties have historically provided the delineation of the commercial zone, loss of historic buildings and the recent increased density along that streetscape negatively impacts the district's historic setting along Iowa Avenue. In contrast, the Pentacrest on the west (with Old Capitol at its heart) remains as it has been since the early 20"' century. As such, the Pentacrest contributes significantly to the district's integrity of setting. Loss of commercial properties at the fringes of the district boundaries, particularly along S. Burlington Street, negatively impact integrity of setting. That adverse impact is heightened by the increase of vehicular traffic along that roadway. The Iowa City Downtown Historic District retains a good level of historic integrity as it relates to association relating to the district's physical association with the campus of the University of Iowa as well as the district's historical association with the establishment and development of the city's commercial area. The district retains a good level of historic integrity of design, retaining multiple properTy, types, a cross- section of architectural styles, and representatives of both vernacular and architect -designed buildings. Although alterations of the district's resources have occurred over time, the designation of eight individually listed resources point to a level of integrity of design. Further, the vast majority of district buildings retain Section 7 page 49 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State sufficient design integrity to contribute to the historic district as representative of their design character. As a result, the resources are understood and experienced as a collection of resources representative of design over the course of the period of significance. Specific to the landscape feature (Ped Mall) the resource retains all of the design characteristics that define it as a pedestrian mall, including lack of vehicular track, absence of curbs, vegetative components, gathering spaces, hardscape elements, and a sense of pedestrian scale intimacy. Historic integrity of materials is also considered good The buildings of the district are predominately brick with red brick most common. Although alterations of buildings have occurred in many cases, those changes occurred during the period of significance and so are considered part of the historic fabric. With such changes, new materials such as Perrnastone were introduced and are retained. The greatest impact to integrity of historic materials specific to buildings is loss of historic storefronts; with renovations came the introduction of new materials and, regardless of the design quality, loss of historic materials diminishes historic integrity of the individual building in that regard. Specific to the Ped Mall, integrity of historic materials is also diminished by the replacement of most materials, most notably are the original pavers, the timbers of the integrated planters, and a stepped water fountain that stood at the intersection of E. College and S. Dubuque streets. Because the significance of the Ped Mall is tied most strongly to its function as a pedestrian walkway, loss of integrity of materials is well- balanced by the overall good level of historic character retained in the space. As it relates to integrity of workmanship, the retention of finishes that required specific skills is testimony to the quality of workmanship. The appearance of decorative brickwork, terra cotta elements, and intricate style -defining features are representative of workmanship demonstrated in the district's resources. As a result, historic integrity of workmanship is good Through the retention of a good level of historic integrity of location, setting, association, design, materials, and workmanship, the Iowa City Downtown Historic District remains a cohesive collection of historic resources that express the evolution of the commercial district over the period of significance. The district remains a commercial center and a community gathering place. As a result, historic integrity of feeling is very good In summary, the Iowa City Downtown Historic District includes t 03 resources — 94 buildings, one landscape feature (counted as a site), and 8 objects. Of the 94 buildings, 73 buildings, the landscape feature, and one object contribute to the significance of the distrricr, 21 buildings and 7 objects being non-contributing resources. Significantly, eight of the contributing buildings are individually registered. The majority of remaining contributing buildings retain a good level of historic integrity, and as such convey significance as representatives of architectural stylistic trends. The remaining contributing buildings retain sufficient historic integrity to convey significance specific to the history of commerce. As the city's historical commercial center and community gathering place, the Iowa City Downtown Historic District retains the integrity necessary to convey a sense of time and place. Section 7 page 50 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Name of Property 8. Statement of Significance Applicable National Register Criteria (Mark "x' in one or more boxes for the criteria qualifying the property for National Register listing.) A Property is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history. ❑ B Property is associated with the lives of persons significant in our past. C Property embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction or represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic values, or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components lack individual distinction. D Property has yielded, or is likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history. Criteria Considerations (Mark Y' in all the boxes that apply.) Property is: A Owned by a religious institution or used for religious purposes. B removed from its original location. C a birthplace or grave. D a cemetery. E a reconstructed building, object, or structure. F a commemorative property. G less than 50 years old or achieving significance within the past 50 years. Areas of Significance (Enter categories from instructions.) ARCHITECTURE Johnson County, Iowa County and State COMMERCE COMMUNITY PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT Period of Significance 1856-1979 Significant Dates 1856 1970 Significant Person (Complete only if Criterion B is marked above.) Cultural Affiliation (ifapplicable) Arch itect/Bu i Ider Lovelace, Chauncey Charles A. Dieman & Co. Liebbe, Nourse, and Rasmussen Rust, J. Bradley Jack Leaman/Associated Engineers Nowysz, William Hansen, Lind, Meyer Brooks, Borg & Skiles Wagner, William R. H.L. Stevens Co. Hotz. Jacob J. Section 8 page 51 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State Statement of Significance Statement of Significance Summary Paragraph (Provide a summary paragraph that includes level of significance, applicable criteria, justification for the period of significance, and any applicable criteria considerations). The Iowa City Downtown Historic District is locally significant under Criterion A in its association with the role of commerce in the settlement and growth of the town over an extended period of time, having served a central role in the survival of the community. The resources of the district are representative of the continuum of commercial development beginning in the mid- 19`h century and continuing through 1979. The Iowa City Downtown Historic District is locally significant under Criterion C with resources representing a variety of building materials, construction practices, and architectural styles. The district retains important commercial buildings representing architectural styles typical of Iowa communities: examples of the Italianate, Classical Revival, and Commercial Style are all found in the downtown with a good degree of historic integrity retained. The district also retains more individualized expressions of architectural design styles that sets it apart from other communities. The work of numerous local, state, and nationally known architects is represented in the building resources located in the district. In addition, the Iowa City Downtown Historic District is locally significant under Criterion A in its association with the history and impact of the 20" century, nationwide downtown rehabilitation movement known as urban renewal. Like communities across the country, an urban renewal project altered the physical and visual character of the Iowa City downtown. The Iowa City Downtown Historic District embraces the portion of the historic downtown which, although significantly altered by urban renewal, retains a sense of the early character in combination with the 1970s era, urban renewal alterations. The period of significance for the Iowa City Downtown Historic District is 1856 through 1979, representing the earliest extant resource (Franklin Printing) through completion of City Plaza (the Ped Mall), which marks the end of the city's urban renewal era transformation of the downtown commercial area. One district resource constructed as part of the urban renewal program post-dates the period of significance; the Holiday Inn was placed in service in 1984 and should be re-evaluated if, in the future, the nomination is amended to extend the period of significance. Significant dates for the Iowa City Downtown Historic District are 1856, marking the earliest extant resource, and 1970, marking completion of the first urban renewal resource and, effectively, the start of the urban renewal era transformation of the downtown. The Iowa City Downtown Historic District meets Criterion Consideration G as a district including properties that have achieved significance within the past 50 years. The Iowa City program of urban renewal is representative of the nationwide movement that transformed downtown commercial areas by razing large swathes of buildings and replacing them with new buildings, parking lots, parking ramps, and other features designed to restore economic vitality to communities in economic distress. The urban renewal resources in the Iowa City Downtown Historic District are an important piece in the history of Iowa City commerce and commercial architecture. The district not only retains six contributing buildings constructed as part of the organized efforts to revitalize the Iowa City downtown, but it retains one of only 11 remaining, urban renewal pedestrian malls in the county where there once were some 200. Further, it is the only remaining, full pedestrian mall in Iowa. Section 8 page 52 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State Narrative Statement of Significance (Provide at least one paragraph for each area of significance.) (Iowa SHPO Additional Instructions: For properties not nominated under Criterion D, include a statement about whether any archaeological remains within or beyond the footprint of the property were assessed as pan of this nomination under the subheading Archaeological Assessment.) The resources of the Iowa City Downtown Historic District represent commerce and architecture spanning the period from 1856 through 1979. As representatives of commerce activity during that period, the resources tell the story of consumer trends indicative of specific eras. They illustrate of the impact of the adjacent university on the products sold and the types of businesses that were established and either thrived or failed. The buildings hold the histories of numerous long-lived local businesses housed in their storefronts often with their owners living in the apartments above. In association with the 123-year history of commerce in Iowa City, the resources of the historic district provide an understanding of how commerce in the community changed over those many years. The buildings of the Iowa City Downtown Historic District are representative the evolution of commercial architectural design beginning with the almost severe expression of the 1856 Early Classical Style of the Franklin Printing Building to the thoroughly Modern character of the 1971 Meacham Travel building. In addition to the range of commercial styles found in the district, the resources also represent the stylist evolution of a single building as owners changed or a single owner opted to modernize their building. The district is a many layered, collection of styles and materials, which tell the story of a long and important architectural history. The Iowa City Downtown Historic District was profoundly impacted by urban renewal. Like communities across the country, the 1960s-1970s urban renewal project in Iowa City altered the physical and visual character of the Iowa City downtown. While much of the downtown's early fabric was lost to urban renewal, the transformation created a space and buildings that are now significant components of the historic character. The Pedestrian Mall, in particular, is at the physical and cultural center of the Iowa City downtown and its construction in 1979 marked the end of a long and painful chapter in city history. The case for significance for the Iowa City Downtown Historic District is supported by the 2002 Multiple Property Document completed by Jan Olive Nash, entitled "Iowa's Main Street Commercial Architecture". In the document, Nash develops the historic context of "Historical Patterns on Main Street: Commercial District Development, 1832-1952" trader which the significance of the Iowa City Downtown Historic District is initially established. However, because the historical and architectural significance of the Iowa City Downtown Historic District extends well past the period focused on in the MPD, the case for registration is not formally attached to that made by Nash. Section 8 page 53 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Name of Property Historical Back rg ound Johnson County, Iowa County and State When established in the t840s and 1850s, the downtown commercial area of Iowa City faced onto the six -acre Capitol Square (Figure 01). Old Capitol served the territory, then the state as the statehouse. A mix of small-scale frame and brick commercial buildings, churches and dwellings were built on the north, east, and south sides of the square. These early buildings were utilitarian in design, serving basic needs of the new settlers and were soon replaced. Iowa Avenue was planned as a wide boulevard from Capitol Square on the west edge to Governor's Square on the east edge of the Original Town Plat. Although a governor's mansion was never built, the t20-foot width of the street made Iowa Avenue the widest and most important thoroughfare in the city despite the fact its symbolic role never materialized.' Figure 01. Iowa City Town Plat —1839 ! rsa - I L° c mnn• u n a L— )} 1l a >6 60 bb I Y N 98 I 'I•'o' •� 'i IL Iu ° •• a so N a u l b• as Innx s's+Lcn ss — I _ . •.