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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-08-2024 HPC agenda packet Thursday February 8, 2024 5:30 p.m. Emma J. Harvat Hall City Hall IOWA CITY HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Thursday, February 8, 2024 City Hall, 410 E. Washington Street Emma J. Harvat Hall 5:30 p.m. Agenda A) Call to Order B) Roll Call C) Public discussion of anything not on the agenda D) Public Hearing- Discuss Landmark designation for 302-316 East Bloomington Street (Slezak- Holub-Skarda Building) E) Certificate of Appropriateness HPC23-0083: 709 Oakland Avenue– Longfellow Historic District (front stoop and step replacement and expansion) F) Discussion of Commission Annual Work Plan G) Review of the CLG Annual Report H) Report on Certificates issued by Chair and Staff Certificate of No Material Effect –Chair and Staff review HPC24-0001: 722 Oakland Avenue – Longfellow Historic District (rangehood vent installation) I) Consideration of Minutes for January 11, 2024 J) Commission Information Preserve Iowa Summit – Save the Date- June 6-8, 2024 in Mt. Pleasant K) 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. Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission City Hall, 410 E Washington Street, Iowa City. IA. 52240 Memorandum Date: January 31, 2024 To: Historic Preservation Commission From: Jessica Bristow, Historic Preservation Planner Re: 302-316 East Bloomington Street, Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Background The Historic Preservation component of the Comprehensive Plan encourages the identification and preservation of properties and neighborhoods that are significant to Iowa City’s architecture and culture. Towards achieving this goal, the Commission designated the first group of local landmarks in 1996. This first group included many of the properties that were previously listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Even while this group of local designations was still in process, the Commission began a list of properties for their next group of local landmarks, including properties that were eligible for listing in the National Register. In 2015, as part of the Commission’s work plan, they created another list of properties that were prioritized for local landmark designation because they were not located in local districts. The Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building, at 302-316 East Bloomington Street, appears on both lists of significant Iowa City properties. This building has been owned by the same family since it was built from 1875 to 1880. Even without designation as a local landmark, the building has been cared for as a preservationist would recommend with exterior elements being repaired instead of replaced for almost 150 years. On October 9, 2023, the Commission discussed moving forward an application to designate the property at 302-316 E. Bloomington Street as a Local Historic Landmark. Designation of the property as an Iowa City Historic Landmark will require Commission approval of any significant changes to the exterior of the building. Landmark status will also make the property eligible for special exceptions that would allow the Board of Adjustment to waive or modify certain zoning requirements and for State Tax Credit funding of rehabilitation work. The property would also be eligible for the City’s Historic Preservation Fund to help with exterior repair work. Since the HPC’s October 9th meeting, staff, the Commission Chair, and the property owner met to discuss the landmark designation. At this meeting staff explained what it means to own a property that is designated as a Local Historic Landmark. Staff also discussed the process by which the landmark status is evaluated. After this initial meeting with the property owner, Friends of Historic Preservation hired local historian, Jennifer Price, to complete the site inventory form that documents the history, integrity, and significance of the property (see attachment). The first part of the local landmark designation process is the public hearing before the Commission, which is scheduled for February 8, 2024. Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission City Hall, 410 E Washington Street, Iowa City. IA. 52240 Analysis The site inventory form for the Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building evaluates the property according to the National Register criteria as required by the state. For National Register listing, all properties must be significant and exhibit appropriate historic integrity. These two conditions are equivalent to criteria A and B of the local landmark process listed below. National Register listings must be significant in at least one of four applicable criteria which are equivalent with criteria C through F as shown below. In the review of Local Historic Landmarks, it is the role of the Commission to determine whether the property meets criterion A and B and also whether it meets at least one of the criteria C, D, E, or F: a. Significant to American and/or Iowa City history, architecture, archaeology and culture; b. Possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship; c. Associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history; d. Associated with the lives of persons significant in our past; e. 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 may lack individual distinction; f. Has yielded or may likely yield information important in prehistory or history. As Jennifer Price determined that the building has both the significance and integrity required for National Register listing, staff finds that the building is significant to Iowa City architecture and culture and exhibits recognizable integrity (Local Criteria A and B). The Site Inventory Form summarizes the cultural importance of the building to the Iowa City community because it is “associated with both the ethnic and commercial history of Iowa City’s Northside neighborhood.” As Price continues, “the complex of brick Italianate style commercial buildings at the corner of East Bloomington and North Linn Streets was a one-stop shopping, dining, lodging, entertainment, and cultural center for the ever- growing Bohemian-American community in Iowa City and northern Johnson County.” The National Hall on the second floor “was home to Iowa City’s many Bohemian fraternal and community organizations that used the hall for their meetings and housed a comprehensive cultural library.” Even by 1900 the building was considered “one of the landmarks of this city.” The building was built and operated by Joseph Slezak for 25 years and then it was run by his son-in- law Joseph Holub. As originally built, the building consisted of the two-story portion on the corner that included two stores on the first floor with a saloon and dining hall accessed around the corner from Linn Street. The second floor was the fraternal hall with dance floor, stage, and a balcony. The three-story building behind was a boarding house. Along the alley a carriage house had laundry and sleeping rooms on the upper floors. Adjacent to the carriage house on the east was the stable and feed barn. By 1920, the boarding house was running as a hotel and the stable was converted to a garage. Later, about 1930, Holub remodeled the hotel and hall into apartments, creating a large storage attic in the vaulted space above the former National Hall. The former stable/garage became a laundromat in 1958 and Pizza Palace/Pagliai’s Pizza moved into the grocery space in 1969. Based on the information in the Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission City Hall, 410 E Washington Street, Iowa City. IA. 52240 Site Inventory Form, staff finds that the building is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history (Local Criterion C). As stated in the Site Inventory Form the Slezak/Holub Building is a remarkably well-preserved example of commercial Italianate architecture. It features a two-bay storefront that was remodeled 55 years ago for the Pizza Palace (with the tile base likely introduced in the 1930s). Above the sign board that covers the storefront transom area, there is a mid-level bracketed cornice with dentils below narrow round- arched windows with brick hoodmolds. The upper portion of these windows was closed with beadboard at the time of the 1930s remodel. The building is topped by a heavy bracketed cornice and a Baroque pediment that is similar to architectural details found in 19th century Central European architecture familiar to Bohemian immigrants, such as Slezak. The saloon entrance off Linn Street was bricked in at some point and a single window was also bricked in. The three-story Holub Apartments has a projecting entrance (likely from the 1930s remodel), more decorative, cast hoodmolds over the windows and a more elaborate cornice with triglyphs and metopes between brackets. The carriage house is a simple brick building with synthetic siding on the south wall and mid-century 2-over-2 horizontal lite window sashes. The laundromat is a brick building with large gable and sliding stable door evident on the alley side and large Baroque pediment on the street-façade. Because of its Baroque pediments, unique in Iowa City, and the Italianate commercial style, that has not been altered in many years, staff finds that the building also embodies the distinctive characteristics of its type and is also eligible for local landmark designation for its architecture (Local Criterion E). Based on the information provided in the Site Inventory Form, staff finds that the property meets criteria A, B, C, and E and therefore qualifies as a Local Historic Landmark. Next Steps Following the recommendation from the Historic Preservation Commission, the rezoning application establishing the Historic District Overlay zone will be forwarded to the Planning and Zoning Commission. The Planning and Zoning Commission will review the proposal for compliance with the Comprehensive Plan and make a recommendation to the City Council. The City Council will then hold a public hearing and consider the recommendations of the Historic Preservation Commission and the Planning and Zoning Commission before deciding whether to establish the historic overlay zone, creating the Local Landmark Designation. Recommended Motion: Move to approve the designation of 302-316 East Bloomington Street, the Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building, as a Local Historic Landmark based on the following criteria for local designation: criteria A, B, C, and E. Attachments: Property Location map Iowa Site Inventory Form 52-00602 Slezak -Holub-Skarda Building Letter of support from Marty Boller Letter of support from Marybeth Slonneger Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission City Hall, 410 E Washington Street, Iowa City. IA. 52240 Property location map for the Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building, adjacent local districts, and nearby local landmarks (stars). Northside Historic District Goosetown- Horace Mann Conservation ARCHITECTURAL AND HISTORICAL EVALUATION OF Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building 302-316 E. Bloomington Street Iowa City, Johnson County, Iowa Iowa Site Inventory Form No. 52-00602 Prepared for Friends of Historic Preservation P.O. Box 2001 Iowa City, IA 52244 Prepared by Jennifer A. Price, PhD Price Preservation Research P.O. Box 5201 Coralville, Iowa 52241-0201 January 2024 Iowa Site Inventory Form State Inventory Number: 52-00602 New Supplemental State Historic Preservation Office 9-Digit SHPO Review & Compliance (R&C) Number: (July 2014) Non-extant Year: Read the Iowa Site Inventory Form Instructions carefully, to ensure accuracy and completeness before completing this form. The instructions are available on our website: http://www.iowahistory.org/historic- preservation/statewide-inventory-and-collections/iowa-site-inventory-form.html • Property Name A) Historic name: Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building B) Other names: Narodni Sin; National Hall; Slezak Hotel; Holub & Son Grocery; Holub Apartments; Pagliai's Pizza • Location A) Street address: 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts B) City or town:Iowa City ( Vicinity) County:Johnson C) Legal description: Rural: Township Name: Township No.: Range No.: Section: Qtr: of Qtr: Urban: Subdivision: Original Town Plat Block(s): 57 Lot(s): 5 and part of 6 • Classification A) Property category: Check only one B) Number of resources (within property): Building(s) If eligible property, enter number of: If non-eligible property, District Contributing Noncontributing enter number of: Site 1 Buildings Buildings Structure Sites Sites Object Structures Structures Objects Objects 1 Total Total C) For properties listed in the National Register: National Register status: Listed De-listed NHL NPS DOE D) For properties within a historic district: Property contributes to a National Register or local certified historic district. Property contributes to a potential historic district, based on professional historic/architectural survey and evaluation. Property does not contribute to the historic district in which it is located. Historic district name: Historic district site inventory number: E) Name of related project report or multiple property study, if applicable: MPD title Historical Architectural Data Base # • Function or Use Enter categories (codes and terms) from the Iowa Site Inventory Form Instructions A) Historic functions B) Current functions 02E11 COMMERCE/specialy store/grocery 02G COMMERCE/restaurant 01D01 DOMESTIC/transitory housing/hotel 02A08 COMMERCE/business/laundry 03A04 SOCIAL/meeting hall/hall of patriotic organization 01B02 DOMESTIC/multiple dwelling/apartment building • Description Enter categories (codes and terms) from the Iowa Site Inventory Form Instructions A) Architectural classification B) Materials 05B LATE VICTORIAN/Italianate Foundation (visible exterior): 04 STONE 09F03 OTHER/Commercial/Arcaded Block Walls (visible exterior): 03 BRICK Roof: 05 METAL Other: C) Narrative description SEE CONTINUATION SHEETS, WHICH MUST BE COMPLETED Site Number: 52-00602 Address: 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts City:Iowa City County: Johnson • Statement of Significance A) Applicable National Register Criteria: Mark your opinion of eligibility after applying relevant National Register criteria Criterion A: Property is associated with significant events. Yes No More research recommended Criterion B: Property is associated with the lives of significant persons. Yes No More research recommended Criterion C: Property has distinctive architectural characteristics. Yes No More research recommended Criterion D: Property yields significant information in archaeology/history. Yes No More research recommended B) Special criteria considerations: Mark any special considerations; leave blank if none 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: Property less than 50 years of page or achieved significance within the past 50 years. C) Areas of significance D) Period(s) of significance Enter categories from instructions 02 ARCHITECTURE 1875-1969 05 COMMERCE E) Significant dates F) Significant person Construction date Complete if Criterion B is marked above 1875 check if circa or estimated date Other dates, including renovations c.1930 (apts); 1938 (storefront); 1969 (store interior) G) Cultural affiliation H) Architect/Builder Complete if Criterion D is marked above Architect Builder/contractor I) Narrative statement of significance SEE CONTINUATION SHEETS, WHICH MUST BE COMPLETED • Bibliography See continuation sheets for the list research sources used in preparing this form • Geographic Data Optional UTM references See continuation sheet for additional UTM or comments Zone Easting Northing NAD Zone Easting Northing NAD 1 2 3 4 • Form Preparation Name and Title: Jennifer A. Price/Consultant Date:January 2024 Organization/firm: Price Preservation Research E-mail:pricepreservationresearch@gmail.com Street address: P.O. Box 5201 Telephone:319.594.9513 City or Town: Coralville State: IA Zip code:52241-0201 • ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION Submit the following items with the completed form A) For all properties, attach the following, as specified in the Iowa Site Inventory Form Instructions: 1. Map of property’s location within the community. 2. Glossy color 4x6 photos labeled on back with property/building name, address, date taken, view shown, and unique photo number. 3. Photo key showing each photo number on a map and/or floor plan, using arrows next top each photo number to indicate the location and directional view of each photograph. 