- c.arr rot { sr I'ae 1 .e- fx wa rrt.rr x. - n L87 _ VC.\N N N N N i1 i 1 e Z. y�t— L�—r-Hag OVwaE m as yl� Il all K et L E6 .j 1f }\ '•O �as as 43as University of Iowa Special Collections (Source: University of Iowa Spccial Collections. http://I 29.255.22.135/cdm/rcf/collection/ictcs/id/539.I This first plat map of Iowa City, documents the historic adjacency of the downtown commercial area (historic district boundaries noted) to the Old Capital (noted here as Capitol Square). Other street widths in the downtown commercial area ranged from 80-feet for most of the north -south streets (Dubuque, Linn, Gilbert, and Van Buren) to 100-feet for the east -west streets (Jefferson, Washington, College, and Burlington). Because of its adjacency to Capitol Square, the north -to -south running Clinton Street was laid out with a 100-ft. width. One block east of Capitol Square, along the north side of Iowa Avenue, a park was platted fronting Iowa Avenue with the land set aside for the construction of churches and a school. Three public squares were established with the Original Town Plat; South Market was located just southeast of the historic district boundaries. 6 Marlys A. Svcnclscn, " Sufvcy and Evaluation of the Ccmral Business Distfict," Prcpmcd for the Iowa City IIistofic Prescivation Commission, ApnI 2001: 06. Section 8 page 54 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Name of Property Figure 02. S. Clinton Street— 1854 (Sourec: Statc Historical Socicty of Iowa, Iowa City.) Johnson County, Iowa County and State This photograph documents the character of Clinton Sheet in the years prior to the relocation of the capital to Des Moines. At this time the transition from wood to brick commercial buildings was just underway. The railroad arrived in Iowa City at the end of 1855 and the capital was moved to Des Moines two years later. In a decision that would eventually have profound significance, the state legislature established a university in 1847 and transferred the abandoned capitol building to it in 1857. Capitol Square (now, the Pentacrest) became its campus with the downtown commercial area evolving through the coming years to adjoin the square on the north, east, and south. First -generation commercial buildings were gradually replaced with two- and three-story brick commercial blocks. The Franklin Printing building on S. Dubuque Street dates to this period as does its neighbor on the north (111 S. Dubuque Street). In the years after the Civil War, more substantial church structures replaced earlier ones, an opera house appeared, and several additional university buildings were erected. Only one of the churches of the early downtown commercial area is located within the boundaries of the historic district; the National Register listed Trinity Episcopal Church is located at 320 E. College Street. In the post -Civil War era, the downtown continued to serve as the economic and social crossroads of the community.' With its well -articulated, Italianate cornice and 30-year function as a drug store on this prominent corner location the Whetstone Building (ca.1868) is an important architectural and commercial representative of the late 19d' century. 7 Svendsen, 6. Section 8 page 55 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Name of Property Figure 03. Hay Market, Iowa Avenue near S. Dubuque Street —ca. 1880 (Sourcc: Statc Historical Socicty of Iowa, Iowa City.) Johnson County, Iowa County and State This view looking east along Iowa Avenue provides a view of the character of the downtown during this period of transition from first generation buildings to one dominated by two- and three-story, brick buildings. Note the Park House (ca.1876) at right and the Market Hall (1873) at mid -ground, right. Figure 04. Looking east along Iowa Avenue from the Old Capitol — ca.1880 (Sourcc: Statc Ilistoncal Society of Iowa, Iowa City.) This view looking east from the Old Capitol further documents the transformation of the downtown, with large scale, brick buildings lining Iowa Avenue and moving south along S. Clinton Street. By this time, university buildings had begun to populate the north streetscape, with the downtown commercial buildings commanding the south streetscape. The decade of the 1870s produced the largest number of extant buildings in the downtown commercial area; 30 buildings in the historic district date to this period, with 16 of the 30 retaining the visual character indicative of the construction era. The Bloom -Reis Building (ca.1874), with its restrained Italianate facade, is representative Section 8 page 56 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State of the early era of the S. Clinton streetscape, which evolved significantly from construction of this building through the re -facade of the Airliner. The building is also important in its association with the prominent merchant Moses Bloom, whose clothing store occupied the building through ca.1909. Fire was the greatest hazard of this era and losses due to fire occurred far too regularly. Such tines often resulted in total loss of a building followed by replacement of those early structures, thus contributing to the material evolution of the historic district. Market Hall on S. Dubuque Street is one such example. Constructed in 1873 at 2-4 S. Dubuque, the building replaced the original Market Hall which had burned the previous decade (Figure 03). By 1880, mostly two-story, narrow -front commercial buildings with upper level living spaces lined Clinton and Dubuque streets as well as extending to adjoining blocks. During this period, Clinton Street was the favored location for clothiers, tailors, and milliners. Banks commonly established themselves along Washington Street. Commercial enterprises on Dubuque Street were dominated by saloons and billiard halls. A range of other businesses, including hardware stores, boot and shoe sellers, dry goods establishments, jewelers, bakeries, and hotels spread out on the other blocks of the downtown historic district. The 1880s and 1890s produced changes in the use of both of the public squares near the downtown commercial area. South Market on S. Burlington Street, was changed from a brush -covered localized dump to a railroad depot site for both passengers and freight. In addition, in 1890, the city authorized transfer of the park on Iowa Avenue to the University. A series of new buildings was subsequently constructed on that block, including Chemistry Hall and Homeopathic Hospital and the first sections of the University Hospital.' With transfer of control of that block and the erection of university facilities along the north side of Iowa, the downtown was then boxed in by the university campus on the west (location of the Pentacrest) and on the north, which significantly limited the options for farther growth. Figure 05. S. Clinton Sheet looking north to Iowa Avenue — ca. 1890s PIM (Source: State Historical Society of Iowa, Iowa City.) This image offers a good understanding of the stylistic mix that prevailed in the late 19`I' century. In this block of S. Clinton Street (1.-r.) are: the 1872, four-story, Late Victorian (Italianate with tad Empire mansard root) St. James Hotel; the 1893 Classical Revival, Coast & Sons; the 1884, Italianate Namur Bakery (now, McDonald Optical building); a commercial building dating to 1874; and a three-story, 1888 building exhibiting the influence of the Romanesque style (in 1950 this building was re -faced to become The Airliner). s Svendsen, 7. Section 8 page 57 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State Figure 06. S. Dubuque Street looking north from E. College Street — 1893 (Source: State Historical Society of Iowa, Iowa City.) The S. Dubuque streetscape likewise presented a cross-section of architectural styles, with the transition to multi -storied, brick buildings complete by the 1890s. Construction of more stylistically expressive buildings continued in the downtown historic district during the 1880s and the 1890s with 20 buildings surviving from this period. A number of buildings constructed in these closing years of the 19' century reflect later facade alterations. Those that remain representative of their period of construction include the Coast & Sons Building (1892) which retains its expressive, Classical Revival character (Figure 05). The building was occupied for 60-years by a clothier operated by various members of the Coast family. The Crescent Block (1894) with its eclectic design character housed storefront retail businesses representative of specific eras; in the 1920s, the building began its longtime occupation by the department store, Montgomery Ward and Co. For many years, the second -floor housed offices and the third floor a large meeting hall used by the Elks Club and, later, the Knights of Columbus. The College Block (1883) is the district's most fully expressed, Ralianate Style building in the historic district. The building, which was threatened by the demolitions undertaken during the Urban Renewal era, was listed on the National Register in 1973. During the decades prior to World War I, the Iowa City downtown commercial area experienced a construction boom. With university enrollment increasing, new buildings were added to the Pentacrest Campus and the hospital complex stretching along the north side of Iowa Avenue was also expanded. As had been true from the time of the original plat, expansion of university buildings impacted the character and composition of the city's downtown commercial area. Specifically, the visual character along Iowa Avenue was altered by the increasing density, scale, and design character of university buildings that were enlarged or constructed on the north side of that roadway. Twenty-three buildings in the historic district survive from this boom period, including several that define the downtown skyline today (Figure 07). New buildings included a multi -story bank and office building (Iowa State Bank & Trust, 1912), a major hotel (Hotel Jefferson, 1913), and a new theater (Englert Theatre, 1912); all three are retained in the downtown historic district and remain some of the district's most significant resources. The Iowa State Bank & Trust (NRHP) was historically rehabilitated in 2018. The six -story, brick commercial building, Section 8 page 58 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State references the influence of the Chicago Commercial Style in the arrangement of the elevation with a base, shaft, and capital. Classically derived decorative elements are executed in stone and terra cotta including a heavily articulated, stone first level and a deep, bracketed cornice. The Hotel Jefferson, which anchors the opposite end of the block from the bank building, likewise follows the tripartite facade arrangement. The building was designed by the Chicago firm of H.L. Stevens Co., with 6-floors in service in 1913 and an additional 2-floors added in 1926. In 1913 the Hotel Jefferson was one of eight hotels in the downtown. Today, the property is one of three historic buildings in the historic district that once housed a hotel; the other two being small -scaled enterprises. Figure 07. View looking southeast at Clinton and Washington streets — 1913 (Sourec: State Historical Society of Iowa, Iowa City.) The period from 1900 to 1915 witnessed the beginning of the transformation of Washington Street from its mid-19`h century character to one embracing the stylistic trends and stuctura] advancements coming out of Chicago. From this perspective we see the six -story, 1912 Iowa State Bank (foreground) anchoring the west end of the block and the six - story, 1913 Hotel Jefferson anchoring the east end of the block. The buildings located between them would be replaced or re -faced by the rnid-20` century to complete the transfonnation. Also during this period, the development of a civic corridor replaced residences along and near Linn Street, impacting the character of the commercial area. A public library, post office, and several fraternal halls were constructed near City Hall, which was then located on the northwest corner of Linn and Washington streets.' The Carnegie Library (1903) has been adapted to housing, but retains its strongly Classical Revival exterior. The Masonic Temple (1914), designed by the Cedar Rapids firm of Charles A. Dieman, is also Classical Revival in style; the building remains in use by the Masonic Order. Also constructed daring this period was the B.P.O.E. building on E. Washington at Linn Street, which was razed in 2019. In addition to the new constructions during this period, nine buildings built in earlier eras were significantly altered and as such have a visual character representative of the early 20`^ century. Ewers Men's Store, constructed by 1874, was completed remodeled in 1923; its facade was updated to reflect the stylistic trends of the period and 9 Svendsen, 7. Section 8 page 59 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State that character is retained today. Comparison with its neighbor on the north, the Bloom -Reis Building, illustrates the transformation. As of 2020, the building has been occupied by Ewers for 97-years. Downtown development held steady during the 1920s and 1930s with the most significant change being the appearance of national and regional franchise stores. That wend included S.S. Kresge, which opened on S. Washington Street in 1930. An example of the building form often referred to as the commercial broadfront, the Kresge facade was simply executed without a strong stylistic reference. The building remains an important representative of the period. Chain stores that had first appeared prior to World War I continued to thrive, despite the economic struggles of the Great Depression. A number of downtown buildings went through receivership, resulting in an accelerated rotation of downtown businesses. In addition, several facade rehabilitations occurred during this period including Ham's Hall at 6-8 S. Dubuque Street, which turned a Victorian era facade into one reflecting the Art Deco Style. The north half of the F.J. Epeneter Building at 5 S. Dubuque Street was "modernized" by refacing the 1870s facade with a "new" material known as Permastone. Several trends in 20'-century technology and popular culture manifested themselves in the downtown area prior to World War II. The arrival of the automobile spawned construction of service stations, car dealerships, and garages, including several along Burlington Street and south of College Street along Linn and Gilbert streets. The J.A. O'Leary Velie Co. Garage (1919) on S. Linn Street is representative of the impact of the automobile on businesses in the historic district. The building, which covers a quarter -block near the east district boundary, was constructed as a one-story auto dealership with the upper two stories of apartments added in 1924. The property is interesting for its combination of property types, but most significantly it is the only auto -related property retained in the historic district. Figure 08. E. College Street— 1929 (Sourcc: Statc Historical Society of Iowa, Iowa City.) The 1929 Sears, Roebuck building replaced the center two bays of the 1870s era Dooley Block; as the image documents, the outer bays of the Dooley Block were retained (right and left of the Sears, Roebuck building). Sears, Roebuck was one of a handful of buildings constructed during this period retained in the historic district. Section 8 page 60 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State Other enterprises tied to cultural trends of the era included tobacco shops, confectioneries, soda fountains, billiard halls, and movie theatres that sprang up in the district's existing buildings. Less than a dozen buildings constructed during the 1920s-1930s survive in the district.10 The Sears & Roebuck constructed a new building on E. College Street in 1929 is one of those few (Figure 08). The only major building constructed in the decade prior to World War II was the 1937 home for the Iowa City Press -Citizen newspaper. The brick building reflects the early roots of the Art Moderne. Numerous other buildings reflect fagade renovations undertaken during the period. Although the population of Iowa City nearly doubled in the 20 years that began with World War IT, materials shortages and workforce disruptions slowed downtown development during the early 1940s. Expansion remained slow into the 1950s, largely due to the existing saturation of office and retail space that discouraged additional development despite a robust retail climate. As a result, the resources of the downtown historic district remained largely unchanged; the same core blocks provided a mix of retail shops, banks, theatres, hotels, service stations, office buildings, restaurants, and civic buildings. Only seven buildings erected during these two decades are found in the historic district. Issues of traffic congestion and parking were the foremost concerns of downtown property owners and municipal leaders during this period. In the late 1940s, parking meters were introduced and the first municipal parking lots were built on parcels along the eastern edge of the downtown. Congestion was addressed by sheet widening, removal of boulevard or median ships, and installation of traffic signals. Figure 09. Bremers —1963 (Source: `Bremers," Iowa On, Press Citi_en, June 22, 1963). Following a fire in 1963 that destroyed their previous building, Bremers rebuilt a thoroughly modern Store, the design of which was drawn by Des Moines architect, William Wagner. 10 Svendsen, 7. Section 8 page 61 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State The mid-20" century (1940-1960) saw few new constructions and a handful of facade modernizations. The 1877 Savings and Loan Building received a major renovation in 1940; the building was transformed from an opera house to a bank and office building. The resulting, almost severe facade is relieved by an elegant, Art Deco entrance surround on the College Street entrance. The Airliner received a facelift in 1950. Constructed in ca.1888, the two-story, brick building was transformed into a Modern property in 1950 with a monolithic, monochromatic brick facade broken only by a ribbon window. The building has been occupied by The Airliner (a favorite among university students) since that time. The Eldon Miller Building was constructed in 1955 and is an example of a mid-20t1i century, commercial infill property executed in the Modern style. The Bremet's building was constructed in 1964 following a fire that destroyed the business's 19' century building (Figure 09). The new building was designed by Des Moines architect William R. Wagner, who used an atypical setback to create a sense of enclosure and altered the building's physical relationship to the streetscape — a thoroughly Modern approach. In recent years, the Iowa City downtown commerical area has undergone a significant transformation. Some 14 buildings were lost between 2001-2018; 11 of the 14 dated to more than 50 years of age, with 2 of the 14 constructed as part of the City's urban renewal program (114-116 S. Dubuque and the much -altered, 1981 Iowa City Public Library building at 123 S. Linn Street). Demolitions also occurred in the wake a fire (e.g., Peoples Steam Laundry at 225 Iowa Avenue and Van Patten House at 9 S. Linn Street) and to facilitate construction of new buildings (e.g., Vogel House at 229 E. Iowa Avenue and J.C. Penney building at 130 S. Dubuque Street). Loss of buildings along the outer edges of the downtown commercial area, particularly along E. Burlington Street on the south, have tilted the historic to non -historic ratio; today, only one building dating to more than 50 years of age remains on E. Burlington Street between S. Clinton and S. Gilbert streets. The parking ramp between S. Dubuque and S. Linn streets is associated with the urban renewal period, its mass and materials accounting for much of the streetscape's visual character. The remaining blocks on the Burlington Street corridor are visually defined by contemporary, freestanding, relatively large-scale buildings that combine retail space on the ground floor with apartment living on the floors above. This changed character is mirrored on the south side of Burlington Street where construction of new retail -apartment and commercial buildings (e.g., Hilton Gardens and MidWeSCGne Bank office building) has occurred. Further, the incursion of tower -type buildings (eight or more stories) constructed in the downtown commercial area have impacted the visual character. The 14-story Plaza Towers/Hotel Vetro was built in 2004. The building site was cleared as par of the City's 1970s and 1980s urban renewal program and remained a parking lot until construction of the 2004 building. The building's height and materials are reflective of a changing aesthetic in the downtown commercial area. The 14-story, steel -frame, glass -sheathed tower known as Park@201 (201 E. Washington Street) was completed in 2014 on the former site of the 1970s Dain, Kalman & Quail Building. The 2001 construction of the Vogel House at 229 Iowa Avenue required demolition of an 1898 building of the same name. In summary, the Iowa City Downtown Historic District is representative of the nature of commercial properties in that the district illustrates evolution and change. The district provides a tightly developed grouping of historic buildings that tell the wide-ranging story of the establishment of early commercial buildings, their loss and alteration, and the ongoing infiltration of new properties that either rose on vacant lots or replaced earlier buildings. The buildings of the district represent a wide array of architectural styles, which include the design work of several significant architects and the workmanship of contractor/builders and artisans. The district exists today as a economically vibrant commercial center and community gathering place with the historic character of its resources central to its success. Section 8 page 62 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State Criterion Consideration G: Urban Renewal and the Better Iowa City Project Urban renewal was a U.S. government funded program initiated to stem what was seen as the deterioration of inner cities across the country. The seeds of that deterioration were planted in the years between the World Wars with some early redevelopment undertaken in the late 1930s and 1940s. It was, however, federal legislative action that lit the fire under urban renewal. Beginning in the 1950s and stretching through the following two decades, thousands of projects targeting so-called blighted neighborhoods, freeway construction, and commercial downtowns were completed in cities large and small, with the American landscape irreversibly altered. Large-scale "redevelopment" projects were first undertaken in the interwar periods. Aimed at clearing out what had been identified as blighted inner-city neighborhoods, projects were completed in New York City and Chicago during that period. Rehabilitation of the 1858 New York City's Central Park was one such, federally -funded project intended to elevate conditions of the inner-city. The project was completed under the management of Park Commissioner, Robert Moses who would become an outspoken and forceful advocate for urban renewal in New York City." In the late 1930s and into the 1940s, redevelopment projects began to appear in cities across the country with most focused on slum clearance. Such projects were implemented by local housing authorities, which directed the demolitions and reconstruction. During this period, concerns around the deterioration of downtown where largely confined to articles published in trade journals read by city planners, administrators, and other urban specialists." The Second World War signaled a rising public awareness of urban problems and sense of impending downtown crisis. Declining property values, empty lots, traffic congestion, waning retail sales, and shabby buildings fed into the growing concerns. Black consumers had increased their presence in the downtown, but most downtown executives and public officials, however, rebuffed the opportunity to build on the existing African American consumer. Redevelopers persistently argued that the residents of "slums" adjacent to the downtown threatened to "cheapen" and ultimately destroy the vitality of urban commercial life. With that view, developers instead courted the white middle class.13 Passage of the GI Bill in 1944 fueled suburbanization. The legislation, which guaranteed Veterans Administration (VA) mortgages to returning soldiers, resulted in construction of large tracts of housing marketed under the GT Bill. Suburbs sprang up at the edges of existing communities, establishing neighborhoods beyond the historic downtown commercial areas. Because the GI Bill favored the white veteran, the suburbs were populated by whites. Planned communities like Levittown, New York transformed farmland into cities housing tens of thousands of families in just a few years. A scaled -down version of Levittown appeared in commumities across the country. The deterioration of the inner city was deeply impacted by this `white flight" to the suburbs and the conditions only grew more critical as federal funding expanded in the coming years. In 1963 the famed African American novelist, James Baldwin aptly named urban renewal "Negro Removal"." By the late 1940s, the ideal of Main Street as a unified, well -managed retail corridor had become instead "volatile and complex" leaving it no longer the presumed center of commercial life; investors began to give up on the idea that Main Street could satisfy the commercial needs of the American public." The Housing Act of 1949 (Taft- " hhps://www.centratpuktiyc.org/park-history. Reuieved 07/10/2020. 12 Alison IscnbcrI, Dov nIO101 America. A history of the place and the people char made it (Chicano, IL: University of Chicago Rcss, 2004), 168. 13Ibid., 167. 