4. Site plan of buildings/structures on site, identifying boundaries, public roads, and building/structure footprints. B) For State Historic Tax Credit Part 1 Applications, historic districts and farmsteads, and barns: See lists of special requirements and attachments in the Iowa Site Inventory Form Instructions. State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) Use Only Below This Line The SHPO has reviewed the Site Inventory and concurs with above survey opinion on National Register eligibility: Yes No More research recommended This is a locally designated property or part of a locally designated district. Comments: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SHPO authorized signature: Date: Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 1 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION The Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building is located at the northeast corner of N. Linn Street and E. Bloomington Street on the north side of Iowa City, seat of Johnson County in eastern Iowa. The property is surrounded on the west and north by historic residences and sits at the southern boundary of the locally designated Northside Historic District, a large residential neighborhood of late nineteenth and early twentieth century houses. Although it is outside the boundaries of the locally designated Northside Historic District, the Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building is visually part of the district both architecturally and historically and is a familiar landmark in the overall Northside neighborhood of Iowa City. Along the west side of the property, N. Linn Street retains its original brick paving. Across Bloomington Street to the south is a large, paved lot that provides overflow parking for Pagliai’s Pizza – the commercial tenant in the main level store unit since 1969 – and other nearby businesses, including Hamburg Inn No. 2 just south of the parking lot. The surroundings to the southeast, south, and southwest feature a mix of late-nineteenth to mid- twentieth-century commercial buildings, historic residential buildings repurposed for commercial use, and a modern condominium building at the southwest corner of N. Linn and E. Bloomington streets. The subject property is a complex of four adjoining brick buildings built from 1875 to the 1880s that together form an L-shape around a central courtyard and parking lot with access to E. Bloomington Street. The entire Slezak Block complex is comprised of the main two-story brick block (40 by 80 feet) built on the northeast corner of N. Linn and E. Bloomington streets; a three-story brick Italianate style hotel addition (38 by 42 feet) built adjoining the rear of the main building with entrance on N. Linn Street; a two-story hotel addition (22 by 72 feet) adjoined to rear of the hotel addition and extending east along the north property line that originally held a carriage house, laundry, and sleeping rooms; and the laundromat (34 by 80 feet) – originally the stables and later a garage – built adjoining the east end of the carriage house and extending south to face E. Bloomington Street. The main building, 302 E. Bloomington Street, was built by Joseph Slezak in 1875 in the commercial Italianate style. The building has brick exterior walls, a front gabled roof clad in metal with three ventilators spaced evenly along the ridgeline. The front-gabled roof is hidden on the south side façade by “a wooden pediment with Baroque curves. Below this is a heavy, projecting, wooden cornice with single, widely-spaced windows with three sashes, the upper section of which is boarded up. Around the semi-circular window tops the raised brick molding forms a rectangular panel. At the top of the first story is a less extended cornice” (Alexander 1970). The storefront was remodeled in 1938, creating a single central recessed tiled entry with wood and glass entry door, black tiled bulkheads, and plate glass windows. In 1969, the store interior was remodeled to house the pizza parlor that is still located there nearly 55 years later. “The second-story cornice extends along the east and west sides with upper- story windows repeating those of the south façade. On the west side was a second entrance, leading to apartments, using cast iron elements and large glass windows. This has been bricked up and the present entrance is to the north” (Alexander 1970). The three-story northern addition (308-312 N. Linn Street) was built as a hotel and is five bays wide with a central entrance. It is also built of brick with a front-gabled roof. “The façade is topped by a high cornice with a version of triglyph and metope ornament, and single, widely spaced brackets. All openings are topped by very plastic pressed tin arches with delicate inset floral ornament of an Eastlake character, the kind of tool used in the 1880s. The cornice continues around the building. Windows on the sides and back are topped by a segmental arch with a separate molding formed by protruding brick” (Alexander 1970). The adjoining two-story rear addition (former carriage house) has a flat roof and an entrance on the narrow west side, with the addresses 310-314 N. Linn Street. The segmental arch windows have newer 1/1 double hung sash windows. The south façade, clad in vinyl siding, overlooks the small courtyard and parking lot. A central entry door and overhead garage door near the east endwall are features of the façade. The easternmost addition (316 E. Bloomington Street) is also built of brick with a front-gabled roof hidden by a curved Baroque pediment that complements the one on the main building. “The curving features of the Baroque Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 2 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City pediment is executed in brick (rather than wood like the main building) and outlined in wood” (Alexander 1970). It served originally as a barn with stables for the horses of hotel guests. The building was converted by 1920 to a heated garage. In 1953, it housed a linen service, and in 1958, it was remodeled into a coin-operated laundromat. The brick façade and the brick portion of the Baroque pediment appear to have been stuccoed and painted white. The recessed central entrance is flanked by two square fixed store windows. This storefront configuration (and perhaps the stucco as well) likely dates to 1958, when it was remodeled into the coin-operated laundromat that it remains today. Statement of Integrity In 1996, consultants Molly Myers Naumann and Brian Schultes – in their Survey and Evaluation of the Dubuque/Linn Corridor, Iowa City, Iowa – determined the Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building one of 10 sites that “appear to be individually significant” and likely “eligible for the NRHP and/or local landmark designation” (Naumann and Schultes 1996:10). Although the fifth-generation owner chose not to pursue National Register listing or local landmark status at the time of the survey, he has continued to maintain the historic building complex to a high degree. The building, therefore, remains deserving of local landmark designation and meets the seven aspects of integrity (location, setting, design, workmanship, materials, feeling, and association) that make it individually eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. The Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building complex is in its original location at the northeast corner of E. Bloomington and N. Linn Streets. Although the immediate surroundings to the east south and southwest have changed in the past 50 years (see Site Plan in Additional Documentation), the Slezak-Holub- Skarda Building is a landmark that anchors the south boundary of the Northside Historic District, a well-preserved locally designated residential district of houses dating to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. View looking north at the Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building, home of Pagliai’s Pizza since 1969. Photo by Price Preservation Research, December 2023 The original footprint and design of this Italianate style building complex is intact, and the workmanship and materials of the original builders is visible on all sides. Extant original character-defining features – including the face brick, fenestration pattern, hood molds, brackets and cornices, and Baroque pediments – have been preserved throughout periods of remodeling and repurposing. The Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building conveys a feeling of time and place of a late-nineteenth-century Italianate commercial block – even with its modern commercial tenants – that the building’s original owners and customers would instantly recognize. The building is now thoroughly associated with Pagliai’s Pizza, which has been located here since 1969, and yet the entire complex has been remarkably preserved so that its modern uses do not overwhelm the building’s character-defining features or its historic association with the Northside Neighborhood of Iowa City. Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 3 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building is locally significant and individually eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places under Criteria A and C. Under Criterion A, the building is a landmark associated with both the ethnic and commercial history of Iowa City’s northside neighborhood. Begun by Joseph Slezak in 1875 and completed in the 1880s, the complex of brick Italianate style commercial buildings at the corner of E. Bloomington and N. Linn streets was a one-stop shopping, dining, lodging, entertainment, and cultural center for the ever-growing Bohemian- American community in Iowa City and northern Johnson County. Even the curved Baroque pediment recalled the Central European architecture that would have been familiar to Slezak and his fellow immigrants. His second-floor hall, known as Narodni Sin, or National Hall, was home to Iowa City’s many Bohemian fraternal and community organizations that used the hall for their meetings, and housed a comprehensive cultural library. The hall also included a dance floor, a stage, and balcony, and was the venue for numerous dances, parties, sporting events, and staged entertainments over its four decades of existence. Slezak himself operated his commercial and cultural complex (hotel, hall, saloon, and grocery/dry goods store) for 25 years, specifically serving Solon, Swisher, Shueyville, and rural Johnson County farmers, who came to town for market day or to visit the nearby hospitals. By 1900, just before Joseph Slezak turned over the businesses of the grocery, hall, and hotel to his son-in-law, Joseph F. Holub, the Slezak Block with its popular National Hall was already considered, as the Iowa City Daily Republican stated, “one of the landmarks of this city.” Holub took over the property in 1909, continuing the hall, rooming house, and grocery store into the late 1920s and early 1930s. Holub remodeled the hall and rooming house into modern apartments around 1930, essentially creating the commercial property that it remains today. The additions of the laundromat in the former stable/garage in 1958 and Pagliai’s Pizza in the former grocery store in 1969 have added more recent layers to the historical significance of this beloved 149-year-old property that has passed through five generations of the same family and continues to be a landmark in Iowa City. Under Criterion C, the Slezak/Holub Building is a remarkably well-preserved example of commercial Italianate architecture. As Molly Myers Naumann wrote in her Survey and Evaluation of the Dubuque/Linn Street Corridor in 1996: “This two story brick commercial building from 1875 (with three story addition…) is individually eligible as a fine example of Italianate commercial design. It features tall slender round arched windows on the second floor with simple brick hoodmolds, while on the first floor the windows are segmental arched with brick hoods. The three story addition has more elaborate cast hoodmolds. A bracketed wooden cornice surrounds both sections. Relatively few alterations have been made over the years, but these include: bricking in an entrance on the secondary (west) facade and putting in two small modern windows, bricking in a doorway on the west elevation, installation of smaller windows at the second floor level, creating a new brick foyer or vestibule entry to the rear wing, and new plate glass windows and entry door on the storefront.” Although changes to the building over the past nine decades “sound extensive,” according to Naumann, the building’s overall integrity remains very high. Moreover, each of its remodels (c.1930, 1936, 1958, and 1969) are now over 50 years of age and thus part of the historic fabric. These changes are unobtrusive and do not diminish the building’s overall architectural integrity or its original character-defining features, which include the unique curved Baroque pediment, the complementary pediment on the former stable/laundromat, arched fenestration, hood molds, and bracketed cornices. The entire building complex remains individually eligible for the National Register and would be a contributing resource, as Naumann wrote in 1996, “in any historic district that includes Linn Street.” The preliminary period of significance for the Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building is 1875 to at least 1969, from the year the main building was completed and put into service to the year the store unit remodel was completed and Pagliai’s “Pizza Palace” opened for business. History of the Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building, 1875-1975 By 1850, new residents to Iowa City included many immigrants from Bohemia (the area of Central Europe known today as the Czech Republic). They mainly settled in Cedar Rapids and Linn County, Johnson County north of Iowa City, and in the eastern part of Iowa City’s Northside neighborhood, which came to be known as Goosetown Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 4 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City (Naumann 1996;E-6). “Arriving in Linn County, Iowa, around 1855, Johann (John/Jan) and Anna Sichrova Slezak came from Přívrat, Bohemia, a village in the Ústí Nad Orlicí District in the Pardubice Region of today’s Czech Republic” (Boller 2023). By 1870, the Slezaks were living in Monroe Township in Johnson County and in 1872 – fours year before his death – Johann (John) Slezak purchased Lots 5 & 6 in Block 57 of the Original Plat of Iowa City. This property, located at the corner of N. Linn and E. Bloomington streets, had been home to the State “Blind Asylum,” which was in 1872 “an old stone building” built in 1853 that had been sitting unused since that institution was moved to Vinton in 1862. In March 1874, the Slezaks deeded the property to their oldest son Joseph (“Joe”) (1847-1912) (Iowa Anti Monopolist, March 27, 1874). Two months later, Joe Slezak had moved into the “old Blind Asylum” and opened a grocery store and National Hall, or “Narodni Sin” in Czech (Iowa State Press, May 19, 1875; History of Johnson County Iowa 1883;75-76). The complete Slezak building complex as shown on the 1888 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map of Iowa City. Source: Library of Congress website When the old Blind Asylum was badly damaged by fire a year later in May 1875, Joe Slezak tore it down and began construction of his own building to house his grocery and National Hall. The result was an Italianate style two-story brick block with an unusual Baroque pediment (Iowa Anti Monopolist, May 1, 1874; Iowa State Press, May 19, 1875). When it opened in November 1875, the main building featured two store units, a dining room, and saloon on the main floor, while the second floor served as a large meeting and dance hall and likely hotel rooms in the rear. Upstairs, the National Hall, or Narodni Sin, included a dance floor, a stage, and balcony, and would be the venue for numerous meetings, dances, parties, sporting events, and staged entertainments over the next four decades. Slezak’s Hotel, or “Farmer’s Home,” was officially opened on November 1, 1875, and his National Hall (or “Narodni Sin”) was opened on November 15, 1875. Slezak advertised both grand openings in the local Bohemian language newspaper, Slovan Americky (Slovan Americky, October 28, 1875; Boller 2023; Jacobsen [1981]:12). Slezak sought especially to cater to farmers living in rural Johnson County, who regularly traveled by horse and wagon into Iowa City on market days to trade their farm products and purchase goods on Iowa Avenue, the city’s main marketplace and just blocks from Slezak Hall. Because these trips to town often included an overnight stay, entrepreneurs like Joe Slezak “opened ‘farmers hotels,’ offering inexpensive overnight boarding that also included a hearty meal and a stable where farmers could safely park their horses & wagons” (Boller 2023). After the grand openings, Iowa City’s other newspapers praised Slezak and his new brick block: The “National,” the new Bohemian hotel built on the site formerly occupied by the old Blind Asylum, was completed last week. The splendid hall on the second story was dedicated on Monday night by a grand ball, participated in by over 400 persons. The structure cost $8,000, and is the property of [Joseph] Slezack [sic] (Iowa City Republican, November 17, 1875). Mr. Slezack [sic] has built, on the site of the old Blind Asylum, a most creditable brick structure, in which is the finest and best proportioned public hall in town. This new building will be the home of the Ochotnik and other Bohemian societies and there will be their library, one of the largest selections of Sclavic [sic] literature in the United States (Iowa City Daily Press, November 29, 1875). Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 5 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City Slezak opened his grocery/general store and saloon at the same time, but no advertisements have been found yet announcing those features. The first advertisements for Josef “Joe” Slezak’s new building appeared in the local Bohemian language newspaper, Slovan Americky. On the left, Slezak gives details of the grand opening of his new “Farmers’ Home” with dining room and stables on November 1, 1875, and on the right of the grand opening of The National Hall (Narodni Sin) with a dance ball on November 15, 1875. The “Farmer’s Home” was located in the original building, and the stables were nearby. The extant brick hotel, carriage house, and stables were complete by 1888. Source: Slovan Americky, October 28, 1875 Slezak added more buildings until the entire Slezak complex was complete by 1888 (see 1888 Sanborn Map). To his main brick block on the northeast corner of N. Linn and E. Bloomington streets, he added a three-story brick Italianate style hotel addition (38 by 42 feet) on the north side with entrance on N. Linn Street; an adjoining hotel addition (22 by 72 feet) to the north and extending east that originally housed a carriage house, laundry, and sleeping rooms; and a large barn with stables (34 by 80 feet) adjoined to the east end of the carriage house and extending and facing south. Altogether, the buildings formed an L-shape. Slezak intended his corner building complex to be a one-stop shopping, dining, lodging, entertainment, and cultural center for the Bohemian-American community in Iowa City and Johnson County environs. Even the building’s curved Baroque pediment recalled the Central European architecture that would have been familiar to Slezak and his fellow immigrants. From 1875 to the 1910s, “Slezak’s National Hotel and Hall” was home to the following Bohemian fraternal and community organizations using the hall for their meetings: Trasti (c. 1892), Zastit (1901- 15), Slovanska Lipa (1892), Forum Palacky (1904-9), and Iowa City Lodge #180 of ZCBJ (1914)” (Boller 2023; Jacobsen 1981). Slezak operated his commercial and cultural complex (hotel, restaurant, hall, saloon, and grocery/dry goods) for 25 years, specifically serving Solon, Swisher, and Shueyville and northern Johnson County farmers, many of them Bohemian immigrants, who came to town for market day or to visit the nearby hospitals and needed overnight accommodations (Jacobsen 1981; Boller 2023). In 1886, a notice in the Iowa State Press told readers Joe Slezak had turned over operation of the grocery/dry goods store “to his former clerk, Joseph F. Holub, who will continue the business at the old stand, National Hall building.” Eva Slezak, Joe’s wife, continued to be in charge of “the boarding house as heretofore,” while Slezak continued as proprietor of the National Hall. Holub (1867-1934) eventually married the Slezaks’ daughter, Anna (1872-1963), in 1892 and apparently left the Slezak store to work elsewhere until 1901 (Iowa State Press, September 29, 1886; Boller 2023). City directories show the grocery was run by Joe’s son, Frank Slezak, in 1899, and again by Joe Slezak in 1901. A saloon operated by Joseph Slezak was listed in 1878, by Frank Slezak in 1899, and again by Joseph Slezak in 1901 (Jacobsen 1981). Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 6 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City By 1892, Joseph Slezak was praised by the Iowa City Weekly Republican as “Prominent among the Bohemians,” “a natural leader among men,” and “a man of indomitable energy.” Commencing in a small way he has built up in Iowa City an extensive property occupying the site of the old blind asylum, his National Hall, a place of public meetings and social gatherings. Beneath it are two commodious store rooms devoted to groceries, dry goods and general merchandise. In the same building he conducts a well appointed hotel. Mr. Slezak has in every way deserved his success (Iowa City Weekly Republican, December 20th, 1892). In 1901, Joseph F. Holub took over the grocery store, and “all the other business ventures centered in the Slezak block:” Joseph Holub . . . will succeed his father-in-law, Joseph Slezak, as proprietor of the National hall, the Farmers’ home, the grocery store and all the other business ventures centered in the Slezak block. Mr. Slezak, as a hard-working, popular pioneer, has built up a great business there, and his son-in- law certainly starts an independent commercial career with a fine outlook for prosperity and fortune. As to Mr. Holub himself, everybody knows him. His connection with Gramling’s, Denecke & Yetter’s and Yetter’s has made him acquainted with thousands of householders in Johnson county [sic]. He is a diligent, courteous and always good natured salesman, and as “his own boss” will doubtless do exceedingly well (Daily Iowa State Press, September 25, 1901). In 1909, Slezak sold the entire property to Holub: An important transfer of property has taken place through the purchase from J.J. Slezak of the property owned by the former at the corner of Linn and Bloomington streets. Mr. Holub has for some time been in active charge of the business conducted there, and is therefore familiar with the proposition which he has undertaken. The building on the site is one of the land marks [sic] of Iowa City and well built many years ago. It was a structure of fine construction and is therefore well preserved. The upper story is devoted to Dancehall and hotel purposes while on the ground floor are the grocery and saloon and the restaurant. No announcement of the consideration is made but the property is one generally valued at about $40,000. Mr. Holub will have the wish of his many friends for success in his continued business activities in his own property (Iowa City Press-Citizen, September 6, 1909). In 1919, Joseph Holub brought his son, William, into the business with him, styling themselves Holub and Son until 1933, when the name changed to Holub’s Grocery (Iowa City Press-Citizen, February 24, 1933; Iowa City Press- Citizen, March 31, 1934; Iowa City Press-Citizen, May 16, 1935). Joseph Holub also continued the National Hall, which became known as Holub’s Hall, until c.1926-1928, when he embarked on his long-held plans to remodel the hall and rooming house into modern apartments (Iowa City Press-Citizen, November 26, 1924). Eventually the carriage house would be remodeled into apartments, as well. He had already converted the barn and stables into a heated garage by 1920 (see 1920 Sanborn map). In 1953, the former stable/garage became the home of the Iowa City Home Linen Service (Iowa City Press-Citizen, July 23, 1953). In 1958, the building was remodeled into a coin-operated laundromat that continues today (Iowa City Press-Citizen, September 3 and 4, 1958). In 1936, I.C. Nichols and his Self Serve Grocery replaced Holub’s Grocery (Iowa City Press-Citizen, April 16, 1938). In 1938, William J. Holub (1892-1975), the third generation property owner, remodeled the storefront, likely creating the single central recessed entrance that is mostly extant (Iowa City Press-Citizen, February 25, 1938). The same year, Nichols remodeled the grocery store interior (Iowa City Press-Citizen, February 25, 1938). In 1953, Raymond Tweedy purchased the business and opened Tweedy’s Self Serve Grocery Store (Iowa City Press Citizen, December 30, 1953). In 1960, Val and Marilyn (Holub) Skarda, the fourth generation of the Slezak/Holub family took over. The couple moved into William Holub’s former home in the building, and Val Skarda became, as his obituary in 2019 stated, “the patriarch of the Holub Apartments, an Iowa City landmark” (Iowa City Press-Citizen, June 6, 1960; Iowa City Press-Citizen, May 15, 2019). Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 7 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City Tweedy’s went out of business in 1968 (Iowa City Press-Citizen, November 29, 1969). One year later, Val Skarda remodeled the store unit into a “pizza house,” and Armond Pagliai moved his Pizza Palace from 127 S. Clinton Street to 302 E. Bloomington. Around 1975, the name changed to Pagliai’s Pizza, and it has been located there ever since. This advertisement shows, by 1981, Pagliai’s Pizza had become the familiar face of the Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building. Today, it is part of its historic significance. Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen, December 5, 1981 Already considered a landmark by 1900, the history of the Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building was periodically the subject of the recurring feature, “A Fact A Day About Iowa City” in the Press-Citizen. Its “Narodni Sin” was an especially popular topic, used as a way to talk about Iowa City’s Bohemian cultural past or the “old Blind Asylum,” or to reminisce generally about Iowa City’s Northside neighborhood and the “good old days.” During his first year writing for the Press-Citizen, Iowa City historian Irving Weber made Slezak Hall a focus of his recurring series, “How’s Your Building IQ,” in which he implored his readers to “Look Up!” at the upper stories of the city’s historic buildings. The popular history of the building appeared again in Weber’s book, Historical Stories About Iowa City – Volume 1 (1976). Weber revisited the subject again in 1981 and in 1990 to discuss historic metal roofs (Iowa City Press-Citizen, March 15, 1973; Iowa City Press-Citizen, April 18, 1981; Iowa City Press-Citizen, October 20, 1990). These remembrances of the building’s history have bolstered its significance as a beloved Iowa City landmark. The additions of the Holub apartments in the former National Hall in c.1930, the laundromat in the former stables/garage in 1958, and Pagliai’s Pizza (an the Iowa City institution) in the former grocery store in 1969 have added more recent layers to the historical significance of this 149-year-old property. The building has passed through the ownership of five generations of the same family and continues to be individually eligible for the National Register and a landmark in the Northside Neighborhood of Iowa City. MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES Ad for Basket Ball and Dance, Iowa City Press-Citizen, January 20, 1925. Ad for Home Linen Service, Iowa City Press-Citizen, July 23, 1953. Ad for Holub’s Grocery, Iowa City Press-Citizen, May 16, 1935. Ad for Iowa City Home Linen Service, Iowa City Press-Citizen, July 23, 1953. Ad for Going out of business sale for Tweedy’s Self Serve Grocery, Iowa City Press Citizen, November 29, 1968. Ad for New Location-Store No. 2 Self Serve Stores, Iowa City Press-Citizen, April 16, 1936. Ad for Newly Remodeled Self Serve Store, Iowa City Press-Citizen, March 31, 1938. Ad for Pagliai’s Pizza, Iowa City Press-Citizen, December 5, 1981. “A Fact A Day About Iowa City: ‘Narodni Sin,’” Iowa City Press-Citizen, September 24, 1947. Alexander, Robert. 302 & 316 East Bloomington & 308-314 N. Linn.” Historic American Building Survey Inventory, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., January 20, 1970. On file at State Historic Preservation Office, Des Moines, Iowa. Aurner, Clarence Ray. Leading Events in Johnson County Iowa History. Vol. 2. Cedar Rapids, IA: Western Historical Press, 1913. Baxter, Elaine. Northside Neighborhood Preservation Study: Historic Structures Inventory. Report prepared by the Department of Community Development, City of Iowa City, and Institute of Urban & Regional Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, 1977. “Big Property Was Sold, Jos. Holub Buys Slezak Hall, Also Gets the Hotel, Grocery and Saloon Business,” Iowa City Press-Citizen, September 6, 1909. Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 8 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City Boller, Marty. “Saving Iowa City’s Slezak National Hall,” Our Iowa Heritage, 2023. Accessed at https://ouriowaheritage.com/slezak-national-hall/ - 12/2023. “City Issues 33 Permits for Building,” Iowa City Press-Citizen, July 10, 1969. “Fire Causes Much Damage,” Iowa City Press-Citizen, February 9, 1940. “Give Surprise Party for William Holubs,” Iowa City Press-Citizen, June 6, 1960. Grand opening ads for Self Serve Laundromat, Iowa City Press-Citizen, September 3 and 4, 1958. Help-Wanted Ad for Pizza Palace, Iowa City Press-Citizen, August 21, 1969. History of Johnson County, Iowa. Iowa City, IA: [?], 1883. Iowa City Daily Press, January 18, 1876. Iowa City Daily Press, November 29, 1875. Iowa City Daily Republican, December 4th, 1900. Iowa City Republican, November 17, 1875. Jacobson, James E. North Side Neighborhood Preservation Study. Prepared for Division of Historic Preservation, Iowa City, Iowa, [1981?]. “Joe Holub Climbs,” Daily Iowa State Press, September 25, 1901. “National Hall (Slezak Hall),” Iowa Site Inventory Form No. 52-00602. On file at State Historic Preservation Office, Des Moines, Iowa. Naumann, Molly Myers, and Brian Schultes. Survey and Evaluation of the Dubuque/Linn Corridor, Iowa City, Iowa. Prepared for the City of Iowa City, the Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission, and the Iowa City Planning and Community Development Department, Iowa City, Iowa, 1996. Naumann, Molly Myers. Architectural & Historical Resources of the Dubuque/Linn Street Corridor, Iowa City, Iowa, 1839-c.1940. Multiple Property Document, National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C., 1996. “New Store Front to Be Erected by Holub,” Iowa City Press-Citizen, February 25, 1938. “Placemat Features Historic Homes, Businesses Here,” Iowa City Press-Citizen, December 23, 1971. “Planning New Apartments,” Iowa City Press-Citizen, November 26, 1924. “Raymond Tweedy Buys Self Serve Grocery from Ralph Westcott, Iowa City Press Citizen, December 30, 1953. Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps of Iowa City, Iowa, 1883, 1888, 1892, 1899, 1906, 1920, 1926. Obtained from Library of Congress website at https://www.loc.gov/collections/sanborn- maps/?q=Iowa+City,+Johnson+County – 12/2023. Weber, Irving E., “How’s Your Building IQ,” Iowa City Press-Citizen, March 15, 1973. _____________, “’Narodni Sin’ Remembered,” Iowa City Press-Citizen, April 18, 1981. _____________, “To Top It Off: Metal Roofs,” Iowa City Press-Citizen, October 20, 1990. Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 9 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION Latitude: 41.664918 Longitude: -91.531348 Location of Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building in Iowa City Base Map: Johnson County GIS/2023 Imagery Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 10 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City Site Plan Base Map: Johnson County GIS/2023 Imagery Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 11 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City Location of Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building (star) abutting the south boundary of the locally designated Northside Historic District Source: Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission website, 2023 Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 12 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City CURRENT PHOTOGRAPHS (Photos by Price Preservation Research, December 12, 2023) General view looking northwest Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 13 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City General view looking northeast Façade, looking north Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 14 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City Looking east-northeast Looking east at Holub Apartments Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 15 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City Looking southeast Looking north-northwest Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 16 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City HISTORICAL DOCUMENTATION Praise fo the grand opening of Slezak’s “new Bohemian hotel” and “splendid hall,” 1875 Sources: (left) Iowa City Republican, November 17, 1875; (right) Iowa City Daily Press, November 29, 1875 Ads for Joseph Slezak’s National Hall with “One flight of Stairs, large Audience Room, ample Stage and Scenery,” and Slezak’s “Farmer’s Home,” 1876, offering “good stabling” and “good boarding and lodging.” Sources: (left) Iowa State Press, March 2, 1876 and (right) Iowa City Daily Press, April 12, 1876 Bohemian theatrical entertainment at Slezak’s new hall, “for the benefit of the Herzegovinian rebels,” 1876. Source: Iowa City Daily Press, January 18, 1876 Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 17 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City The Slezak property as shown on the 1892 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map of Iowa City. Note the saloon is gone, replaced by a new dining room and parlor. Source: Library of Congress website Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 18 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City The Slezak property as shown on the 1899 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map of Iowa City. Carriage house and livery are still in use. Note the two dining rooms and saloon in the east store unit. Source: Library of Congress website ’ Joe Slezak was thinking of selling the Slezak Hall property in 1900, but instead he put his son-in-law Joseph Holub in charge of the businesses the following year. Note the Slezak building is referred to as “one of the landmarks of this city.” Source: Iowa City Daily Republican, December 4th, 1900 Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 19 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City The Slezak/Holub property as shown on the 1906 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map of Iowa City. Joseph Holub had been proprietor since 1901. Source: Library of Congress website Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 20 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City In 1901, Joseph Holub, son-in-law to Joe Slezak, took over the proprietorship of all the businesses located in the Slezak Block. In 1909, he purchased the property from father-in-law, which at the time was generally valued at $40,000 and still considered “one of the land marks of Iowa City.” Sources: (left) Daily Iowa State Press, September 25, 1901; (right) Iowa City Press-Citizen, September 6, 1909 Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 21 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City Looking northeast at Slezak/Holub Building, 1913, with signage on the pediment reading: J.F. Holub / Narodni Sin / National Hall. Holub had purchased the property in 1909. J.F. Holub Grocery was in the storefront and the Holub Hotel was at the rear. The popular National Hall (or Narodni Sin) was above the grocery store, and came to be known as Holub’s Hall. Source: Aurner 1913:690 Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 22 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City The Slezak/Holub property as shown on the 1920 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map of Iowa City. Note the livery stable has been enclosed and remodeled into a heated 12-car garage, but the carriage house remains, reflecting the transition from horse-drawn to motor transportation just after of World War I. Source: Library of Congress website Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 23 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City Holub and Son Grocery, The National Hall, and Rooming House, looking northeast, 1920s. Note the original double storefront configuration and the tall upper-story 4/4 double-hung sash round-arch windows. Source: Kent Photograph Collection, V3-45, State Historical Society of Iowa, Iowa City Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 24 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City 302 Bloomington Street as shown on the 1926 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map of Iowa City. Note the hotel is now a “rooming house,” soon to be apartments, and the carriage house (marked D for “dwelling”) has been remodeled into an extension of the rooming house. Source: Library of Congress website Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 25 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City In 1924, Joseph Holub made public his plans to convert the old National Hall and rooming house into modern apartments. The plans were realized before 1930. Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen, November 26, 1924 Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 26 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City One of the last events that took place in Holub’s Hall was a basketball game and dance between Williamsburg and the Iowa National Guard in January 1925. Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen, January 20, 1925 One of the last ads for Holub’s Grocery, 1935. Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen, May 16, 1935 Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 27 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City In 1936, after Holub’s Grocery closed for good, the Self Serve Grocery, owned by I.C. Nichols, opened a second store location at 302 E. Bloomington Street. Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen, April 16, 1936 In 1938, William Holub, son of Joseph Holub and third-generation owner of the building, remodeled the storefront. This remodel is likely the extant storefront today, complete with tiled bulkheads, central recessed tiled entry, and wood and glass entry door with sidelights and transom. Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen, February 25, 1938 Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 28 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City In 1938, Self Serve Stores completed an interior remodel of their No. 2 store at 302 East Bloomington Street. Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen, March 31, 1938 This story about a fire in the Holub Apartments reveals a linoleum store located in the building at 304 N. Linn Street. This was probably located in the space behind the grocery store originally occupied by the saloon and dining room. Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen, February 9, 1940 Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 29 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City A history of Joseph Slezak and his famous hall was the subject of the popular column “A Fact A Day About Iowa City” in the Press-Citizen in 1947. Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen, September 24, 1947 Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 30 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City Raymond Tweedy purchased the Self Serve Grocery in 1953, styling the business Tweedy’s Self Serve Grocery. He operated it until he went out of business in 1968. Sources: (left) Iowa City Press Citizen, December 30, 1953 and (right) Iowa City Press Citizen, November 29, 1968 Ad for the Iowa City Home Linen Service in the remodeled former horse stable/auto garage at 316 Bloomington Street, 1953. Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen, July 23, 1953 Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 31 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City Grand opening ads for “Iowa City’s First Coin-Operated Self Serve Laundromat,” 316 East Bloomington, 1958. The claim of being “the first” may or may not be true. Sources: (above) Iowa City Press-Citizen, September 3, 1958; (below) Iowa City Press-Citizen, September 4, 1958 Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 32 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City In July 1969, Val Skarda, fourth-generation owner, received a permit to remodel the grocery store at 302 East Bloomington Street into a “pizza house,” at a cost of $10,000. Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen, July 10, 1969 One of the first help-wanted ads for the new “Pizza Palace” location, 302 E. Bloomington, 1969. Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen, August 21, 1969 Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 33 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City Illustration of Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building right after the 1969 store remodel was completed and Pizza Palace moved in, and before the restaurant changed its name to Pagliai’s Pizza around 1975. By 1973, the signboard covering up the store transom lights was installed. The black tiled bulkheads and the central recessed entry with wood entrance doors and tiled entry, likely from the 1938 storefront remodel, are extant, but an outer glass entry door with sidelights and transom was added by 1981, creating an entry vestibule. Note also the N. Linn Street side entrance doors (probably providing entry to the original saloon, dining room) were still there; these have since been bricked in and converted to two small windows. Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen, December 23, 1971 Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 34 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City In 1973, not long after the Pizza Palace (later Pagliai’s Pizza) opened at 302 E. Bloomington Street, Iowa City historian Irving Weber called attention to the history of the Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building during his first year as a columnist for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Note the Pizza Palace sign affixed to the upper story façade before the familiar “Pagliai’s Pizza” sign replaced it. Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen, March 15, 1973 Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 35 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City View looking north at the former carriage house – part of Holub Apartments – taken in 1981 during the Northside Neighborhood survey. Source: Jacobsen 1981 View of the Bloomington Street Laundromat, taken in 1981 during the Northside Neighborhood survey. Source: Jacobsen 1981 Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 36 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City View of the now familiar Pagliai’s Pizza in the Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building, 1981, from an Irving Weber column. Note the signboard and neon lettering and extant original bracketed cornice covering the store transom, as well as the exterior glass entry door and sidelights. The Bloomington Street Laundromat is visible in the background at lower right, looking very much as it does today. Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen, April 18, 1981 Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 37 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City Slezak Hall and the Narodni Sin was a beloved piece of Iowa City history that Irving Weber returned to in 1981 and again in 1990. Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen, April 18, 1981 Iowa Site Inventory Form Site Number: 52-00602 State Historic Preservation Office Related District Number: Continuation Sheet Page 38 Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building Johnson Name of Property County 302-316 E. Bloomington and N. Linn Sts Iowa City Address City The Slezak-Holub-Skarda Building had been the location of Pagliai’s Pizza for 20 years when this photo was taken for Irving Weber’s story about Iowa City’s historic metal roofs. Photo by Rodney White for Irving Weber’s column, October 20, 1990. Source: Weber Collection, Iowa City Photograph Collection, State Historical Society of Iowa, Iowa City 1 Jessica Bristow From:Marty Boller <mjbhawkeye@gmail.com> Sent:Saturday, October 14, 2023 1:18 PM To:Jessica Bristow; Marty Boller Subject:followup on Slezak Hall recommendations Follow Up Flag:Follow up Flag Status:Flagged ** This email originated outside of the City of Iowa City email system. Please take extra care opening any links or  attachments. **   FYI ‐ I wanted to share my webpage in support of the committee's decision to recommend "Landmark" status.  THANKS!    https://ouriowaheritage.com/slezak‐national‐hall/    please keep me posted on how the process is moving forward. THANKS!  mb    ‐‐   Marty Boller ‐ MJBHawkeye  Check out our websites:   www.ouriowaheritage.com/  www.johnsoncountyremembrancepark.org/      1 Jessica Bristow From:Marybeth Slonneger <mbslonn@mchsi.com> Sent:Monday, October 16, 2023 9:38 AM To:Jessica Bristow Subject:National Hall ** This email originated outside of the City of Iowa City email system. Please take extra care opening any links or  attachments. **  I’m writing in support of designating the National Hall as a local Landmark. It’s distinctive baroque‐style parapet has  made it a familiar, eye‐catching building on the Northside.     Years ago, when I was researching material for my book, Small But Ours, I talked with the late Marge Hayek, wife  of William Hayek, and she showed me dance souvenirs from dances held at the Hall and spoke of the pleasure  people took in meeting there for dances and other events. It was a genuine social meeting place for the Bohemian   community.    And it’s just fun to look at and a very contributing building to our visual landscape.    Marybeth Slonneger    Staff Report January 30, 2024 Historic Review for HPC23-0083: 709 Oakland Avenue General Information: Owner: Brad Strand Applicant/Contact Person: Michael Nolan, Horizon Architecture District: Longfellow Historic District Classification: Contributing Project Scope: Remove the existing front stoop and step and install a new, larger step and stoop measuring 7 ft by 10 ½ ft Applicable Regulations and Guidelines: 4.0 Iowa City Historic Preservation Guidelines for Alterations 4.1 Balustrades and Handrails 4.10 Porches 5.0 Guidelines for Additions 5.2 Decks and Ramps Property History: This single-story gable roof house with clipped gable ends (jerkin-head) may be a catalogue bungalow design. The entrance is centered on the side gable, with a small eyebrow arch above and heavy brackets with pendant drops. The windows are 10-over- 1 double-hung sash. The siding likely has a flared detail at the base of the wall instead of a watertable. There is a chimney on the north side that has been parge-coated. The house originally had a concrete and brick stoop that was removed and replaced with a wood stoop and step in the 1970s. This front stoop was rebuilt again in 1987. Aluminum siding was added to the house in 1978 and a rear dormer was added around 1980. Detailed Project Description: This project removes the existing, deteriorated wood stoop and step and replaces it with a larger stoop for the owner to have place to sit outside. The stoop will be 10 ½ feet wide (N/S direction) and project from the house 7 feet (E/W direction). The applicant proposes to use a synthetic wood grain decking for the floor, a synthetic wood grain balustrade and stair railing that would be painted, and a synthetic wood grain skirting. The balustrade is located in front of the window trim but will not be attached to it. Guidelines: Section 4.1 Balustrades and Handrails recommends: • Installing square spindles that are 1 ½ inches or greater in width. • Installing top and foot rails that are at least 2 inches in thickness • Sloping top and foot rails slightly to allow water to be shed from these surfaces and help prevent deterioration of these members. Section 4.10 Porches recommends: • Repairing historic porches and conserving as much of the historic material as possible. • Replacing badly deteriorated components with new ones that match the historic components in design and material. Custom fabrication of columns, brackets, pedestals, and moldings may be necessary, but many porch components can be ordered through lumber yards. • Using vertical-grained fir porch flooring for its resistance to weathering. • Constructing or replacing missing balustrades and handrails using historic photographs or in a style that is consistent with both the building and neighborhood (See section 4.1 Balustrades and Handrails for more details). • Using wood steps for a wood porch and tile, brick, or concrete steps for a masonry porch. • Leaving exposed the support piers below the porch columns. Skirting must be added to fill the space below the porch floor and grade if this space is 18 inches or greater. The skirt must be located between the porch piers. • Constructing porch skirting using a 3 to 6-inch wood frame with slats fastened to the back of the frame in a vertical or lattice pattern. Section 4.14 Wood recommends: • Substituting a material in place of wood only if the substitute material retains the appear and function of the original wood. The substitute material must be durable accept paint, and be approve by the Commission. • For many applications, fiber cement board is an approved substitute for wood provided the fiber cement board is smooth faced with no simulated wood grain. • Polyethylene/sawdust composite materials such as Trex, are appropriate on a case-by-case basis. • It is disallowed to substitute material in place of wood that does not retain the appearance, function, and paintability of the original wood. Section 5.2 Decks and Ramps recommends: • Locating a new deck on the back of a primary building, opposite the street-facing facade and set in from the side walls at least 8 inches. • Designing decks so that the size, scale and location do not detract from the character of the district’s rear yards, if significant to the district. • Attaching decks to the building in a manner that will not damage a historic exterior wall or, other historic materials, or cause wood siding to deteriorate. The Commission has approved a Stoop and Step project as a staff review if it meets the following conditions: • The building does not have a traditional covered porch at the entrance where the stoop is planned • The landing will be restricted to approximately 5 feet wide by 5 feet deep and will be positioned roughly level with the entry door, not a step down from the door • The railing will follow the guidelines for balusters and handrails, including the use of posts • The steps will have closed risers and a toe kick (overhang from risers and stringer) • The stoop will be supported on piers or posts aligned with the corner posts in the railing • The space between the piers will be enclosed with porch skirting if the space is greater than 18 inches • All wood elements will be painted to blend with the house Analysis: For historic preservation purposes, a covered entry with columns or piers is a porch. An entry canopy is typically bracketed. An uncovered raised platform is a deck. A porch has a very specific relationship of parts with porch columns aligned with piers and the porch frieze board, a tongue-and-groove porch floor, and a roof that completely covers the floor with the soffit extending beyond. While the application was submitted as a porch reconstruction, the entry at this house and others like it is considered a stoop and step, not a traditional porch for historic review. The conditions developed for a staff review of a stoop and step limit the size to avoid creating a modern uncovered deck at the front of a historic house. While many stoops were historically only 3 feet by 3 feet, the conditions allow for a 5 foot by 5 foot space to allow for the larger entry more compatible for modern needs. This project is subject to Commission review because it exceeds the dimensional limitations of the staff review for a step and stoop and because the applicant proposes to use synthetic materials with a wood grain for the flooring, balustrade, skirting, and presumably the skirtboard, stringer, treads, and risers. This house has a significant bracketed entry canopy that is original to the house. Historically, the concrete and brick entry stoop would have been a similar size to the canopy which is about 10 feet wide (N/S). Staff recommends that the width of the new entry stoop aligns with the width of the entry canopy above. The proposed width is 10 ½ feet. While this may be about 6 inches wider than the canopy, staff finds this acceptable. The proposed stoop depth (E/W) is 7 feet allowing additional space for the homeowner to use the space for sitting, not just as a pass-through area. While this is 2 feet deeper than most approved stoops, staff finds that alignment with the canopy in the North/South direction will prevent the stoop from appearing as a modern uncovered deck. Staff finds the size of the stoop appropriate for the property. The Commission has approved the use of composite materials for flooring (tongue-and- groove for traditional porches and simple decking for decks and stoops) on a case-by- case basis. Composite flooring such as Trex has a fake wood-grain that has been approved in these flooring locations because Trex was not available with a smooth finish and these surfaces are less visibly intrusive than other locations. The original wood used on the exterior of historic houses is highly finished (joints and surfaces smoothed) and painted; it would not have a visible wood grain. For this reason, when the Commission approves the use of wood substitutes for trim, siding, brackets, and balustrades, it is required that the synthetic material is smooth, without a simulated wood-grain. Several companies make smooth paintable material that has been approved on a case-by-case basis such as Fypon and Azek. Generally, the use of substitute materials for balustrades and porch skirting has not been approved on past projects because they tend to look like PVC/vinyl railings (with visible joints and screws) and skirting (thin and has a fake woodgrain) unless they are on the back of the building or at a second floor. Staff recommends that the Commission does not approve a wood substitute with a visible wood-grain, other than flooring. In addition, because this is a contributing property in a historic district, staff would recommend that the project is approved with a wood balustrade, skirting, skirtboard, and risers. In addition, staff recommends that the piers under the stoop are revised to align with the balustrade posts above, and that they are exposed, not covered by the skirting as recommended by the guidelines. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends approval a Certificate of Appropriateness for the project at 709 Oakland Avenue as presented in the application with the following conditions:  Any composite material other than the floor has a smooth finish  The balustrade, skirting, skirtboard, and risers are constructed of wood  The outer piers are revised to align with the balustrade posts above and are exposed 709 Oakland Avenue Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission City Hall, 410 E Washington Street, Iowa City. IA. 52240 Memorandum Date: February 1, 2024 To: Historic Preservation Commission From: Jessica Bristow, Historic Preservation Planner Re: 2024 Draft Work Plan The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) requires the Historic Preservation Commission to submit a Work Plan annually as part of our Certified Local Government agreement. For the past three years an effort had been made to align the work plan with the broader goals of the City Council as outlined in the Strategic Plan. This year, the Commission indicated a preference in focusing on three main action items. The plan was updated with a focus on the goals of the Preservation Plan and these Commission Priorities. Ongoing work was updated with current status. Other items carried over from past work plans are included as long-term goals. Iowa City Historic Preserva�on Commission City Hall, 410 E Washington Street, Iowa City. IA. 52240 2024 Historic Preserva�on Work Plan Goals and Objec�ves for the Historic Preserva�on Plan (2007) The 1992 Historic Preserva�on Plan for the City adopted goals and objec�ves to guide the work of the Commission. The 2007 Plan update con�nued with the 10 original goals, though refocused to align with new opportuni�es and to acknowledge completed goals. The Historic Preserva�on Commission annually updates its work plan. The plan for 2024 iden�fies priori�es in rela�onship to Preserva�on Plan goals. Goal 1: Iden�fy historic resources significant to Iowa City's past. Goal 2: Con�nue municipal policy of protec�on of historic resources and implement this policy through effec�ve and efficient legisla�on and regulatory measures. Goal 3: Establish economic incen�ves to encourage the preserva�on of historic buildings and neighborhoods. Goal 4: Provide the technical assistance necessary to preserve and improve historic proper�es. Goal 5: Heighten public awareness of historic preserva�on in the community and improve preserva�on educa�on efforts for various audiences. Goal 6: Maintain and strengthen preserva�on partnerships between municipal government, state government, and federal agencies. Goal 7: Establish and implement historic preserva�on objec�ves for the University of Iowa campus and surrounding neighborhoods. Goal 8: Establish and support heritage tourism efforts appropriate to Iowa City's historic resources and community needs. Goal 9: Conduct regular review and evalua�on of historic preserva�on ini�a�ves by the historic preserva�on community. Goal 10: Adopt strategies to preserve historic neighborhoods which reflect their organic development, historical roles and tradi�ons, modern needs, and economic health and stability. Commission Priori�es Oak Grove Park (Goal 1, Goal 5, Goal 10) Partner with Parks and Recreation Commission, Public Art Commission, Lucas Farms Neighborhood, and other community organizations to make Oak Grove Park a public space that honors the site’s heritage. The park, originally owned by the railroad, was home to many Mexican immigrants who lived in company-owned housing, old boxcars. Many of those immigrants moved into the surrounding neighborhood. When the City sold Elm Grove Park, near the Johnson County Administra�on Building, it bought the land where Oak Grove Park now sits. The park is currently scheduled for major renova�on in Iowa City Historic Preserva�on Commission City Hall, 410 E Washington Street, Iowa City. IA. 52240 2026 or 2027 which provides plenty of �me for us to inves�gate outside funding sources and develop a community plan that makes it a public space both for the neighborhood but also the City. While the majority of the work for this park will occur in future years, the Commission has determined that it is a priority to begin inves�ga�on and research into the history of the area now. Landmark/District Subcommitee (Goal 1, Goal 2, Goal 3, Goal 7, Goal 9, Goal 10) In 1996 the HPC designated the first local landmarks and immediately began a list of the next priori�es for designa�on. In 2015 they revisited the topic and eventually moved forward with a small group of landmarks in 2017. In 2001 the first downtown study resulted in two poten�al Na�onal Register districts. The Commission immediately began work toward a local downtown district. None of these districts moved forward. In 2016 the HPC hired a consultant to update the downtown study that has resulted in a Na�onal Register listed historic district. While a few local landmarks have been designated the area, no further local designa�on has happened. Work between the HPC and the IC Downtown District to develop incen�ves for preserva�on were not con�nued by City Council. There are other large areas of town with historic proper�es that have never been surveyed such as the Lucas Farms-Kirkwood Avenue area and the Morningside neighborhood. The Commission will form a landmark and district subcommitee to begin to address poten�al landmarks and poten�al districts. Engage with the Public and City Council (Goal 2, Goal 3, Goal 4, Goal 5, Goal 9) Recent work plans have included projects that involved the HPC working with the Downtown District and the Parks and Recrea�on Commission do develop proposals that were taken to City Council but were not picked up by Council for future work or discussion. As the HPC begins to work through landmark and district designa�ons, engaging with both the public and Council will be instrumental to the success of the work. The Commission will con�nue to foster rela�onships between organiza�ons and atend mee�ngs and other public forums where they can address historic preserva�on issues as they arise and propose solu�ons to incen�vize historic preserva�on. Ongoing work Annual Historic Preserva�on Awards (Goal 5, Goal 9) The annual awards program highlights successful preserva�on work within the community and the exper�se of contractors and consultants. As one of the Commission’s main forms of community outreach, the awards are a high priority every year and atract an audience of about 100 people. We will con�nue to partner with Johnson County Historic Preserva�on Commission. Historic Preserva�on Fund (Goal 3, Goal 4) With the implementa�on of the fund in FY 2018, the Fund has approved 28 grants or loans improving 25 proper�es. This is a popular program which has helped property owners maintain the historic character of their proper�es and has helped keep valuable material out of the landfill. Recently the annual budget was increased from $40,000 to $42,000. Iowa City Historic Preserva�on Commission City Hall, 410 E Washington Street, Iowa City. IA. 52240 Summit Street Monument (Goal 1, Goal 5, Goal 8) In 2019 the consultant, Atlas Preserva�on, completed the “Summit Street Monument Assessment and Conserva�on Op�ons Plan” that was financed in part through a Cer�fied Local Government Grant. Reloca�ng the monument inside and pu�ng a replica in its place was determined to be the best course of ac�on to preserve this important piece of Iowa City History. Staff has requested funding for the 2025 Fiscal Year to complete this funding. Finding a permanent home for the monument is one part of the process without a current solu�on. Long-Term Goals Landfill diversion through salvage and reduced demoli�on One of the fundamental principles of historic preserva�on is to preserve, reuse, and adapt rather than demolish and create waste. Our work and previous commission’s work has kept immeasurable tons out of landfills. The Commission shall con�nue to advocate that embodied energy is worth valuing and con�nue with educa�on efforts that energy efficiency, repair, and maintenance of older homes looks different than modern structures. Homes built before WWII were designed to be naturally efficient. Repair over replacement was priori�zed. Iden�fying opportuni�es to highlight Iowa City’s history as a leader in the struggle for social jus�ce, racial equity and human rights and preserve the stories and structures. Iowa City’s history is rich with the long fight for these values. We should iden�fy those stories and preserve structures that represent those efforts. Par�cularly as structures from the 1960s and 1970s become historic. Update of the College Green Historic District In 2016, the Commission approved the reloca�on of the Houser-Metzger House from 422 Iowa Avenue to 623 College Street where the contribu�ng structure had been damaged beyond repair by fire and water. In order for the relocated house to be considered contribu�ng to the Historic District, an amendment to the Na�onal Register-listed district is required as a first step. This amendment will be reviewed by the Commission following revision by staff and the District representa�ve. Update of the Iowa City Preserva�on Handbook Maps The most recent version of the handbook was updated in 2010 and does not include several recent changes and needs to be reviewed for accuracy. Since many proper�es have changed status (for example, a non-contribu�ng property has become contribu�ng because of siding removal and porch rehabilita�on) in the past ten years, the maps, which are the basis for review-type, applica�on of excep�ons, and in some cases eligibility of the Historic Preserva�on Fund, are outdated. The full Commission would review and approve updated maps. A plan was outlined with City staff but with limited staff �me this has not moved forward. Iowa City Historic Preserva�on Commission City Hall, 410 E Washington Street, Iowa City. IA. 52240 Develop a disaster preparedness guide for preserva�on. As the effects of climate change manifest themselves in more natural disasters, we need to be prepared. The 2020 derecho followed the 2008 floods and the 2006 tornado. The City earned na�onal awards for its work around the 2006 tornado by helping the community to retain and repair its historic structures. The commission and city staff should develop a playbook for when a disaster hits (because one will again). The goal would be to provide support to those dealing with a disaster, provide advice on temporary repairs and help property owners proceed through the permi�ng and historic review processes quickly for permanent repairs. Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission City Hall, 410 E Washington Street, Iowa City. IA. 52240 1 Memorandum Date: February 1, 2024 To: Historic Preservation Planner From: Jessica Bristow, Historic Preservation Planner Re: Draft Annual Report Review A draft of the annual report, due to the State Historic Preservation Office on February 29, 2024, is attached for Commission review. The attachments are not yet included. If Commissioners have corrections or information to add to the report, staff requests that the information is provided at the February 8 Commission meeting or by email to staff by Tuesday February 13, 2024 for inclusion in the report. 1/31/24, 12:25 PM Iowa Economic Development Authority - SlideRoom - Submission https://iowaartscouncil.slideroom.com/#/Submission/wizard/7225120/complete 1/13 Iowa Economic Development Authority SHPO CLG Annual Report for 2023 Jessica Bristow 410 Washington Street Iowa City, IA 52240, United States 319-356-5243 jessica-bristow@iowa-city.org * indicates a required field NOT SUBMITTED Reviewers cannot see your material until you submit your application. Once you have finished the last step, you will receive a confirmation message and ID number. Forms Edit SHPO Certified Local Government Annual Report Under the CLG Agreement with the State, local governments and their historic preservation commissions are responsible for submitting an annual report documenting the commission’s preservation work and that they have met the requirements of the CLG program. This annual report is also an important tool for your commission to evaluate its own performance and to plan for the coming year. We look forward to hearing from each CLG this year! 1/31/24, 12:25 PM Iowa Economic Development Authority - SlideRoom - Submission https://iowaartscouncil.slideroom.com/#/Submission/wizard/7225120/complete 2/13 1. I am aware the submission of this report requires a signature from my communities chief elected official. The signature form is located here: yes 2. Name of the city, county, or land use district: Please choose from the drop down list. Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission 3. Did your commission undertake any survey, evaluation, and/or registration/nomination projects? CLG Standards are in your local government's Certified Local Government (CLG) Agreement and the National Historic Preservation Act: The CLG shall maintain a system for the survey and inventory of historic and prehistoric properties in a manner consistent with and approved by the STATE. The CLG will review National Register nominations on any property that lies in the jurisdiction of its historic preservation commission. No 4. Were any National Register of Historic Places properties in your jurisdiction altered, moved, or demolished in this calendar year? Yes 4.1. Please identify the property or properties and the action (altered, moved, or demolished). 34 NRHP properties are known to have been altered in 2023, based on project approval by the Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission and/or staff. Most of these properties area located within National register Historic Districts which are also local historic districts. The list does not include repair projects that were issued a Certificate of No Material Effect, interior alterations, or work on non-contributing outbuildings. Any work that occurred in the Melrose Historic District or the Iowa City Downtown Historic District, 1/31/24, 12:25 PM Iowa Economic Development Authority - SlideRoom - Submission https://iowaartscouncil.slideroom.com/#/Submission/wizard/7225120/complete 3/13 which are not locally designated historic districts, are not included here unless they are individual local landmarks because they are not under the Commission’s purview. 10 Bella Vista Place – Brown Street Historic District (deteriorated historic garage demolition and new garage construction) 430 Brown Street – Brown Street Historic District (skytube installation) 119 East College Street – Iowa City Downtown Historic District and Local Landmark (commercial sign at second floor) 320 East College Street (Trinity Episcopal Church) – NR and Local Landmark (signage replacement) 603 East College Street – College Green Historic District (street-facing door replacement) 811 East College Street – College Green Historic District (mini-split installation) 1031 East College Street – East College Street Historic District (alteration to earlier rear addition, roof shingle replacement, front step replacement, new rear deck) 325 North Gilbert Street – Gilbert-Linn Street Historic District, locally aka Northside Historic District (roof shingle replacement) 420 North Gilbert Street – Gilbert-Linn Street Historic District, locally aka Northside Historic District 828 North Gilbert Street – Brown Street Historic District (deteriorated garage and exterior stair demolition) 737 Grant Street – Longfellow Historic District (front step replacement) 428 East Jefferson Street – Jefferson Street Historic District (stair replacement) 614 North Johnson Street – Brown Street Historic District (roof shingle replacement, radon mitigation installation, and chimney repair) 821 North Johnson Street – Brown Street Historic District (deteriorated architectural retaining wall demolition and new construction) 109 South Johnson Street – College Green Historic District (deteriorated window replacement) 420 North Linn Street – Gilbert-Linn Street Historic District, locally aka Northside Historic District (front stair and railing replacement) 514 North Linn Street - Gilbert-Linn Street Historic District, locally aka Northside Historic District (deteriorated attic window replacement) 721 North Linn Street – Brown Street Historic District (garage roof shingle replacement) 28 South Linn Street (Old Post Office) – NR and Local Landmark (full exterior rehabilitation, cleaning, repairs, and reconstruction) 1324 Muscatine Avenue – Muscatine Avenue Moffitt Cottage Historic District, locally aka Longfellow Historic District (deteriorated window replacement) 1328 Muscatine Avenue – Muscatine Avenue Moffitt Cottage Historic District, locally aka Longfellow Historic District (roof shingle replacement) 607 Oakland Avenue – Longfellow Historic District (roof replacement, shingle to metal) 738 Oakland Avenue – Longfellow Historic District (rear stoop and step construction and basement egress window and window well) 530 Ronalds Street – Brown Street Historic District (deteriorated siding replacement) 724 Ronalds Street – Brown Street Historic District (new primary building construction 1/31/24, 12:25 PM Iowa Economic Development Authority - SlideRoom - Submission https://iowaartscouncil.slideroom.com/#/Submission/wizard/7225120/complete 4/13 with lot split in half) 707 Rundell Street – Longfellow Historic District (overhead door replacement) 738 Rundell Street – Longfellow Historic District (front window alteration and deteriorated window and door replacement) 331 South Summit Street – Summit Street Historic District (rear deck addition and front porch reconstruction) 405 South Summit Street – Summit Street Historic District (roof shingle replacement) 430 South Summit Street – Summit Street Historic District (rear addition) 533 South Summit Street – Summit Street Historic District (roof and column addition for a side porch) 1011 Woodlawn Avenue – Woodlawn Avenue Historic District (repair and reconstruction following fire- work approved but not started) 1025 Woodlawn Avenue – Woodlawn Avenue Historic District (new foundation for barn and chimney repair and reconstruction) 1047 Woodlawn Avenue – Woodlawn Avenue Historic District (new rear deck and repairs to earlier addition) 5. Does your local government designate local landmarks or local districts? IMPORTANT: Most local governments do not have a program for local designation. If you have questions about whether you have a local designation program or not, please contact the CLG Coordinator at historic.preservation@iowaeda.com before you complete this section. Yes 5.1. What properties did your community place on its list of locally designated historic landmarks and/or historic districts? Please attach a copy of the final designation nomination(s) and ordinance(s) for these properties. REMINDER: Before local districts are designated by your city council, you must send the local nomination to the SHPO for review and comment. Please allow at least 45 days for review before the nomination is scheduled for city council review. The SHPO review takes place after your commission has approved the local district nomination and BEFORE it is placed on the city council's agenda. 715 North Dodge Street, the Original Emma Goldman Clinic, is located in the Brown Street Historic District and was locally landmarked because of its significance to women's history, social history, and health and medicine at the local level. 1/31/24, 12:25 PM Iowa Economic Development Authority - SlideRoom - Submission https://iowaartscouncil.slideroom.com/#/Submission/wizard/7225120/complete 5/13 6. Has your community passed ordinances that directly or indirectly impact historic preservation during this calendar year? Yes 6.1. Please provide a copy of the ordinance. Ordinance 23-4914 Adopted 11-06-2023.pdf 7. Did your city, county, LUD or its historic preservation commission undertake any of the following activities in this calendar year? Please think broadly about this question and include any activity (small or large) that facilitated historic preservation in your community. This is your opportunity to boast about your accomplishments and get credit for the great work you do! Please check all that apply! CLG Standards found in CLG Agreement and National Historic Preservation Act: 1) The CLG will enforce all appropriate state and local ordinances for designating and protecting historic properties. 