14 Intcivicw ofJamcs Baldwin by Kcnncth Cluk. Available online athttps://www.youtubc.com/waLch?v TSAbhjl7kYU. Rcnicvcd 07/23/2020. "Tsenberg, 164. Section 8 page 63 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State Ellender-Wagner Act), infused federal money into redevelopment of the inner city. Federal loans were available to cities for the acquisition of land for the purpose of clearing slums. The cleared land was then sold to private developers following an official plan created by the municipality. Initially, these funds targeted housing projects. The money also covered two-thirds of the city's costs over the sale price of the land and funded large scale public housing across the country." The country's first major city to undertake a "modern" redevelopment project was Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Begun in May of 1950 and completed some 18-years later, the project razed 133 buildings spread over an area of 59-acres in the downtown. The redevelopment included construction of office tower, a hotel, underground parking, a luxury apartment building, a park, and a sports arena. The development (a primarily privately funded undertaking), located in the area known as the Golden Triangle, resulted in the demolition of 133 buildings spread over 59-acres. By many accounts, the project is an example of the successful redevelopment project of the era.17 The term "urban renewal" came into use with the 1954 amendment of the Housing Act. The new terminology was applied to define a broader and more comprehensive approach to the problems of slums and bliglu." The amendment made projects more enticing to developers by, among other things, providing mortgages backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). The Housing Act allocated up to 10-percent of federal capital grant funds for renewal of non-residential areas. This change in scope lead to the expansion of downtown commercial urban renewal projects.19 The public's perception of urban renewal goals in 1954 was summarized by Eisenhower's Housing and Home Finance Agency (HHFA) chief, Albert Cole who noted that if, "youwent about the country asking various people what urban renewal is all about, you would be told that urban renewal is intended to save downtown business, or to clear up traffic congestion, or to restore worn-out areas to the tax rolls, or to create the City Beautiful, or to get rid of unsightly slum buildings." That laundry list became a sort of mantra repeated in communities everywhere.20 1954 was also the year in which the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the general validity of urban redevelopment statutes in the landmark case, Berman v. Parker. The court's decision found that private property could be taken for public use with just compensation, by arguing that the problem of large-scale blight needed to be addressed by a large-scale integrated redevelopment plan. Justice Douglas wrote, "If owner after owner were permitted to resist these redevelopment programs on the ground that his particular property was not being used against the public interest, integrated plans for redevelopment would suffer greatly."21 Prior to the ruling, public use was the only reason for which the government could seize private property. With the ruling, it became possible for the government to seize the property of one man, destroy it, and then sell the cleared land to some other man at a negotiated price. The Court justified this procedure on the ground that it was in the public interest" In 1956 the Federal -Aid Highway Act empowered the state and federal government with total control over new highway construction, leading to the razing of broad swathes of historic inner-city neighborhoods to accommodate the path of a new roadway. Often these neighborhoods were historically black; the Rondo Neighborhood in St. Paul, Minnesota is one example. In that case, Interstate 94 was routed through the center of the largest African American neighborhood in the city - 85% of the city's African American population lived in Rondo. The project rb James O. Wilson, ed., Urhan Renewal. 7 he Record and the Conti oversy (Cambridge, MA: M.T.T. Pi ess, 1966), 84. tl Dail Fitzpatrick- "The story of mxban renewat," Posi-Gazette lMeow, May 21, 2000. hops://old.post- guzcttc.com/busincssncws/20000521 castlibcrtyl.asp. Achieved 07/09/2020. rs Wilson, 96. 1' Isenberg, 171 and Wilson, 99. 20 Isenberg, 170. 2' Text of"Bernian et at., Executors, v. Parker et at." October Term, 1954. Availabte at http://ctln.loc.gov/scrniccN/usrcp/usrcp348/usrcp348026/usrcp348026.pdf. Achieved 07/15/2020. 22 Wilson, 500. Section 8 page 64 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State flattened the homes of some 600 families, leaving the remainder straddling the new freeway. Numerous businesses and institutions were also demolished.23 In the construction of the new highways, white flight increased as did the deterioration of the inner-city neighborhoods. By bypassing downtowns, the commercial centers also suffered. Jane Jacobs, perhaps the first and certainly the best-known and most outspoken opponents of urban renewal came on the scene in the early 1960s. Her well -publicized clashes with New York's Robert Moses are the things of legend. Jacobs' 1961 The Death and Life of Great Anier-ican Cities advocated for renewal that is undertaken from the ground up rather than the large-scale demolitions supported by government intervention. The impact of the book and her active participation in opposing urban renewal has long been credited with creating permanent changes in the debate over the project and with the paths taken to secure the future of cities. 24 By the mid-1960s, federally supported urban renewal had touched large and small cities, and its impact would continue to ripple nationwide even as the critiques gained force. More than 1,300 development projects were under way and 129,000 buildings had been razed. Of the approximately 650 participating cities, more than two- thirds had fewer than 50,000 residents, and 20 percent had few than 10,000. Measured in dollars, an estimated $3.014 million in federal grants had been spent by the end of 196225 Although the story of urban renewal in small cities and towns varies from that of large-scale cities, the process for implementing a federally funded project followed the same template and the impact to fabric of historic commercial downtowns was comparable. Iowa City's `Better Iowa City Project" The seeds of urban renewal in Iowa City were sown by the late 1950s when problems associated with deferred maintenance of aging downtown buildings combined with issues of parking and traffic congestion to elevate concern and start discussion. In a tangible way, action on the topic of downtown rehabilitation began with a thesis document written by University of Iowa assistant professor of engineering, Robert Wheeler in 1960. From that time through completion of the Pedestrian Mall in 1979, the people of Iowa City discussed and debated, argued and litigated until, at last, the "dilapidated" had been cleared away and the new had been constructed. A project summary — a sort of post-mortem —was printed in 1983 as a means of recounting the depth and complexity of the challenges in Iowa City. Told through the voices of many of those that were deeply engaged in the process, the Iowa City story reveals much of the strife and pain that has long been attached to the national urban renewal era. While the story in Iowa City is much the same as urban renewal projects undertaken across the country, the community had a sense of identity that contributed to what became a thoroughly divisive undertaking. It has been observed that as a university town, the residents were "so mentally simulated from so many different facets... it made it difficult for urban renewal because of so many people with so many ideas, and they weren't afraid to express them."26 In contrast, the issue of community identity has been described as social tribalism, with each tribe, "fierce in its devotion to Iowa City and unyielding in its commitments to the future ... when it comes to community controversy, each tribe tends to overvalue its own views and under value everyone else's."27 23 St. Paul Historical Society, `Rondo Neighborhood." Available online at https://saintpaulhistorical.com/items/show/160. Retrieved 07/13/2020. Jane Jacobs, The Death and Life rf Great American Cities (New York: The Modem Library, 1993), vii. 25Isenberg 173. u Thelowa 011, Stoic `AMatter of Oi ihions. " Post -project summary booklet prepared by LINK Programs, Inc. (Chicago, IL, 1983), 25. Booklet available at the Iowa City Public Library, Special Collections. 27 Ibid.. 5. Section 8 page 65 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State As a university town with its campus adjacent to the downtown, the Iowa City commercial area had the benefit of a built-in consumer base. It has been noted that the ready market, which kept downtown businesses from hitting rock bottom, also kept the owners of those businesses from acting while the condition of their properties continued to decline. As Tim Brandt, Iowa City mayor, 1972-1973 put it, "Most [business owners] could have been operating out of a damn tent, and if they knew that two and two equals four, they had to make a profit. In some other cities the downtown business community had really bombed out and was suffering from the shopping centers on the periphery. Had that happened in Iowa City, the downtown people would have been up in arms to protect their investments."" Brandt makes a good point; although Sycamore Mall had opened on the south side of town (taking with it the major department stores), the proximity of the university to the downtown kept most businesses in business. Although the student and staff of the university kept the downtown businesses afloat, the presence of the university institution presented a separate, significant problem in maintaining a viable downtown. By 1960, the university was a sprawling complex of buildings which, as a State university, did not pay property taxes. That left the downtown commercial center saddled with a disproportionate, 8.8-percent of the Iowa City property tax base; the deterioration of the downtown was, in large part, the result of that burden. Coincidental to that situation, it has been noted that the deteriorated condition of the downtown was an embarrassment to the University, impacting its ability to recruit students and faculty. An active program of campus planning and beautification undertaken by the university in the years prior to the urban renewal program has been cited as evidence of their efforts to counterbalance the poor appearance of the downtown. 29 In this context, it is clear that the University of Iowa had a significant interest in the redevelopment of the Iowa City downtown, though the institution's official position on issues around urban renewal in the city was one of neutrality. The 1960 thesis and subsequent presentation made to a series of civic groups by University assistant professor and doctoral student, Robert Wheeler was completed independent of the University administration. The thesis, prepared by Wheeler with the support of some 45 citizens, presented a plan for renewal of the central business diStHCL that included replacing deteriorated buildings with modern ones and construction of parking facilities. The thesis sparked a movement toward the city's urban renewal program.30 In 1963 the concepts he outlined were incorporated into the improvement efforts of the newly formed "Citizens for a Better Iowa City."31 While maintaining an official position of neutrality, the University of Iowa engaged in the urban renew program in multiple ways. In the mid- 1960s, facilities planning & utilization department actively engaged in the planning process. The university also purchased two large parcels and several small parcels located in the designated urban renewal project area. Their investment in the parcels boosted the credits received by the City from Housing and Urban Development (HUD).32 As noted, Wheeler's 1960 thesis and series of community presentations focused community interest in the rehabilitation of the downtown. It also laid out a plan that dovetailed with the Federal urban renewal program, with large scale demolition followed by construction of new buildings as its focus. The 1963 creation of the "Citizens for a Better Iowa City" was one of many organized efforts established on one or the other side of the urban renewal issue. The Iowa City Board of Realtors established its own 'Build Iowa City Better Committee" in 1964 and invited the National Association of Real Estate Boards to complete a study of Iowa City's prospects. 28 The Iowa City Stniy, 8. 29 Ibid., 2. 30 Ibid., 6. 31 Marlys Svendsen, -Historic Resources of Iowa City, Iowa:.Srclvtecturat and Historical Resouces of Iowa City Central Business District, 1855- 1950," National Register of IHstoric Places Multiple Property Documentation Folm, 2000, E-77. 