2) The CLG shall provide for adequate public participation in the local historic preservation programs. a. Historic preservation planning. Examples include the development or revision of an preservation plan, development of a work plan for your commission, etc.|b. Provided technical assistance on historic preservation issues or projects. Examples include working with individual property owners, business owners, institutions to identify appropriate treatments and find appropriate materials, research advice, etc.|c. Sponsored public educational programming in historic preservation. Examples include training sessions offered to the public, walking tours, open houses, lectures, Preservation Month activities, etc. 7.1. Describe your communities historic preservation planning activities in this calendar year. For the 2023 Calendar year, the work plan was again organized to align the Commission’s goals and accomplishments with the Strategic Plan adopted by the City Council. This work plan includes both continued goals and new projects with actions more fully developed so that progress can be achieved. The current, 2024, work plan is reduced to three action items with the hope to make progress on the reduced list. 1/31/24, 12:25 PM Iowa Economic Development Authority - SlideRoom - Submission https://iowaartscouncil.slideroom.com/#/Submission/wizard/7225120/complete 6/13 Ongoing work is included with updates as appropriate. Other goals are combined in a long-term goal section. 7.2. Describe your communities assistance with preservation issues or projects in this calendar year. Please be specific (address(es) of the property(ies), what was the issue(s), what assistance was provided. Planning staff provides technical and design assistance to application for Historic Review. The applicants are encouraged to meet with staff well ahead of time in the project planning process, prior to submitting an application, to discuss their projects. In 2023 the number of inquires continued at previous high levels despite the continued lack of contractors to complete projects. In 2020 we had 248 inquiries, in 2021 a high of 274 inquiries, 246 in 2022, and in 2023 there were 241 inquires From these initial inquires, in 2023 staff received and processed 85 applications plus four from the previous years that had been on hold. Seven of these applications were eventually Voided as duplicates or unnecessary, some following initial review. The number of applications is a decrease from the all-time high of 118 for 2021 but equivalent with 2019, the last year prior to the COVID pandemic. Staff continued to implement the Preservation Fund which was launched July 1, 2017. The Preservation Fund provides funding up to $5,000 per project as a matching grant or matching no-interest loan to property owners for eligible exterior work on historic properties in Historic or Conservation Districts or on Local Landmarks. The budget was increased by $2000 for the FY2024 to $42,00 per year In the 2023 calendar year, 9 projects were approved. To date, we have approved 54 funding projects on 43 properties and have paid out $165,000 on $404,000 worth of projects. We are currently under contract to provide $33,000 in funding toward $81,000 worth of work. Staff provided assistance in early process review of an overall exterior rehabilitation project for the Old Post Office, an NR and Local Landmark that serves as our Senior Center. Later, the work was approved by the Commission. Staff and the Commission provided a preliminary review of a potential project that would not be possible due to some restrictive setback limitations in the Summit Street Historic District. This preliminary review occurred at a regular public meeting and provided the owner with valuable feedback for the potential project. 7.3. Please describe your community's public education programs in his calendar year. Please provide specific details such as date of event, description of the event, how many people participated, whether the commission partnered with other organizations. The Commission held the 39th Annual Historic Preservation Awards on September 28, 2023. During the presentation we celebrated the 40th Anniversary of both the awards and 1/31/24, 12:25 PM Iowa Economic Development Authority - SlideRoom - Submission https://iowaartscouncil.slideroom.com/#/Submission/wizard/7225120/complete 7/13 the Commission through a video produced by our local Channel 4 that interviewed current and former Commissioners and former staff. The Commission and Friends of Historic Preservation partnered with the recently landmarked Highlander Hotel to hold the event in their ball room. We honored residential and commercial projects from painting, to rehabilitation, to additions, and also presented an award honoring the work of a local preservationist. The Johnson County Commission also participated in the event and presented an award. While we did not count, we estimate there were about 100 attendees. The anniversary video is located here: https://youtu.be/SeVxP612GAQ 8. Were there any issues, challenges or successes your preservation commission encountered or accomplished this year? One of the biggest challenges the Commission has had during this calendar year is a rash of work completed without permits and the associated historic review. Typically, these projects are reported to staff by the public. Then the Commission must review the work as if it was not already complete. The owner or contractor either did not know they needed a permit and historic review for the work or they knew but proceeded without them anyway. In most cases these projects have resulted in violations and fines and in some cases, the completed work needed to be removed so that it could be redone in compliance with the guidelines and Commission approval. Several internal processes have changed this year. In order to improve timeliness of reviews, several urban planners have been learning to review projects eligible for staff review. In order to improve communication between staff and contractors/applicants, several response letters have been adopted such as letters indicating whether or not an application is complete and to provide comments on submitted applications. The letter template was adopted in lieu of sending an email to this effect. In order to attempt to reduce the number of projects completed without historic review, staff has worked toward increased communication with the building inspectors. The property at 1025 Woodlawn in our Woodlawn Avenue Historic District includes a building that may be the last remaining horse barn within the Original Town. The foundation has been deteriorating over time and the floor was broken decades ago. The property recently changed hands and the new owner is proceeding with a foundation replacement that was approved by the Commission. At the same time, the neighboring property at 1011 Woodlawn suffered a fire in late 2022. While the work to repair it has been approved, the owner has not proceeded and the status of the project is unknown. The Commission has worked through an appeal to their denial for window replacement at 804 Iowa Avenue (with their denial upheld by the board of adjustment) and several open records requests which have taken valuable time to accomplish. Some historic signage that was installed as part of a recent Civil Rights grant was vandalized. While multiple members of the public notified staff of the incident and it was reported, it is assumed to be a random act and the sign was repaired. 1/31/24, 12:25 PM Iowa Economic Development Authority - SlideRoom - Submission https://iowaartscouncil.slideroom.com/#/Submission/wizard/7225120/complete 8/13 9. What partnerships did your commission form or continue with other entities? Examples include local main street office, local school, historical society, library, museum, service club, etc. If none, enter N/A Staff worked with a student build group (through their architect and professional contractor) to review a new construction project for an infill lot in the Brown Street Historic District that will provide affordable housing through the new property owner, The Housing Fellowship. Staff helped navigate the review guidelines so that the new house could be approved by the Commission. It has been under construction this past fall. In May, the City’s Climate and Outreach Coordinator addressed the Commission with an update on the City’s Climate Action Plan. The Commission provided comments about their concerns with landfill waste, the consideration of embodied energy and some concerns with the appropriateness of some alterations to historic properties such as wall insulation installation. Iowa City’s historic City Park Pool was a subject of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. At the suggestion of several members of the public, the Commission invited the Parks and Rec Director to a meeting to discuss this element of the plan. The Commission had a goal of retaining the historic pool. While City Council approved a plan that will demolish the historic pool, the Commission has continued the dialogue with the Parks Director to encourage a new pool that is sympathetic to the historic pool. In April a City Council member attended the Commission meeting to present about Council’s strategic plan. Much of the meeting included discussion of the Commission’s work plan and how it was aligned with Council’s strategic plan. 10. Did your historic preservation commission receive any grants (other than CLG or HRDP) this year? If so, please describe. If none, enter N/A. N/A 11. Does your Historic Preservation Commission have a website? Yes 11.1. What is the website address? https://www.icgov.org/government/departments-and-divisions/neighborhood-and- development-services/development-services/historic-preservation 1/31/24, 12:25 PM Iowa Economic Development Authority - SlideRoom - Submission https://iowaartscouncil.slideroom.com/#/Submission/wizard/7225120/complete 9/13 12. Does your commission have social media accounts? Yes 12.1. Please list any accounts your Historic Preservation Commission utilizes. A Facebook Page 13. List dates of public commission meetings held (please note these are meetings actually held with a quorum, not just those that were scheduled). CLG Standards found in CLG Agreement and National Historic Preservation Act: 1) The CLG will organize and maintain a historic preservation commission, which must meet at least three (3) times per year. 2) The commission will be composed of community members with a demonstrated positive interest in historic preservation, or closely related fields, to the extent available in the community. 3) The commission will comply with Iowa Code Chapter 21 (open meetings) in its operations. 4) Commission members will participate in state-sponsored or state-approved historic preservation training activities. January 12, 2023; February 9, 2023; March 22, 2023; April 13, 2023; May 11, 2023; June 8, 2023; July 13, 2023; August 10, 2023; September 14, 2023; October 12, 2023; November 9, 2023; December 14, 2023 14. Based on the work plan submitted last year for your commission please provide a self assessment of the progress your commission made on the initiatives and programs that were identified last year. During 2023 the Commission made very little progress on their work plan. Staff moved forward with a budget request for the Summit Street Monument and some internal process changes but much of the Commission’s time was spent in reviews or preparing for the annual awards presentation. It is hoped that by reducing the work plan to specific action items that progress may be more possible during this year. 15. Where are your official CLG files located? If your commission also has digital file storage please note how those are being stored. Neighborhood Development Services Department in City Hall, Iowa City 1/31/24, 12:25 PM Iowa Economic Development Authority - SlideRoom - Submission https://iowaartscouncil.slideroom.com/#/Submission/wizard/7225120/complete 10/13 16. In this calendar year, what was the dollar amount of the historic preservation commission's annual budget? We recommend that the local government provide the commission a minimum of $750 annual budget to pay for training and other commission expense. 1230 17. Additional Budget information This is an optional question, if there is any additional information you wish to share with the State Historic Preservation Office regarding your community's budget. The Neighborhood & Development Services Department budgets $450 for the annual mailing to property owners in local historic and conservation districts. The Department also budgets $780 for training opportunities. The Historic Preservation Fund of $42,000 per year for rehabilitation projects is not part of the Commission's budget. 18. Please list the names of the Historic Preservation Commissioners who served during this calendar year. Margaret Beck, Kevin Boyd, Carl Brown, Andrew Lewis, Jordan Sellergren, Noah Stork, Deanna Thomann, Nicole Villanueva, Frank Wagner, Christina Welu-Reynolds 19. 2024 Work Plan Each Commission should develop an annual work plan. Please include the project(s), initiatives and programs your commission plans to begin or complete. 2024 Historic Preservation Work Plan.pdf 20. Commission Training Table An important requirement of the Certified Local Government program is annual state- sponsored or state-approved training undertaken by at least one member of the historic preservation commission and/or staff liaison. In this table, please provide information about the commissioners’ involvement in historic preservation training, listing the name of the conference, workshop or meeting (including online training opportunities); the sponsoring organization; the location and date when the training occurred. Be sure to provide the names of commissioners, staff, and elected officials who attended. 1/31/24, 12:25 PM Iowa Economic Development Authority - SlideRoom - Submission https://iowaartscouncil.slideroom.com/#/Submission/wizard/7225120/complete 11/13 Name of Event Sponsor Organization Location Date Name of Attendees Design Review with limited Resources NAPC Online 2/2/2023 Jessica Bristow Traditional Cultural Places NPS?online 2/9/2023 Jessica Bristow 21. Who of your commission members, staff, and/or elected officials attended the Preserve Iowa Summit? If so, please provide their names.* Please note this must be completed. If no one attended, enter none. Now is also a good time to start planning to attend the 2024 Preserve Iowa Summit in Mount Pleasant on June 6-8, 2024. If no one attended please mark N/A. Jessica Bristow, HPC staff member 22. Suggestions for improvement The CLG program is here to support the Historic Preservation Commissions across Iowa. Do you have any suggestions for how we can improve our services to your commissions? More regular communication and updates about what is going on within historic preservation. 23. What training topic would be most helpful for your Historic Preservation Commission? We will use this information to help design the CLG Roundtable at the Preserve Iowa Summit and other training opportunities throughout the year. The shortage of appropriately trained contractors is one of the greatest obstacles for preservation to overcome in our community. This is not a local-only issue. We need to develop solutions to this issue and maybe discussing as a state-wide group would help. One of the barriers to increasing the activity level of individual commissioners may be the reluctance to commit to participating in projects that take time time and resources in short supply. Working through ways to encourage involvement or dividing complex projects into discreet tasks could be helpful. 1/31/24, 12:25 PM Iowa Economic Development Authority - SlideRoom - Submission https://iowaartscouncil.slideroom.com/#/Submission/wizard/7225120/complete 12/13 24. Chief Elected Official Did your communities Chief Elected Official (Mayor, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, or President of LUD Trustees) change in 2023? No 25. Has the contact information for your communities staff liaison changed? If you have a new staff liaison please select yes. No 26. Commission Members Please include all commission members in this table. If the commissioner represents a locally designated district please provide the district in their role field. If the commissioner doesn't have an email address please enter a phone number. For any new commissioners please include the biographical sketch in the following question. 27. Please attach biographical sketches for commissioners who were newly appointed in last calendar year. Please be sure newly appointed commissioners sign and date their statement. 28. Does your commission have any vacancies? If so, how many? If you have no vacancies please enter N/A. We have three long-term vacancies for representatives of three small districts. 29. Authorized Official Signature https://iowa1- my.