32 The Iowa City Stmy, 7. Section 8 page 66 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State This study recommended a series of actions on housing, urban renewal strategies, campus planning, the establishment of a downtown development organization and a downtown sign ordinance. It was also recommended that an architect be retained to design a beautification and improvement program for the four -block central core of the downtown. Iowa City's first urban renewal plan was developed in 1966 after years of public discussion and debate. This was the same year that the Sycamore Mall opened on the southeast edge of town, taking Sears, Roebuck (a fixture in the downtown since 1929) as an anchor store.33 The City's urban renewal process was accompanied by heated public debate, controversy, and a slew of legal challenges. While there was consensus around the need to revitalize the downtown commercial area, the debate about how that should be undertaken was fiery. The primary conflicts centered on whether the project should be small, locally financed projects (which would keep the federal government out of the picture) or completed following a single developer concept; the negative perception that the developer was making an unfair profit; the loss of control that existed through the power of eminent domain; the poor track record for urban renewal projects that existed across the country, of which the Iowa City residents were aware; and, though it gets less attention in historical accounts, the demolition of dozens of historic buildings on the magnitude that ultimately occurred. The Downtown Businessmen's Association was organized around the issue that the revitalization should be small, locally funded projects. The group went toe -to -toe with the City Council and residents that supported the single developer approach, using a variety of tactics. In 1967 they were successful in getting an injunction based on the potential for conflict of interest found with the City Council. The injunction, which granted a stay in condemnation proceedings, was upheld on appeal to the Iowa Supreme Court in March 1969. The law supporting the group's position was changed by the State legislature and the new condemnation proceedings began.34 In July of 1970 the City announced the planned acquisition of 100 building sites.35 The slow pace of progress led to a point of no return in March of 1975. Dissatisfied with the work completed, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) threatened to pull out of the Iowa City project unless progress was made immediately. The agency gave the City one week to provide evidence that the Iowa City project could be successfully completed. If the City failed, HUD would close out the project and declare it bankrupt. The threat of that potentially disastrous outcome lit the fires. The City removed 25 parcels from the original program, then called a meeting of local business people. The consensus ruled and a group of three was tasked with finding local investors to leverage attracting a developer — by that time, the history of Iowa City's urban renewal project was well known and finding a developer to jump into the fray was no easy task.36 Old Capitol Associates, led by Wilfreda (Freda) Hieronymus and Jay Oehler, was the local investor, formed specifically to complete the downtown project. Hieronymus was the wife of a university professor, a mother of five, and a real estate investor who started trading in the stock market from her kitchen table. Jay Oehler was a local businessman with a keen interest in the rehabilitation of the downtown. The pair partnered with a small group of investors to form Old Capitol Associates and entered into a joint venture with LINK Programs, Inc. out of Chicago. Lacking development experience, Hieronymus and Oehler relied on the expertise of LINK Programs and their own unflagging determination to complete the work necessary to rehabilitate the city's downtown. When the dust finally settled, the pair would be praised by some and vilified by many for their role in the urban renewal program. 37 33 Mailys Svcndscn, `Historic Resources of Iowa City, Iowa: Architectural and Historical Resources of Towa City Ccnnnl Business District, 1855- 1950," National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation Form, 2000: E-77. 34 Thelm»a 01Y Simy, 4. 35 `100 Business Sites will Be Acquircd," Iowa Cti, Press Cli_en, July 31, 1970: 3. 36 Thelm»a C71Y S10111, 8. 37 Tbld. Section 8 page 67 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State More lawsuits followed the establishment of the joint venture. In 1974 suits were filed challenging the findings of the environmental impact statement for the project and the nature of the contract between the City and Old Capitol Associates; both were eventually dismissed. In municipal elections that year, voters turned down a referendum to authorize the use of general obligation bonds for urban renewal expenditures. Later that year demolition work began on a total of 11-acres of downtown property. The Old Capitol Mall was later constructed on the portion of the urban renewal area west of S. Clinton Street; with no historic fabric retained and the only existing resource dating to 1981, it is not included in the Iowa City Downtown Historic District. Figure 10. S. Clinton Street Demolitions — 1974 (Source. Iowa City Public Library, Urban Renewal special collection.) The most concentrated area of demolitions occurred west of S. Clinton Street (outside the historic district boundaries). In this view looking north on Clinton, we see the demolitions underway. Old Capitol Mall was constructed on this site. By most accountings, the mall is considered a failure. Demolitions on the east side of S. Clinton Sheet (within the boundaries of the historic district) were completed in a slightly more surgical manner. Some nine buildings on E. College Sheet and moving north along S. Dubuque Street were razed to make way for Plaza Centre One. A block of buildings on E. College Street between S. Dubuque and S. Linn streets were razed. Outside those concentrated areas of demolition, targeted "dilapidated" buildings were razed. For businesses located in buildings slated for demolition, those that opted to remain in the downtown were relocated to temporary modules located along S. Clinton Sheet. Others moved out of the downtown to neighborhood or suburban locations, while others closed permanently. Section 8 page 68 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Name of Property Figure 11. E. College Street and S. Dubuque Street— 1970s (Source: Iowa City Public Library, Special Collections, Urban Renewal.) Johnson County, Iowa County and State In this view looking north along S. Dubuque Street from E. College Street we see five of the buildings (corner at left to the alley) that were razed to accommodate construction of Plaza Centre One. Gratefully, the National Register listed 1856 Franklin Printing (yellow building just north of the alley) escaped the wrecking ball. Figure 12. Plaza Centre One Under Construction — Sprinn, 1978 Section 8 page 69 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State Efforts to stop the urban renewal project didn't end even after the demolition was underway. A fourth lawsuit was filed in 1976 challenging the bidding and nature of contract negotiations between the City and Old Capitol Associates. At the heart of the action was the singularity of the development contract. Local forces held that contracting with a single developer was unfair to smaller, individual developers and limited the possibilities for the project generally. The suit was successful and the contract with Old Capitol Associates was set aside. At this time, and with a new city manager in place (the fourth employed during the urban renewal period), the City returned to the drawing board with a new consultant - Zuchelli, Hunter and Associates (ZHA) of Annapolis, Maryland." In late 1976, a modified urban renewal plan was commissioned and in early 1977 it was accepted by the City Council. It called for a further scaling -down of development, smaller parking ramps, land to be dedicated for the construction of a new public library, and central to the point of opposition, the division of the 11-acres of urban renewal parcels into clusters of sites or individual sites for development. This approach to division of the parcels was intended to create competition on parcel prices and a division of responsibility for renewal projects between several developers/owners. That plan was only partly successful. Notably, the College Block Building, which, by invocation of Federal historic preservation laws, had been spared demolition in the earlier stages of urban renewal, received substantial bidder interest and it was rehabilitated. Several urban renewal parcels were withheld by the City until interest surfaced, or bid prices offered were increased.39 One parcel on the south side of E. College Street at S. Linn Street remained vacant until 2004 when the Plaza Towers/Vetro Hotel was built 40 Ultimately the joint venture developers (Old Capitol Associates and LINK Programs) completed the majority of the redevelopment work, including Plaza Centre One (1978) and Old Capitol Mall (1981). Figure 17. Urban Renewal Destruction — 1971 wm�w VW"Wo", - — -� — (Source: Iowa City Public Library, Urban Renewal special collection.) In this view, which pre -dates the pedestrian mall, we are looking southeast across S. Dubuque Street near the intersection with E. College Street. The large parking lot was located on cleared urban renewal parcels. The land remained undeveloped until 2004, it is now occupied by Plaza Towers/Hotel Vetro. 38 Marlys Svcntlscn, "IIistoric Resources of Iowa City, Iowa: Architectural and IIistorical Rcsounccs of Iowa City Central Business District, 1855- 1950," National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Docuraeruauon Form, 2000: E-77. 39 lbid., E-78. 40 "Plaza Towers," Iowa Site Inventory Form, 2018. Available from the City of Iowa City. Section 8 page 70 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State The first urban renewal program building to be placed in service was Things & Things & Things. Originally located in the Pusateri Fruit Store building on S. Clinton Street building that burned in January of 1970, construction of a replacement building was quickly adopted as an urban renewal project and its completion in late December of that same year was celebrated as an early indication of the program's potential long-term success. 41 Construction of Plaza Centre One was underway in late 1977. The design and construction of this five -story, steel frame and masonry building must have been closely watched by those opposed to urban renewal because of the price paid in the loss of so many historic buildings. 2 Some ten buildings sited within the boundaries of the Iowa City Downtown Historic District were built as part of the urban renewal program; of that number, six remain extant and one, the Holiday Inn, was not completed in 1984 and is thus outside the period of significance. Through the passage of nearly 50-years, the buildings and the Pedestrian Mall have become integral to the historic fabric. They are as much part of the Iowa City historical legacy as those that preceded them and singular in their ability to illustrate the history and impact of urban renewal. The Urban Renewal Pedestrian Mall Across the United States, suburban, white flight during the 1960s and 1970s, caused cities to seek out a variety of urban renewal strategies to bring economic development back to the core of the city and to support the rehabilitation and/or replacement of deteriorated commercial buildings. In communities of all sizes, the economic impact of the suburban shopping mall, which syphoned off retail sales from the historic downtowns, presented a particular challenge. In an effort to draw them back, planners embarked on the experiment of the American pedestrian mall. It has been estimated that some 200 pedestrian malls were installed during the periodfrom 1959 through about 1980. The pedestrian mall adapted several successful architectural and landscape elements from the suburban shopping center such as fountains, lighting, wayfinding and combined those with features that created a sense of intimacy and natural enclosure that enticed shoppers and encouraged them to linger. By the 1990s many pedestrian malls had been determined failures and removed, with only 15 full, urban renewal era pedestrian malls retained by 2013 43 The Iowa City Pedestrian Mall became the centerpiece of the finalized plan for the city's urban renewal program. The mall was immediately successful, becoming a social and cultural gathering place as well as a primary factor in establishment and retention of commercial business in the downtown; it is today, one of the 11 urban renewal era malls retained in the country and the only one that exists in the state of Iowa. Pedestrian Malls — Leading Designers A pair of designers are most prominently associated with the design of pedestrian malls. Although Victor Gruen and Lawrence Halprin were trained in different disciplines and approached the design of pedestrian malls from significantly different perspectives, the work of both left a lasting impact on the American landscape and influenced the work of others in the field. While a number of the designs of each have been altered or removed, significant examples are retained and, for those that are non -extant, the historical record provides an important understanding of both the designers' work and the works impact on the specific location and the larger community. 41 "Things & Thiugs S_ Things," Iowa Site Inventory Form, 2018. Avaitable firm the City of Iowa City. 42'Plaza Centre One," Iowa Site Inventory Foam, 2018. Available from the City of Iowa City. 43 We E. Judge, The Experiment of American Pedestrian Halls, Research paper for the Frxsno Future Conference, 10/1 1 /2013. Section 8 page 71 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State Victor Gruen (1903-1980) was a self -described "environment architect", the promoter of new forms for American retailing, and a prolific writer. Having fled his native Austrian in 1938, Gruen landed in New York City, where he quickly became known for bringing a new aesthetic to the design of upscale retail stores. His theories for the modernization of store design spread across the country during the war years. In 1941, Gruen moved to Los Angeles where, in 1951 he founded the architectural firm of "Victor Gruen Associates." Gruen designed Southdale Shopping Center in Edina, Minnesota (a suburb of Minneapolis), which was completed in 1959. Southdale was the first fully enclosed shopping center in the country and its construction transformed the American shopping experience; the tremendous success of the suburban shopping center contributed significantly to the deterioration of downtown shopping areas in cities across the country.44 Victor Gruen also became deeply involved in urban renewal projects across the U.S., believing that the combination of the reform of retail and the reform of America went hand -in -hand with "good planning & good business [being] in no way mutually exclusive."45 He was responsible for the design of the country's first urban renewal era pedestrian mall at Kalamazoo, Michigan, which was completed in 1959. Part of a larger urban renewal effort designed by Gruen, Kalamazoo's Burdick Mall was hailed across the country as "America's premier pedestrian mall" with the government's United States Information Agency naming Kalamazoo as the All - American City for 195946 Local celebrations for its opening brought crowds of some 30,000 and trade magazines noted that the Burdick Mall `held the key to revitalization of faltering downtowns across the USA," with its, "fountains, shade trees, flower beds, closely cut grass, playground area, park benches, and multi -colored concrete block walkways."47 As Gruen proceeded with similar (and highly successful) projects in Fort Worth, Texas and Rochester, New York, he also brought his growing expertise to a wider audience by writing The Heart of Our - Cites, which considered America's urban crisis and his proposed solutions to that crisis. 8 Lawrence Halprin (1916-2009) was among the foremost landscape architects of the twentieth century. His firm, Lawrence Halprin & Associates, established in San Francisco in 1949, initially focused on the design of residential gardens, campuses, and housing projects. By the mid-1960s, however, the firm had become renowned for the design of major urban landscapes including parks, plazas, and pedestrian malls. The design for Main Street mall in Charlottesville, Virginia was completed by Halprin in 1976; it converted an eight -block length of the city's historic main sheet from vehicular to pedestrian only traffic. The pedestrian mall featured a 60-foot, brick -paved walkway with outdoor seating and several small fountains. Construction of the pedestrian mall and the rehabilitation of the shops along its length was intended to revive a retail ship in the city's downtown and, although not successful for nearly 20-years, the pedestrian mall eventually became and remains a vibrant civic space with trendy restaurants and boutiques 49 Halprin is also responsible for designing Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, completed in 1967. Halprin's design was an eight -block, curving, tree -lined, pedestrian only mall. Re -designed in 1990, the mall was converted to accommodate public transit, a form it retains today. Nicollet Mall remains a centerpiece of the Minneapolis downtown.50 Pedesbian Malls —Types and Counts The number of pedestrian malls constructed in the U.S. has been reported by numerous investigators as approximately 200. Although sometimes stated as a number confined to urban renewal era pedestrian malls 44 M. Jcffrcy Hardwick, Malt Maker: Viclor Gruen, Archilecl q1 the Atne ican Dreatn (Phdadclphia, PA: University of Pcnnsylvania Picss, 2004), 4. 45 Tbid. 46 Hardwick, 195. 49 "Early Vcrd ict on Burdick Mall: It's a Big Succcss," Kalamazoo Gazelle, March 20, 1958. 48 Hardwick, 207. 49 https://tclf.org/sites/default/frlcs/micrusiLcs/halTninlcgacy/charloLtcsvillc-mall.html. Rcnicvcd 07/10, 2020. 50 'A new Nicollet Mall? It's a contest," Minneapolis .Star Tribune, April 16, 2013. Section 8 page 72 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State (1960s-1970s), a broader review of sources suggests that the number of 200 includes pedestrian malls built as early as 1831 (Exchange Place in New Orleans) through the 1990s (1994, Freemont Street Experience in Las Vegas) and therefore not associated with urban renewal. One investigator refers to pedestrian malls constructed 1959-1970s as "first generation". 51 Various studies of the pedestrian mall categorize the feature into three categories. The "transit mall" involves conversion of an existing roadway in order to elevate the pedestrian experience, however, transit traffic (public buses, taxis, and/or light rail) is retained The transit mall typically limits parking, has widened streets, and landscaping designed to create a specialized character. Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis, Minnesota is one example of a transit mall that is commonly refereed to as a pedestrian mall. The second type of pedestrian mall is the "semi -mall", which is characterized by a reduction in vehicular traffic and parking rather than its elimination. Like the other two types, the semi -mall incorporates the enhancement of pedestrian -friendly features including widened sidewalks, benches, lighting, and other amenities.5' Denver's 16' Street Mall has been categorized as semi -mall and as a transit mall, depending on the source.53 The term "full mall" indicates a pedestrian mall that is completely closed to vehicular traffic. The pedestrian mall is typically created by laying new pavement to create a level area and the addition of trees, furnishings, and other amenities such as fountains and sculpture created a visual continuity and a sense of place for the downtown.54 The Iowa City pedestrian mall falls into this category. The following discussion regarding pedestrian malls addresses the full mall specifically. Multiple investigations have identified the country's pedestrian malls and, when found to be extant, evaluated their degree of success. The accuracy of those numbers remains unclear, largely due to the variety, of types of pedestrian malls and inconsistent methodology adopted to count, type, and evaluate the resources. The most recent known report on the subject dates to 2013. Conducted for the purpose of evaluating the pedestrian mall for its potential effectiveness as downtown economic tool in the city of Fresno, California, that report states that of the approximate 200 pedestrian malls constructed in the U.S., only 15 considered "successful" were extant in 2013.55 Because the report provides the most recent study of pedestrian malls, it has been used as the primary source for understanding the significance of the Iowa City Pedestrian Mall with an eye on identifying those resources considered `first generation" (Table 01). Regardless of any confusion regarding accounting for the different types of pedestrian malls constructed and retained, the high rate of their removal (return to vehicular traffic) is clear. In 2005, the Community Land Use and Economics Group, LLC (CLUE Group) reported that most downtowns found that construction of a pedestrian mall hurt downtown business rather than provided the desired economic boost. In that year, the CLUE Group found fewer than two dozen downtown pedestrian malls were retained in the U.S. In 2008, it was reported that 85% of the original 200 pedestrian malls had been removed, leaving only 30 extant at that time.56 In the 2013 feasibility study directed at the Fulton Pedestrian Mall in Fresno, California, the country's pedestrian malls were evaluated for their degree of success. Those retained and categorized as "successful" shared a number of characteristics including a varied mix of uses and activities; a large population of `captive" used (downtown 5' Kcnt Robertson, The Stalus of the Pedesh ian Mall in Ameican Dol nloli its, Research article, December 1, 1990. Available online at https://www.jownals.sagcpub.coin. 52 Hatvey Rubenstein, Pedestrian Malls, Sheetscapes, and Urban Spaces (New York Johu Wiley K Solis, 1992), 21. 53 Ibid. and http://www.wbarn-cvicwstl.com/2009/11/north-ame-tica-cities-that-have-or-had-a-pedestrian-mall. Retrieved 06/25/2020. 54 Rubenstein, 21 55 The latest known study dates to the 2013 report completed by Cole E. Judge for the Downtown Fresno Paunciship. 56 Judge, 3. Section 8 page 73 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Name of Property Johnson County, Iowa County and State residents and/or workers); efficient public transit; heavily programmed events and activities; strong anchors that drew pedestrians; centralized and coordinated retail management; located in a college town; well -planned and extensive parking in close proximity; located in an area of high tourism; and frequent and thorough upgrades.57 the study's author reported that of the 200 pedestrian malls, only 15 remained that could be categorized as successful; the Iowa City Pedestrian Mall being among that group of 15.5% A closer examination of the list of 15 found that at least 3 of the 15 do not represent "first generation" pedestrian malls and one appears to be non - extant, leaving the Iowa City Ped Mall as one of the country's 11 remaining, urban renewal era, full pedestrian malls. Table 01. Summary of Successful Pedestrian Malls59 State Pedestrian Mall City Date Mall Success 2020 Finding Name Length Indicator California Third Street Santa Monica 1965 3 Blacks Beach Extant Promenade 1989 Colorado Pearl Street Mall Boulder 1977 4 Blacks University Extant Florida Lincoln Road Mall Miami Beach 1960 8 Blacks Beach Extant Iowa (City Plaza) Iowa City 1978 4 University Extant Pedestrian Mall Blocks Louisiana Exchange Place New Orleans 1831 1 Tourism Extant Block Non -Urban Renewal Louisiana Fulton Street New Orleans 1984 1 Tourism Temporary for 1984 World's Block Fair, then not functioning until recently Maryland Downtown Cumberland Late 3 Blacks Tourism Extant Cumberland Mall 1970s Massachusetts Front Street New Bedford n/a 3 Blacks Beach Appears to be Nan -Extant Massachusetts Inn Street Mall Newburyport 1974 1 Beach Extant Block City Urban Renewal Nevada Fremont Street Las Vegas 1994 5 Blacks Tourism Extant Experience Non -Urban Renewal New Downtown Mall Lebanon Late 1 University Extant Hampshire 1960s Block New York Jay Street Schenectady 1960s 1 University Extant Pedestrian Block City Urban Renewal Walkway Rhode Island Lang Wharf Mall Newport Late 1 Beach Extant 1960s Block City Urban Renewal Vermont Church Street Burlington 1981 4 Blacks University Extant Marketplace 1994 Conceived in 1958 Virginia Main Street Charlottesville 1976 8 University Extant Downtown Mall I I I Blocks 57 Judge, 14. 58Ibid., 15. 59 The data provided is taken from Judge's 2013 report with contemporary status noted. Section 8 page 74 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Name of Property The Iowa City Pedestrian Mall - 1979 Johnson County, Iowa County and State When the City returned to the drawing board to revive their urban renewal plan with planning consultant Zuchelli, Hunter and Associates (ZHA) in 1976, development of a pedestrian mall along two blocks of College Street and one block of Dubuque Street was integral to the new consultant's plan. The conversion of roadways to pedestrian malls had, by that time, became a popular feature of urban renewal projects across the country, with varying degrees of success.61 In June of 1976, the City Council announced that parts of College and Dubuque streets would be closed for the summer as sort of a test run for the idea of a pedestrian mall. The Council remained uncommitted to the idea, but the notion remained under consideration as the City and its new consultant reviewed the 1969 renewal plan with the intention of updating it through the elimination of concepts that had since become "outmoded.1161 In a report presented to the City by ZHA, the firm stated that stores located on the pedestrian mall along E. College and S. Dubuque streets could expect some gains in retail sales. As ZHA noted, in other cities, "malls either contributed to increased sales or significantly reduced the downward historical spiral of sales in the downtown area." Further, "with local commitments, the mall concept is an appropriate one for Iowa City and lends valuable market support to adjacent urban renewal properties." Also at play in the City's decision -making regarding the pedestrian mall issue was a previous agreement made with Old Capitol Associates (developer of Plaza Centre One) in which the City agreed to close the roadway in front of that building.62 With landscape designer Jack Leaman of Associated Engineers, Mason City, Iowa onboard in 1977, design plans for the pedestrian mall were underway. Voices of Iowa City residents contributed to the final design, which incorporated one of the mini -parks (Black Hawk Minipark) that had been created by a local group in an effort to bring beauty to the downtown streets during the long period of destruction. A survey of downtown businesses and shoppers revealed that additional greenery on the mall was the issue most often expressed. Those surveyed also wanted to see room for bicycles, sidewalk cafes and small shops, and an increase in the number of benches.63 The downtown merchants, in particular, opposed City discussion about the possibility of allowing vehicular traffic. Members of the Downtown Association voted 25 to 1 to draft a statement stating their position.64 In August of 1977, after a final review of preliminary plans, the City Council gave Leaman the go-ahead to complete a drawing set for the new pedestrian mall. The plans for the $1.8-million mall called for "a brick -paved mall with planting beds enclosed by timbers, picking up on the design of the popular Black Hawk Minipark at Washington and Dubuque streets." Council members requested a number of changes to the preliminary designs including a design for a simple focal point at the intersection of College and Dubuque; the addition of temporary structures to provide shade pending the growth of the trees to be planted; and construction of a broad set of steps adjacent to the focal point that would adjust for the change in grade as well as double as seating. Choices for kiosks, drinking fountains, telephones, and bulletin boards were also made by the Council.65 Previous reporting also noted the inclusion of a children's play area on E. College, east of its intersection with S. Dubuque and a 10- foot strip of walkway in front of stores fronting the mall to be used for outdoor sales, displays, or activities like sidewalk cafes.66 The final design of the pedestrian mall was presented to the City Council in October of 1977 67 Although, officially named "City Plaza", the mall has long been more simply known as "the Ped Mall". 60 "It's a Faci," Iowa 0tr Press Cti_en, October 08, 1974: 12. 61 "Council acts on renewal... and street closure;' Iowa Ctp Press Ctizen, Junc 22, 1976: 01. 