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/personal/allison_archambo_iowaeda_com/EbjuV6msG45MlxO31aS 7FcsBLK3ltroT4Yx3juDUNJM2_w?e=Xudmou 1/31/24, 12:25 PM Iowa Economic Development Authority - SlideRoom - Submission https://iowaartscouncil.slideroom.com/#/Submission/wizard/7225120/complete 13/13 placeholder Printed January 31, 2024 12:24 CST/CDT. Copyright © 2012 SlideRoom placeholder.pdf MEDIA Edit MINUTES PRELIMINARY HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION JANUARY 11, 2024 – 5:30 PM – FORMAL MEETING EMMA J. HARVAT HALL, CITY HALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Margaret Beck, Andrew Lewis, Jordan Sellergren , Deanna Thomann, Nicole Villanueva, Frank Wagner, Christina Welu-Reynolds MEMBERS ABSENT: Noah Stork, Carl Brown STAFF PRESENT: Jessica Bristow OTHERS PRESENT: CALL TO ORDER: Sellergren called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANYTHING NOT ON THE AGENDA: None. CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS: HPC23-0084: 430 Brown Street – Brown Street Historic District (mini-split installation): Bristow began the staff report noting this property is in the Brown Street Historic District located on the corner of Van Buren and Brown Street. It's a colonial revival type house with a full front porch, she noted it probably always had a side entry stair off the porch. In fact, for this project she found something about when the change was made for the entry, it used to be a door to the porch on the front of the house and they changed it to the side of the house, probably when it became a bed and breakfast. This project is to remove the six wall air conditioning units that exist on the house and put individual mini split condensing units on grade around the house to replace those. There's also an existing air conditioning condensing unit for the main part of the house that will remain. Bristow showed where they will be placing the three units on the one side, and then screening them. They looked at matching the porch skirting or something like that for the screening instead of making it look like a fence. There is also the existing large square condensing unit to be screened. She also noted where the piping and splits will be and that she encouraged them to screen all of them. Bristow stated regarding guidelines, the City doesn’t specifically have some for mini-split installation and therefore look at the Secretary of Interior Standards for Rehabilitation, which is about not harming the historic character of the house. Staff also look at how they review radon systems because they have similar piping and for radon the goal is to have at least the piping on the non-street facing elevation and located on the rear of the property if possible, and then painting any piping to match the structure. She also noted there was recently a house on Burlington Street, the gray gabled bungalow at the top of the hill, that was going to install a mini split as well and the location was right next to a projecting bay on the side and so while that was on the side, it was still pretty visible and also located next to the large air conditioning condensing unit and therefore it was required to have them screen both of them. Therefore, because of the locations and the screening, staff does recommend approval of this project. HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION JANUARY 11, 2024 Page 2 of 11 Welu-Reynolds asked if the piping is going to be painted the same color as the siding. Bristow confirmed the recommendation would be to paint it the same color as the siding. Sellergren asked to see what the piping looks like. Bristow stated it is enclosed in a 2” by 3” channel and painted to match the wall. The units are located on the on the wall, a little higher on the wall inside the room, and so the piping will go down the wall. The ones she has seen look a little bit like an electric baseboard heater only mounted on the wall. The piping will come out and go straight down to a condensing unit. Villanueva asked what types of repairs will be made to fill the space where the former units were. Bristow noted it will leave a hole in the wall so they will have to repair the interior wall and on the outside they'll add sheathing and the sheathing depth thickness will have to match what's there. Also instead of just putting in a square of siding, they will be required to stagger the joints which could potentially involve removing a little bit more siding to do so. Motion: Wagner moves to approve a certificate of appropriateness for the project at 430 Brown Street. Welu-Reynolds seconds. Bristow noted this case is less problematic than the one they discussed at the last meeting where the piping was on the front and went through details and arches. This one is on the side and had the house not been on the corner, this could have potentially not come to the Commission and could have been reviewed as an intermediate review between staff and chair. A vote was taken and the motion carried on a vote of 7-0. DISCUSSION OF COMMISSION ANNUAL WORK PLAN: Bristow stated it is required by the State Historic Preservation Office that the Commission submits an annual report every year and creates a work plan of things to accomplish. Last year's work plan, which was included in the agenda packet was centered on the areas of the strategic plan that had been approved by Council. Since then Council approved a new strategic plan with a graphic that is more of a strategy map and talks about the values that they're interested in and how their strategy will impact the community. Bristow shared some of the goals Council had and some of the resources Council will need to execute their strategy. The Commission Work Plan is how the Commission will set their priorities and some might be short term goals and others long term goals. The last versions were written very specifically by the previous chair and had a section on climate action, advocating that embodied energy is an important thing to consider when talking about the demolition of buildings and not wasting the energy that already exists, and creating a whole bunch of new energy to make new materials. Sellergren asked if that has been included in the City's Climate Action Plan. Bristow is unsure so maybe working closely with Climate Action Committee somehow, or maybe having a member attend their meetings might be something that the Commission wants to consider as part of the work plan. The previous plan had short-term goals to contribute to the discussion on demolition. Several of the waste management folks have these similar goals so staff is trying to figure out how they actually move forward so it is an ongoing discussion. Bristow stated there are some communities where if a property is older than 1920, it must be deconstructed, but then that also means that they have a whole system set up where they have contractors who deconstruct things, they have places where the material can be warehoused, they have a way to sell it and distribute it to the community. There are three HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION JANUARY 11, 2024 Page 3 of 11 communities specifically, Portland, a neighborhood in St. Louis, and a city in North Carolina, that all have pilot projects on that so if they wanted to look into more what they've done and made a make a proposal they could. They've also talked about how demolition permits have just a seven-day waiting period and a really small fee of $50, so from a staff point of view they haven't really found a way specifically to move forward in that area. Sellergren noted one thing that works well is social media awareness and spreading of information. Historic Preservation does not have an Instagram page, only Facebook. Bristow stated she did set it up and was running it but just doesn’t have time. Sellergren noted they could just itemize some points just so people have really clear information and maybe include resources with each graphic or something so homeowners know what the numbers are when they're dealing with demolition and what the value is of keeping materials in place or removing them. Bristow acknowledged part of this discussion is deciding what the priorities are but then also they have to decide who actually does what, and where are they going to get the information, do they hire somebody to do it and how do they get the money for that. So they can come up with goals, but then they need to figure out how to work towards them which may involve either volunteering amongst the Commission or staff time. Sellergren stated she would be happy to make graphics but wouldn't want to be the person necessarily gathering the information because that's not her forte. She also doesn’t think it would be a bad idea to start an Instagram account. Bristow stated they would have to work with communications, she started the Facebook page before communications really got involved in the City's Facebook pages but now they are added as an administrator and they won't let a Commissioner be the person who posts because it all has to go through communications. Beck noted there are really alarming statistics about what percentage of people get their news from social media so having an Instagram site would be a push to reach younger homeowners. Bristow stated another one of the long-term goals is developing a disaster preparedness guide for preservation. She mentioned this because one of the questions that came up to staff is can they relax all the rules and the answer is no, that's not actually what they would do they don't change the rules. It is just if a disaster happened, they make it easier to get it fixed faster by being prepared. Some of that involves the Commission being on the ground going up to people who just had something happen and helping usher them through the process and getting information out. She noted Iowa City won awards for their tornado response and that's part of what they did, they had more meetings more often, delegated some things to subcommittees, and that's the kind of stuff that they would do for disaster preparedness. The State Historic Preservation Office put out a before and after disasters guide as guidance for how to work with FEMA and the National Park Service and federal agencies, because they also have reviews that they have to go through and this guide is to help get through those things more quickly. Also, for the tornado the City applied for grants to help homeowners and so part of the disaster preparedness would be who to ask for grants from and when and how, they would set up all of those steps. That might just be something where a subcommittee is formed and comes together and brainstorms what is needed and then work it into some kind of a document or brochure for the Commission and staff to have. Bristow noted there was also a section in the strategic plan about social justice and staff had ongoing work to identify opportunities to highlight Iowa City's history as a leader in these issues. They haven't really moved forward with any of these things as of right now, there haven't been any opportunities necessarily on how to proceed with that unless they just start researching the history. HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION JANUARY 11, 2024 Page 4 of 11 Sellergren stated one possibility in identifying landmarks that they could pursue is the Shorts building. Possibly, if they could potentially get in touch with the owner as it's an important building with regard to black history in Iowa City from the early 1900s or maybe even late 1800s, as Short’s Shoeshine, a business owned by HP Short. Perhaps they could look into landmarking that space. Bristow stated regarding the short-term goals, there is Oak Park which once was a Mexican barrio where they lived in boxcars and then small homes. There could be a situation where they put an informative plaque similar to the Pest House at Hickory Hill. She believes right now this is something that they've moved forward as much as they can, the Parks and Rec director knows that the Commission wants to be involved in this park and ideas that have been thrown around is making sure that it's named to reflect its history instead of Oak Grove Park, which is a really just a random general name. And then also to put some kind of signage or identifying information there. Beck asked what opportunity there is to explore if there's any trace of the structures that were there or any material evidence of the people who live there. Bristow noted they rarely get into anything that's archaeological because they are usually so National Register listed properties oriented and usually the properties that they review don't end up having an archaeological component that has been investigated at all. Beck assumes there might be regulations requiring some sort of archaeological survey before doing anything more with the site. When she was in UI field school they did the Pest House excavation and mapping, so it may be interesting to people if that could also be done here to flesh out the record and the information. Bristow stated the next goal was partnership and engagement and one of the biggest things they do is the annual preservation awards. That's an ongoing thing that hopefully they can continue to revamp and keep going. Next, following the National Register designation of the Downtown District, there was an interest in a local district and the general consensus was that there would need to be guidelines for a commercial district created before they made the district. Bristow doesn't feel that that's absolutely necessary because they have a way of working through things that don't have guidelines specific to them by using the Secretary of Interior Standards. The problem with that is property owners say it's not clear how to interpret those, so there is work to be done along those lines. This came about because there was a thought that there needed to be incentives for property owners to become involved in a local district so the Iowa City Downtown District and the former Chair got together and provided some ideas for incentives to Council but Council didn't act on it or respond so Bristow is unsure what the next step for a downtown district would be. Sellergren asked if as the new Chair would the next step be her to pick up the conversation with Council or Iowa City Downtown District. Bristow agreed there is a new Council now so perhaps it’s worth looking into if the Commission decides the Downtown District is a priority, then maybe figure out next steps. Bristow believes one of the biggest priorities that the Commission should have is making sure that everybody understands that there are only a very small handful of properties downtown that are protected from demolition at any point with a seven day waiting period- seven days from now in effect. For example, the Jefferson Hotel has been owned by the University a long time but it's not protected so the owner could put in a demolition permit and then take it down seven days from now. That's the case also for the Englert Theater. The Englert Theater is listed on the National Register but the owner has never been interested in locally landmarking their property. Sellergren asked if the proposal was to offer opt-in incentives and the property owners aren't interested. Bristow explained Council wasn't interested in creating the incentives so they don't know if the owners would be interested in opting-in. The Downtown District who does work with the owners regularly felt HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION JANUARY 11, 2024 Page 5 of 11 that they were incentives that the owners would potentially be interested in. Bristow stated another question is do they want to locally designate the same boundary as the National Register boundary, most of Iowa City districts are the same, the Northside District is on the National Register as the Gilbert/Linn Street Historic District, but it has a different boundary than the local Northside District. Bristow believes that was done for political reasons so all of those are things that would have to be discussed for a Downtown District. Sellergren asked if there's low hanging fruit like looking where they have existing guidelines and to take what is available and just rewrite them as Iowa City guidelines. Would that help property owners feel like they have specifics guidelines to follow. Bristow stated in the Iowa City guidelines they list the Secretary of Interior Standards, the National Park Service does have a longer document that goes in more detail, it still leaves a whole lot open to interpretation because they have to provide information for so many different scenarios. Other communities, for instance the City of Milwaukee, has a hugely active preservation program and they are very strict with a separate book that's fully illustrated for residential and commercial. The best-case scenario is Iowa City would hire an outside consultant that would work with the Commission and staff to create guidelines, but they would always be based on other community’s guidelines, as well as the existing Iowa City guidelines, as there's no reason to reinvent the wheel. Therefore, the first step would probably be looking at other community’s guidelines and getting an idea of what might best fit with Iowa City to some degree. At some point they would have to hire a consultant, staff could do it, but they don't have time. Additionally, since Iowa City is a certified local government any new guidelines would also have to go through review from the State Historic Preservation Office and they would comment on things that they thought Iowa City shouldn't do or should do, so it'd be a lengthy process. Sellergren asked if it is in the budget to hire consultant or is that something that the Commission would have to request money from Council. Bristow replied they would have to make that request from Council. Bristow stated another short-term goal was to follow up with a unanimous request from this Commission and the Parks and Recs Commission to move forward on the Montgomery Butler House and coming up with an idea of how it could be reused. She noted this was another thing where Council just decided not to respond but there's been a little bit of communication amongst staff that maybe the fact that no one could come up with a use is the hold-up. Also, the fact that the study is so old and the budgetary numbers are outdated. Maybe they should they have a subcommittee of the Commission come up with potential uses, maybe meet with community members. Bristow acknowledged the building is going to fall down sooner than later and be gone due to its current condition. Bristow stated there are a lot of potential priorities and the Commission has to decide which ones are most important. For housing and neighborhoods, they have the historic preservation fund and got an extra $2,000 from Council this year which is nice. Regarding being a partner for neighborhoods interested in historic preservation, a long-term goal was to work to get the form-based code for areas that are adjacent to or surrounded by historic districts. Bristow explained a form-based code means that new construction is based on the form of the building, not the use. Right now the building code is based on uses which is common for planning. The reason for discussion in the past about form-based code was to make sure that new buildings adjacent to historic districts fit in with the other buildings in the area instead of not. There are some spots of form-based code now within the community, but staff is unlikely to want to make other individual little areas or to adopt a city-wide form-based code, which would change how Planning and Zoning works. Again, that was a big goal based on things that came out of past projects. HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION JANUARY 11, 2024 Page 6 of 11 Regarding short term goals, there was the Summit Street monument, the City did pay for a study that reported how to fix it, move it and make a replica and they’ve asked for money to do that from City Council so if the budget comes through then they can move forward. She noted the biggest problem currently is where does it get moved to. The Old Capitol Museum was approached and they don’t want it. It does need to go somewhere inside to stabilize it but