62 "`Less downtown development hinted," Iowa CiryPicss Citizen, December 09, 1976, I. 63 "Shoppers want green downtown," Iowa Cal, Press Citizen, May 31, 1977: 02. 64 "Merchants oppose busts using mall," lows C r Press CGzen, April 09, 1977: 02. 65 -Cowicil: Complete drawings for pedestrian malt," Iowa City Press Citizen, August 03, 1977: 02. 66 "Mall design mirrors minipark," IOLVa Cq' Press Ctizen, July 26, 1977: 01. 69 "`Council okays design for pedestrian mall," Iowa City Press Citizen, October 18, 1977: 02. Section 8 page 75 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Name of Property Figure 13. E. College Street - 1915 (Source: State Historical Society of Iowa, Iowa City.) Johnson County, Iowa County and State In this view looking along E. College Street toward its intersection with S. Dubuque, we see the early 20°i century character of the streetscape that was altered in construction of the Pedestrian Mall. Figure 14. Towa City Pedestrian Mall Under Construction — 1978 (Source: Iowa City Public Library, Urban Renewal special collection.) Construction of the Pedestrian Mall was underway in 1978. This view, looking west along E. College Street across its intersection with S. Dubuque, the work of constructing the fountain and surrounding hardscape is well underway with many of the trees planted. Section 8 page 76 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Name of Property Figure 15. Iowa City Pedestrian Mall — ca. t 979 (Source: Iowa City Public Library, Urban Renewal special collection.) Johnson County, Iowa County and State The completed pedestrian mall featured trees and shrubbery in large-scale, timber planters; brick paving; playground area with equipment; and a focal point at the intersection of S. Dubuque and E. College streets. A multi -tiered fountain with large, steel pipe elements was affectionately refereed to as "Three Women Peeing." The intersection was further accentuated by a series of terracing steps that accommodated a minor change in elevation via an artistic landscape feature. The area of focus is seen in this view looking northwest across the intersection Figure 16. Iowa City Pedestrian Mall — 1980 (Source: Iowa City Public Library, Urban Renewal special collection.) In this view looking southwesterly across E. Washington Street we see the north end of the Pedestrian Mall with Black Hawk Mini -Park occupying the open and treed parcel at left. Section 8 page 77 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State The three -block pedestrian mall was a downtown success almost immediately. With automobiles prohibited, spaces were created for people to interact, including a fountain at the intersection of College and Dubuque streets, shade trees, a variety of seating choices and landscaped walkways. It operated as planners had intended, serving as a centerpiece for both informal and planned downtown activities and events. Its intense use resulted in considerable wear and tear on the physical facilities of the mall, resulting in overhauls in 1990 and in 2019. Of some 200 pedestrian malls constructed in the U.S. as part of urban renewal projects, the Iowa City Pedestrian Mall remains one of only 11 retained." Summary As a component of urban renewal projects, the pedestrian mall was embraced as a positive response to urban problems including the rise of the commercial shopping center. Established in the heart of historic commercial centers, the pedestrian mall bore the potential to draw people of all ages and socio-economic levels in a space where they would find a leisurely and attractive space; the increased activity was intended to enliven declining downtowns through economic infusion and community gathering.69 By 1992, development of pedestrian malls (specifically, full malls), were already being found harder to justify given the limited success of many and the reversal of several completed in the 1960s and 1970s. While many factors played into the success or failure of pedestrian malls, the close proximity of a population such as office workers and/or students was central to assuring the success of a pedestrian mal1.70 In fact, the 2013 study found that being "near or attached to a major anchor such as a university" — as is the case in Iowa City - was a primary indicator of the success of the country's remaining pedestrian malls. Urban renewal in the United States did more in a relatively short period of time to alter the American landscape than any force or movement before or since. While the study of urban renewal remains a burgeoning area of academic study (specifically in the field of historic preservation), the physical impacts of urban renewal are plentiful, with demonstrable examples of both its positive and negative impacts. In Iowa City, the history of the urban renewal program is well -documented in local news accounts, previous historical and architectural survey and evaluation projects, city files, photographic collections held by the Iowa City Public Library and local historians, and in the still vivid memories of the citizens who lived through the 20-year proj ect in their community. Six buildings constructed as part of the urban renewal program are retained in the Iowa City Downtown Historic District; another three or four have since been replaced by new buildings. The Pedestrian Mall, the centerpiece of the Iowa City urban renewal program, remains a vibrant and rare example of the successful application of that urban renewal tool. None of the urban renewal resources meet the 50-year recommended age for registration. However, each contributes to the historical and architectural significance of the Historic District, providing an understanding of the impact of urban renewal on the American downtown that cannot be understood by any other means. In this way, the resources are exceptional and therefore meet the requirement of Criterion Consideration G. 68 Judge, 15. 69 Roberto Brambilta and Gianta Luug, Far Pedestrians Onlp: Planning, DeuAm, and Mana,aernerat rfTrafJic-Free Zones (New York Wausou- Guptill Publications, 1977), 9. 70 Harvey Rubcnstei n, Pedesn'ian Malls, S1, eetscapes, and LT, 'han ,Spacea (New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1992), 225. Section 8 page 78 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Name of Property 9. Maior Bibliographical References Bibliography (Cite the hooks, articles, and other sources used in preparing this form.) Johnson County, Iowa County and State Bellushi, Jewel and Murray Hausknecht, ed. Urban Renewal: People, Politics, andPlamring. Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Co., 1967. Brambilla, Roberto and Gianni Long. For Pedestrians Only: Planning, Design, and Management of Traffic - Free Zones. New York: Watson-Guptill Publications, 1977. Hardwick, M. Jeffrey. Mall Maker: Victor Gruen, Architect of an American Dream. Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2004. Hirsch, Alison Bick. City Choreographer. Lawrence Halprin in Urban Renewal America. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press, 2014. Isenberg, Alison. Downtown America. A history, of the place and the people that made it. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2004. Jacobs, Jane. The Death and Life of GreatArnerican Cities. Yd ed. New York, NY: The Modern Library, 1993. Judge, Cole E. "The Experiment of American Pedestrian Malls: Trends Analysis," prepared for the Fresno Future Conference, 2013. McDowell, Alexa. "Survey and Evaluation Update: Iowa City Central Business District." Prepared for the City of Iowa City and Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission, 2018. Nash, Jan Olive. "Iowa's Main Street Commercial Architecture." National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation Form, 2002. Rubenstein, Harvey M. Pedesbzan Malls, Streetscapes, and Urban Spaces. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1992. Russello Ammon, Francesca. Bulldozer: Demolition and Clearance of the Postwar Landscape. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2016. Slonneger, Marybeth. Finials: A View of Downtown Iowa City. Iowa City: Hand Press, 2015. Svendsen, Marlys A. "Historic Resources of Iowa City, Iowa: Architectural and Historical Resources of Iowa City Central Business District, 1855-1950." Draft, National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation Form, 2000. Svendsen, Marlys A. "Survey and Evaluation of the Central Business District." Prepared for the City of Iowa City and Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission, 2001. Wilson, James O., ed. Urban Renewal. The Record and the Controversy. Cambridge, MA: The M.I.T. Press, 1966. Sections 9 — 11 page 79 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Name of Property Archives Iowa City Public Library. Digital photograph collection. http://Iiistory.icpl.org. State Historical Library of Iowa, Iowa City. Photograph collection. Johnson County, Iowa County and State University of Iowa Special Collections. https://digital.lib.uiowa.edu/atlases/index.php. Newspapers Iowa City Press Citizen. "It's a Fact." October 08, 1974. "City hues designer for pedestrian malls." March 10, 1976. "Pedestrian malls get go-ahead." May 04, 1976. "Council acts on renewal... and street closure." June 22, 1976. "Less downtown development hinted." December 09, 1976. "Funds okayed for pedestrian malls." March 15, 1977. "Pedestrian malls bond issue planned." April 23, 1977. "Ideas available." May 10, 1977. "Council votes against mini -parks." May 25, 1977. "Shoppers want green downtown," May 31, 1977. "Mall design mirrors mimpark." July 26, 1977. "Council: Complete drawings for pedestrian mall." August 03, 1977. "Council okays design for pedestrian mall." October 18, 1977. "Face of downtown Iowa City changing fast." August 11, 1978. `Urban renewal ' 79 — Year of brick and mortar." December 29, 1978. Post -Gazette Nervs. "The story of urban renewal," May 21, 2000. Available online at hops://old.post- gazette.com/businessnews/2000052leastlibertyl.asp. Retrieved 07/09/2020. Online Resources 1966Interview of James Baldwin by Kenneth Clark. Available online at https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v—T8Abhj17kYU. Retrieved 07/23/2020. "Berman et at., Executors, v. Parker et al." October Term, 1954. Available at http://cdn.1oc.gov/service/11/ usrep/usrep348/usrep348026/usrep348026.pdf. Retrieved 07/15/2020. Sections 9 — 11 page 80 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State Central Park History. https://www.centralparknyc.org/park-histoty. Retrieved 07/10/2020. Kalamazoo Pedestrian Mall. https://www.kalamazoomi.com/hisf.htm. Retrieved 07/10/2020. Kalamazoo Pedestrian Mall. https://www.google.com/maps/search/kalamazoo+pedestrian+ mall/ (q-,42.2898803,-85.584599,407m/data=!3ml! lea. Retrieved 07/10/2020. The Landscape Architecture of Lawrence Halprin. https://tclf.org/sites/default/tiles/microsites/ halprinlegacy/charlottesville-mall.html. Retrieved 07/10, 2020. St. Paul Historical Society, "Rondo Neighborhood." Available online at https: //saintpaulhistorical. com/items/ show/160. Retrieved 07/13/2020. Urban Reviews. http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/2009/11/north-arnerica-cities-that-have-or-had-a-pedestrian- mall/. Retrieved 06/25/2020. Previous documentation on file (NPS): preliminary determination of individual listing (36 CFR 67) has been requested previously listed in the National Register previously determined eligible by the National Register designated a National Historic Landmark recorded by Historic American Buildings Survey # recorded by Historic American Engineering Record # recorded by Historic American Landscape Survey # Primary location of additional data: State Historic Preservation Office Other State agency Federal agency Local government University Other Name of repository: Historic Resources Survey Number (if assigned): Sections 9 — 11 page 81 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State 10. Geographical Data Acreage of Property approx. 25-acres (Do not include previously listed resource acreage; enter "Less than one" if the acreage is .99 or less) Latitude/Longitude Coordinates Datum if other than WGS84: (enter coordinates to 6 decimal places) 1 41.661280 -91.534600 Latitude Longitude 2 41.661256 -91.531650 Latitude Longitude 3 41.660655 -91.531639 Latitude Longitude 4 41.660663 -91.530201 Latitude Longitude Figure 03. Coordinates Map 5 41.658956 Latitude 6 41.658964 Latitude 7 41.658347 -91.530201 Longitude -91.531264 Longitude -91.531682 Latitude Longitude 8 41.658451-91.534632 Latitude Longitude The above numbered locators correspond to the preceding latitude/longitude coordinates. Sections 9 - 11 page 82 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Name of Property Verbal Boundary Description (Describe the boundaries of the property.) Johnson County, Iowa County and State The Iowa City Downtown Historic District covers five full city blocks and three half -blocks (Figure 03); its boundary runs north along S. Clinton Street on the west, then two blocks east along Iowa Avenue where it turns south for''/z-block along S. Linn Street, turning east along the alley between Iowa Avenue and E. Washington to S. Gilbert Street, turning south to E. College Street, turning west to the rear of the Carnegie Library where it then turns south on S. Linn Street to the alley between E. Burlington Street and E. College Street where it runs west to meet S. Clinton Street. Boundary Justification (Explain why the boundaries were selected.) The district boundaries include the best -preserved commercial buildings in the downtown with a minimum amount of non -period of significance intrusions. The streetscape facing S. Clinton Street bears particular significance for its retention of late 19" and early 20" century commercial buildings. S. Washington, E. College, and D. Dubuque streets also retain significant early commercial buildings. The near complete loss of historic fabric along E. Burlington Street prevented including that streetscape in the district boundary. 11. Form name/title Alexa McDowell/Architectural Historian date 07/22/2020 organization AKAY Consulting street & number 4252 Oakland Avenue telephone 515-491-5432 email akaymcd(a—,hotmaii.com city ortown Minneapolis state MN zip code 55407 Additional Documentation Submit the following items with the completed form: • GIS Location Map (Google Earth or BING) • Local Location Map — Showing District Boundaries — 2019 • Floor Plans (As Applicable) • Photo Location Map (Include for historic districts and properties having large acreage or numerous resources. Key all photographs to this map and insert immediately after the photo log and before the list of figures). Sections 9 — 11 page 83 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form IN PS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State Figure 04. USGS 7.5 Minute Topographic Map — Iowa City Quad - 2015 o.n Hsi: neae.. �H, xrlreo.1 — .. n RNFO v5� wX inG.v< 1 / - � cam„ Sr i I k FYNwNc wsr a \� ' ___ B FLIttGiO fBw, rvfrCry Sr L'nive .ry \rr eoir.r, IOWA ji,.,.. ,, - 8eiq}irs �. 9 ''a C17-Y —- -� Iowa Clty Oownlown Historic District 1 7 _ i n�wer.ra, =7) P t y x lal'L Y wa Gi 5? lAuniclpal S' I 'C�, pRodwnoo uq Sections 9 - 11 page 84 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Name of Property Figure 05. Aerial Locator Map Showing District Boundaries — 2020 EAST BURLINGTON STREET Johnson County, Iowa County and State NOTE: the location of the pedestrian mall is indicated in blue. Sections 9 — 11 page 85 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Name of Property Figure 06. Table of District Resources Johnson County, Iowa County and State Address Historic Name Built Style Status (Common Name) Date S. CLINTON ST. 8 Bey Building 1917 Classical C* S. Clinton St. Iowa Book & Supply) Revival 10-14 Coast & Sons Building 1892 Classical C* S. Clinton St. Revival 16 Namur Bakery Building ca.1874/ Italianatc C* S. Clinton St. McDonald Optical) ca.1884 18-20 Commercial Building ca.1874/ Mixed C* S. Clinton St. ca.1944 22 The Airliner ca.1888/ Modern C* S. Clinton St. 1950 Movement 24-26 Racine's Cigar Store No. 3 ca.1874 Italianate C* S. Clinton St. 28 Ewers Men's Store ca.1874/ Commercial C* S. Clinton St. ca.1923 Style 30 Bloom -Ries Building ca.1874 Italianatc C* S. Clinton St. Moses Bloom Clothing Stoic 32 Whetstone Building ca.1868/ Italianate C* S. Clinton St. 1874 102 Iowa State Bank & Trust 1912 Chicago NRHP S. Clinton St. Johnson County Savings Bank Commercial 114 Snub Building ca.1865/ Contemporary NC S. Clinton St. Roshck's Department Stoic ca.2005 124 Hawkeve Barber Shop 1979 Modern C S. Clinton St. Movement 130 Things & Things & Things 1970 Modern C S. Clinton St. Movement 132 Bill Hill Music Studio 1971 Modern C S. Clinton St. Movement 210-212 (Safeway 2000 Building/Joseph's) 2000 Contemporary NC S. Clinton St. Post Modern E. COLLEGE ST. E. College from City Plaza 1978-79 n/a C* Clinton to Limn St., (Ped Mall) S. Dubuque from College to Iowa 103 Savings and Loan Building 1877/ Art Dcco C* E. Collcec St. 1940 109 Dooley Block (west bay) ca.1874/ Romanesque C* E. College St. 1929 Revival 110 Carson Building ca.1916 Chicago C E. College St. Commercial 112 Commercial Building ca.1915/ Contemporary NC E. Collcec St. 2013 114-116 Schneider Bros. Furniture Store 1883/ Chicago C E. College St. 1906 Commercial 111-113 Sears, Roebuck & Co. Building 1929 Chicago C* E. College St. Commercial 115 Dooley Block (cast bay) ca.1895/ Romanesque C* E. Collcec St. (Gringo's) 1929 Revival Sections 9 — 11 page 86 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Name of Property Johnson County, Iowa County and State E. COLLEGE ST., Cont'd 117-123 Crescent Block 1894 Commercial C* E. College St. Style 118-120 Commercial Building ca.1974 Romanesque C E. College St. Revival 125 College Block Building 1878 ltalianatc NRHP E. College St. 128 Plaza Centre One 1977 Modern C E. College St. Movement 312 Iowa Ciry Masonic Temple 1914 Classical C* E. College St. Revival 320 Trinity Episcopal Church 1871/ Gothic Revival NRHP E. College St. 1971 S. DUBUQUE ST. 1 Park House ca.1867/ Romanesque C S. Dubuque St. ca.1897/ Revival ca.1899 2-4 Market Hall 1873/ Romanesque C S. Dubuque St. ca.1947 Revival/ Modern Movement 5 F.J. Epcnctcr Building (north half) 1883/ Commercial C S. Dubuque St. ca.1933 Style 6-8 Ham's Hall (north two-thirds) ca.1873/ Art Deco C S. Dubuque St. ca.1930 7 F.J. Epeneter Building (south half) ca.1974 Italiauate C S. Dubuque St. ca.1930 9 Patterson Block (north half of north 1879/ Renaissance C S. Dubuque St. halt) 1899/ Revival 1982 10 Ham's Hall (south one-third) ca.1873/ Romanesque C S. Dubuque St. ca.1925 Revival 11 Patterson Block (south half of north 1879/ Romanesque C S. Dubuque St. half) 1899/ Revival 1982 12 Commcrcial Building ca.1870 ltalianatc C S. Dubuque St. Sorts Column 13-15 Prairie Lights Book Store 1983/ Contemporary NC S. Dubuque St. 1993 14 Mucllcr Block ca.1909 Contemporary NC S. Dubuque St. Sorts Column 17 J.J. Stach Saloon ca.1876 Romanesque C S. Dubuque St. Revival 19-21 Scanlon Saloon/ ca.1874/ Romanesque C S. Dubuque St. Maresh & Holubar Tin Shop ca.1875 Revival 23 Commcrcial Building 1879/ Contemporary NC S. Dubuque St. 1970 109 Jefferson Cafeteria ca.1915 Commercial C S. Dubuque St. Style III Commercial Building ca.1960 Early Classical C* S. Dubuque St. Revival 115 Franklin Printing House 1856 Early Classical NRHP S. Dubuque St. Revival Sections 9 — 11 page 87 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Name of Property Johnson County, Iowa County and State S. DUBUQUE ST., Cont'd. 118 Commercial Building ca.1881/ Second C* S. Dubuque St. ca.1890 Empire 124 Iowa Theater 1936 Art Deco C S. Dubuque St. 220 Holiday Inn 1984 Modern NC S. Dubuque St. Sheraton Hotel Movement E. IOWA AVE. 113-115 Bushnagcl Building ca.1875 Romanesque C E. Iowa Ave. Revival 117 Studio Tea Room ca.1922 Commercial C E. Iowa Ave. Style 119 Commercial Building 2004 Contemporary NC E. Iowa Ave. 121-123 Brunswick Hall ca.1890/ Mixed/ C E. Iowa Ave. 1946 Commercial 211 C.O.D. Steam Laundry Building ca.1895/ Italianate C E. Iowa Ave. ca.1960 213 Reardon Hotel ca.1900/ Italianate C E. Iowa Ave. 1932 219 Capitol Square Condominiums 2001 Contemporary NC E. Iowa Ave. 225 Brueggers Bagel Bakery 2013 Contemporary NC E. Iowa Ave. 229 Vogel House 2001 Contemporary NC E. Iowa Ave. S. LINN ST. 7 S. Linn Street 7 South Linn 2019 Contour ovary NC 13-15 Hohenschuh Mortuary 1917 Georgian C* S. Linn St. Revival 28 Old Post Office 1904/ Bcaax Arts NRHP S. Lima St. 1931 104-116 J.A. O'Leary Vclic Co. Garage/ 1919/ Commercial C S. Linn St. Iowa Apartment Building 1924 Style 122 Meardon Building 1977 Modern C S. Linn St. Movement 123 Iowa Ciry Public Library 2004 Contemporary NC S. Lima St. 201 Plaza Towers/Hotel Vetro 2004 Contemporary NC S. Linn St. 218 Iowa City Public Library (Carnegie) 1903 Classical C* S. Linn St. Revival E. WASHINGTON ST. 109 Hands Jewelry Building ca.1868/ Modern C* E. Washington St. 1968 Movement 110 Western Union Building 1930/ Classical NC E. Washington St. 1991 Revival 112 Sunier Music & Jewelry Store 1900/ Classical C E. Washington St. 1929 Revival 114-116 Corlett Livery/M. Moon Drug ca.1874/ No Style NC E. Washington St. 1963 Sections 9 — 11 page 88 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Name of Property Johnson County, Iowa County and State E. WASHINGTON Cont'd. 111-117 Younker's Department Store 1951 Modern C E. Washington St. Movement 118 FreernatiBuilding ca.1874/ Commercial NC E. Washington St. ca2002 Style 120 Bremer's Building 1964 Modern C E. Washington St. Movement 121 S.S. Kresge Co. Building 1930/ Modern C E. Washington St. 1956 Movement 124 Security Insurance Co. building ca.1869/ Romanesque NC E. Washington St. ca2010 Revival 126 Commcrcial Building ca.1869 Early Classical C E. Washington St. Revival 128 Arcade Building ca.1874/ Chicago C* E. Washington St. 1927 Commercial 129-131 Hotel Jefferson 1913/ Chicago C* E. Washington St. 1926 Commercial 132 Pryce & Schell Building ca.1879 Italianatc C E. Washington St. 201 Park(W201 2012 Contemporary NC E. Washington St. 202-214 First National Bank 1888/ Mixed C* E. Washington St. 1911/ ca.1990 207 Paul -Helen Building 1913 Chicago NRHP E. Washington St. Commercial 216 Stillwell Building ca.1990 Italiatiate C* E. Washington St. 218 IXLBlock (wcstbay) 1883/ Italianatc C* E. Washington St. ca.1970 220 IXL Block (center bay) 1883/ Italianate C* E. Washington St. ca.1970 221 Englert Theatre 1912 Renaissance NRHP E. Washington St. Revival 225 Schump Transfer & Storage 1910 Commercial C E. Washington St. Style 227 Stillwell Building 1910/ Modern C* E. Washington St. ca.1949 Movement 228 First National Batik Drive -In Batik 1962/ Colonial C E. Washington St. 1980 Revival 229 Meacham Travel 1971 Modern C E. Washington St. Movement 319 Iowa Ciry Press -Citizen Publishing 1937 Art Modern C* E. Washington St. 320 Ecumenical Housing 1980 Contemporary NC E. Washington St. 328 The Abbey Apartments 2011 Contemporary NC E. Washington St. 330 Eldon Miller building 1955 Modern C E. Washington St. 332 Bocrner-Fry Company/Davis Hotel 1899 Late Victorian NRHP E. Washington St. Sections 9 — 11 page 89 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Name of Property Johnson County, Iowa County and State PED MALL OBJECTS Ped Mall Inteated lantern/retainin walls 1979 n/a C Ped Mall Series of small-scale, limestone 2019 n/a NC planters Ped Mall Playground Equipment 2019 n/a NC E. of Dubuque & College streets intersection Ped Mall Sculpture: Musicians (bronze) ca.2000 n/a NC West end E. College Ped Mall Sculpture: "Writers in a Cafe' 2019 n/a NC West end E. College West end E. College Street Pcd Mall Sculpture: Obelisk H) ca.2018 n/a NC ES Dubuque St. Ped Mall Sculpture: Obelisk (2) ca.2018 n/a NC WS Dubuque St. Ped Mall Sculpture: Dad and Boy (bronze) ca2019 n/a NC East End E. College Sections 9 — 11 page 90 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State Submit clear and descriptive photographs. The size of each image must be 3000x2000 pixels, at 300 ppi (pixels per inch) or larger. Key all photographs to the sketch map. Each photograph must be numbered and that number must correspond to the photograph number on the photo log. For simplicity, the name of the photographer, photo date, etc. may he listed once on the photograph log and doesn't need to be labeled on every photograph. Photo Log Name of Property: City or Vicinity: County: Photographer: Date Photographed: Iowa City Downtown Historic District Iowa City Johnson State: IA Alexa McDowell March 2018, 11/14/2019, and 12/18/2019 Description of Photographs) and number, include description of view indicating direction of camera: Photo 1 of 34: View of Iowa Avenue, looking SE across S. Clinton Street Photo 2 of 34: View of S. Clinton Street, looking SE across Iowa Avenue Photo 3 of 34: View of S. Clinton Street, looking SE across E. Washington Street Photo 4 of 34: View of S. Clinton Street, looking NE across E. Washington Street Photo 5 of 34: View of S. Clinton Street, looking NE across E. College Street Photo 6 of 34: View of S. Linn Street, looking north from E. College Street Photo 7 of 34: View of E. Washington Street, looking west from S. Gilbert Street Photo 8 of 34: View of S. Linn Street, looking SE across E. Washington Street Photo 9 of 34: View of S. Linn Street, looking SW across E. Washington Street Photo 10 of 34: View of E. Washington Street, looking SW across S. Linn Street Photo 11 of 34: View of Iowa Avenue, looking SE from S. Dubuque Street Photo 12 of 34: View of S. Dubuque Street, looking SW across Iowa Avenue Photo 13 of 34: View of S. Dubuque Street, looking SE from Iowa Avenue Photo 14 of 34: View of Iowa Avenue, looking SW from Dubuque Street Photo 15 of 34: View of E. Washington Street, looking SE from S. Clinton Street Photo 16 of 34: View of E. Washington Street, looking NW from S. Dubuque Street Sections 9 — 11 page 91 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service I National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Farm 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Iowa City Downtown Historic District Johnson County, Iowa Name of Property County and State Photo 17 of 34: View of E. Washington Street, looking SW from S. Dubuque Street Photo 18 of 34: View of E. Washington Street, looking SE from S. Dubuque Street Photo 19 of 34: View of S. Dubuque Street, looking NW from E. Washington Street Photo 20 of 34: View of S. Dubuque Street, looking SW from E. Washington Street (Ped Mall) Photo 21 of 34: View of S. Dubuque Street, looking NE from E. College Street (Ped Mall) Photo 22 of 34: View of E. College Street, looking NE from S. Dubuque Street (Ped Mall) Photo 23 of 34: View of E. College Street, looking NW from S. Dubuque Street (Ped Mall) Photo 24 of 34: View of E. College Street, looking NE from S. Clinton Street (Ped Mall) Photo 25 of 34: View of Sears Roebuck and Dooley Buildings (109, 111-113, and 115 E. College Street) Photo 26 of 34: View of Crescent Block, 1930s storefront (119 E. College Street) Photo 27 of 34: View of the Carnegie Library building (218 S. Linn Street) Photo 28 of 34: View of Commercial Building (118 S. Dubuque Street) Photo 29 of 34: View of Things, Things, Things building (lib S. Clinton Street) Photo 30 of 34: View of Franklin Printing and 111 S. Dubuque Street Photo 31 of 34: View of Press Citizen Building (319 E. Washington Street) Photo 32 of 34: View of block of Italianate buildings (216, 218, and 220 E. Washington Street) Photo 33 of 34: View of First National Bank building (200 E. Washington) Photo 34 of 34: View of the Coast & Sons building (10-14 S. Clinton Street) Sections 9 — 11 page 92