it's fairly tall, four or five feet tall, and has probably at least a couple feet in the ground. Perhaps there's a spot in the library as that's a public space where things are displayed and there's some open space to some degree. There is no update on the Sanxay-Gilmore House because the University own it and are not going to move it, there was an update to the College Green Historic District because of moving the house. They have discussed they do want to update the preservation handbook, guidelines and maps and all of that. There's been some thought of hiring a consultant for that too, but that again takes money from Council. The City did pay for the survey from 2040 Waterfront Drive and that property was eligible for the National Register. They could also look into local landmarking, she has not yet sent the study to the owner as they got the study back, talked about it briefly and then COVID happened. For long-term goals there is the goal of evaluating the City’s mid-century housing stock. They have also increased digital online presence. The goals in the Preservation Plan: goal one is identifying historic resources and that ties in also to the telling of the full history as well. Second, continuing the policy of protection of resources, through legislation and regulatory measures, which could be updating the plan or the handbook or coming up with commercial guidelines, any of those kinds of things. Third, establishing economic incentives, they do have the historic preservation fund, but the opt-in incentives goal didn't go anywhere with Council. Fourth, providing technical assistance necessary, that falls on Bristow, she used to do drawings for people but doesn’t anymore. Fifth, heightened public awareness into preservation, letting people know about the downtown. Maintaining partnerships with the local government, the state government, federal agencies, etc. Bristow stated this one is kind of difficult as she doesn’t have any contact with the National Park Service, and doesn’t have that much contact or getting involved with the State government through this job. But there are options for the Commision. For instance, there are three state nomination review committee meetings that happen through the State Historic Preservation Office every year. There are set dates on a Friday morning that are open to the public where anyone can attend, there's also a zoom component. The meetings take place in the preservation office in Des Moines on Belle Avenue. There is also the preservation summit they can attend. Locally they could attend Park Commission meetings and everybody can attend council meetings. Seventh is to establish and implement Historic Preservation objectives for the University and surrounding neighborhoods. Bristow acknowledged some of this is related to districts that involve fraternities and sororities along Dubuque Street. Eight, heritage tourism and teaming with Friends of Historic Preservation to do a home tour, if they want to do it. Also maybe having someone from the Commission who attends their board meetings just as an observational member or creating tour brochures or something, they used to have some walking tour brochures. Finally, making maybe a subcommittee that reviews whether or not there's certain areas, neighborhoods that they need to look at to landmark and regular review and evaluation of initiatives by the community, looking at how preservation is going in the community. Bristow stated these were the goals that the preservation plan assigned a really long time ago, in 2007, but are still the ones that guide the Commission. Sellergren stated on a practical level is the purpose of a subcommittee is to bypass the issue of a quorum. Bristow acknowledged a subcommittee does two things, one there's multiple people so it's not all just one person's job. Also with a subcommittee they don't have to deal with a quorum, meeting minutes, all of that formal stuff, that subcommittee can then report to the full Commission. HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION JANUARY 11, 2024 Page 7 of 11 Lewis asked if the next step is to document the work plan. Bristow confirmed yes, the way the annual report works is it is due to the State Historic Preservation Office on February 29. Since this Commission meets the second Thursday of the month that means that they will have to approve it the report at the February meeting and part of what they submit is the Commission’s work plan. Bristow will send out an email at some point asking if anyone has anything in these areas that they want her to add to the annual report. She will compile everyone’s responses, present it to them next month, and they will vote on it. If they are unsure how to proceed that is when she would suggest they form a subcommittee to make the work plan and come up with ideas. Beck noted her immediate reaction to the work plan is there's lots of great stuff on it that needs more work. She doesn’t immediately think they have to scrap these goals and find new ones, there is still more to do on the things that are listed, admittedly, some have external reasons why they can't move forward at the moment. Sellergren feels like the work plan is a little overwhelming personally, like for 2024 they could pull one item from each of the City Council's strategic goal map, for example for social justice, racial equity and human rights, maybe they work on getting a sign up or an archeological study of Oak Grove, so that when people visit the park they have some context. Beck can think of a couple of clear action items related to that. One would be the historical research, there's some already done, but one would it be just simply, for example, approaching the Office of the State Archaeologist to see what kinds of geophysics they could use to see if there any evidence of anything underneath, ask if there are ways to non-invasively look at the property to assess that. She acknowledged that will probably take some money but they could approach them and ask for a budget. Sellergren stated she likes the idea of expanding into neighborhoods like the Kirkwood/Lucas Farms neighborhood for one and then another is the mid-century neighborhood that's over on Morningside. Bristow stated there's two, there's Morningside near City High, and then there a little area over by Foster Road and Dubuque Street, it’s just one little cul-de-sac of like five houses but it's all mid-century and that was already reviewed as eligible for the National Register as part of Dubuque Street when they raised it. Sellergren stated if she were to select a focus for 2024 it would be to identify the things that are most in danger, to consider the most precious and the most vulnerable. That would be like the buildings downtown and who could they identify who might be willing to landmark their own property. She knows there are a few properties where the owner has expressed interest in landmarking so that's one thing they could move forward with. She feels like some of these items are so all over the place and they could maybe be pushed aside so that they could save things that could be torn down at any second and will completely change the vibe of the City. Thomann agrees with looking to see what they can landmark locally, especially if there is interest out there. Also the downtown is going to continue to be developed and she is a little concerned that there is going to be this tone of tear down and develop so they should be looking now to see what can they save. Sellergren stated maybe and she could meet with the downtown district and see about identifying what those properties are. Bristow noted they made their first landmarks in 1996 where they took everything that was listed on the National Register individually and tried to landmark them but two of them didn't happen so they got 36 landmarks. She still has that list from 1996 and in 2015 this Commission formed a subcommittee and HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION JANUARY 11, 2024 Page 8 of 11 they went through and looked at all of the important properties that they knew about that aren't in a district and Pagliai’s was on that but was overlooked because it wasn't seen as being threatened. So in 2015 the Commission subcommittee did come up with a list but then things happen with Council and it all got stalled. Bristow is interested in knowing are there things from the 2023 work plan that they should outright remove, then basically keep everything else as their list. They can separate out the ones that must wait due to more research and investigation needed or resources to support future work. She doesn’t feel they need to necessarily relate it to the City Council goals. They heard from Councilor Thomas that he appreciated the fact that it was related to the goals but jumping through the hoops to make it relate to their goals is a little more political than they need to be. Sellergren feels they do not need to create work just to create works, just a list of properties and some marching orders would be great. Thomann agrees but feels they are getting from Council that they aren't making a presence and Council doesn’t really know what this Commission does. They want this Commission to engage with the public and maybe that will come about if they get this property list together and look at property’s worth saving. Sellergren also feels providing resources to the public by way of social media graphics would fall under that, getting the Commission to establish a presence in people's subconscious and City Council would see that. Bristow stated it appears goals are to do some initial investigation research in Oak Grove Park, maybe having a subcommittee looking at landmarking potential things and then third is engaging with the public and Council. Sellergren noted it could fall into the climate action goals, explaining to people why preservation is so important, of course the history of the town is really important, but also on a practical level this is an environmental issue. They all could be working a little bit harder to preserve, whether in a historic district or not. Lewis stated engaging with the public and Council really allowing them flexibility to shift focus, or at least get information to people, and if they decide later that they want to talk about resource management they can put that on there. If they want to talk about landmarking things, they can put it on there. It allows them to do a lot without having to say one of their goals is to make sure that people know that resources are out there, they can just on their own engage and tell people the resources that they have. Sellergren stated she is a little confused as there seems to be an etiquette with politics that she doesn't understand like when they have their eye on landmarking a property and maybe the owner isn't immediately willing to landmark it, that's not really something they could discuss openly or throw up on social media. The reason that Pagliai’s building became a public issue is because it was up for sale and so there was outcry that preceded this Commission’s involvement. Bristow noted Friends of Historic Preservation paid to have a historian write up the site inventory form needed for 302 to 316 East Bloomington (Slezak Holub Hall/Pagliai’s building) so they are ready to move forward with the landmark procedure and plan to do that for the February meeting. It is completely within their purview to get the word out to talk to the community members and get people to show up to Planning and Zoning and City Council meetings. If the owner decides to protest, that means HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION JANUARY 11, 2024 Page 9 of 11 that six out of the seven Council members must vote yes to move forward and politically they don't tend to like to go against a single property owner. The only way that they will do that is if the community lets them know it's important enough, so they need enough community members willing to tell both Planning and Zoning but especially Council that it's necessary. Depending on how that all goes, they can use that to judge how much work will be required for downtown. In 2001, they made inroads to try to do a local district downtown and it suddenly died. Thomann likes the idea of thinking about other properties where there isn't such a pressure situation, like the low hanging fruit and get to landowners before they decide that they want to sell it or before development starts happening around them. Bristow stated she’s heard enough to begin working with Sellergren to come up with a work plan that they can present at the next meeting. REPORT ON CERTIFICATES ISSUED BY CHAIR AND STAFF: Certificate of No Material Effect -Chair and Staff review HPC23-0081: 1603 Jackson Avenue – Dearborn Street Conservation District (window and stucco repair and deteriorated siding and trim replacement): Bristow stated this is a little Moffitt house. The garage that faced forward was incorporated into the house at some point in time. With this project they're doing a lot of work, stucco repair, window repair, and they are receiving help with Historic Preservation Funds. HPC23-0085: 1118 East Court Street – Longfellow Historic District (piping and venting installation): Bristow noted with all of the works without permit issues they've been having recently, they're streamlining the process between the building permits and historic review a little bit to try to see if that will help. Therefore, they’ll see many more random piping things that come up because it requires a permit and they're making a hole in the wall. Hopefully they can issue certificates of no material effect for those. This one this is a new gas line. Minor Review - Staff review HPC23-0082: 405 South Summit Street – Summit Street Historic District (roof shingle replacement): This is a roof shingle replacement on this house. Intermediate Review -Chair and Staff review HPC23-0077: 930 East College Street – College Hill Conservation District (5ft metal fence): Bristow stated this house is between an old sorority that's now apartments and a modern apartment building on the other side. They wanted to put up a metal fence on the front and the one side. At first it was an eight-foot fence but Iowa City Code does not allow that. Code says six foot or less in the rear yard and four feet or less in the front yard. Bristow stated there's the potential for a minor modification, but the minor modification can only give 25% more, so in the front yard that would be a maximum of five feet. She worked with the applicants to mockup what five feet would look like and then they came up with a design that will have a low retaining wall which doesn't count, apparently, because that makes HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION JANUARY 11, 2024 Page 10 of 11 the grade. HPC23-0080: 1211 Muscatine Avenue – College Hill Conservation District (deteriorated dormer window replacement): This bungalow on Muscatine has an addition by a previous owner that happened before the district was created. Now the new owner wanted to remove the window, because that was a bathroom, but a dormer exists for a window so they could not do that. They did approve replacement of it and approved a fiberglass window because of the moisture. The modern window and wall were rotted out. HPC23-0051: 1211 Burlington Street – College Hill Conservation District (garage revisions including additional window, new floor and foundation, new overhead door and mini-split system): This house is part of the Grant Wood Art Colony and has one of the only garages amongst all of those houses. They are making the garage into an art studio. They went through a review process and raised the garage to put a new foundation under it. Unfortunately, that does mean that the lovely doors will be replaced so they did work through what they're going to replace them with. Additionally, they are adding some windows and it'll have a bathroom so there's some venting and things that need to go in there. CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES FOR DECEMBER 14, 2023: MOTION: Wagner moves to approve the minutes of the Historic Preservation Commission's December 14, 2023, meeting. Villanueva seconded the motion. The motion carried on a vote of 7- 0. COMMISSION INFORMATION: Bristow shared regarding the landmarking next month Sellergren and she did visit the property (302 to 316 East Bloomington). Since Friend's of Historic Preservation had the site inventory form created, it was the first real documentation of this property. It needs to go and be on file at the State and the State now has a new process that it has to be submitted as a preliminary evaluation for National Register eligibility. Friends has done that. Bristow stated as part of the process they need some interior photography so they visited the property today and it is the most intact structure than she’s been in in a long time. Next step is getting the application for the rezoning, which is in process right now, and then it will be open and available to the public. Wagner talked about the mid-century modern home at 420 Park Road. It's a 1949 building that was owned by the family that owned Mott's Drugs in Iowa City and it has been occupied by them until January 5. The new homeowner is a guy from Canada and they’re redoing the bathrooms because they are worn but the rest of the house is intact. He noted many of the homes in Manville Heights should be landmarks, so many Iowa City legends like James Van Allen lived in those homes. Bristow reminded everyone they changed the date of the March meeting and it will be the third Thursday. Again the February 8 meeting will be reviewing the landmarking and a few other things, likely there will be a number of the public here for that meeting. ADJOURNMENT: Beck moved to adjourn the meeting. Lewis seconded. The motion carried on a vote of 7-0. The meeting was adjourned at 6:57pm. HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION ATTENDANCE RECORD 2023-2024 NAME TERM EXP. 2/9 3/22 4/13 5/11 6/8 7/13 8/10 9/14 10/12 11/9 12/14 1/11 BECK, MARGARET 6/30/24 X X X X O/E X X X O/E X X X BOYD, KEVIN 6/30/23 X X O/E X X -- -- -- -- -- -- -- BROWN, CARL 6/30/26 O/E X X O/E X X O/E X X O/E X O/E LEWIS, ANDREW 6/30/26 -- -- -- -- -- X X X X X X X SELLERGREN, JORDAN 6/30/25 X O/E X X O/E X X X X X X X STORK, NOAH 6/30/24 X X O/E X X X X X X X X O/E THOMANN, DEANNA 6/30/26 X X X X X X X X X X X X VILLANUEVA, NICOLE 6/30/25 X X X X X X X X O/E X X X WAGNER, FRANK 6/30/26 X X X X X O/E X X X X X X WELU- REYNOLDS, CHRISTINA 6/30/25 X X X O/E X O/E X X X X X X KEY: X = Present O = Absent O/E = Absent/Excused --- = Not a member