HomeMy WebLinkAbout52-02228_104 S Linn_OLeary-VelieGarageSite Inventory Form State Inventory No. 52-02228 New Supplemental
State Historical Society of Iowa Part of a district with known boundaries (enter inventory no.)
(December 1, 1999) Relationship: Contributing Noncontributing
Contributes to a potential district with yet unknown boundaries
National Register Status:(any that apply) Listed De-listed NHL DOE
9-Digit SHPO Review & Compliance Number
Non-Extant (enter year)
1. Name of Property
historic name J.A. O'Leary Velie Co. Garage and Iowa Apartment Building
other names/site number Iowa Apartments
2. Location
street & number 104-116 S. Linn Street
city or town Iowa City vicinity, county Johnson
Legal Description: (If Rural) Township Name Township No. Range No. Section Quarter of Quarter
(If Urban) Subdivision Original Town Block(s) 62 Lot(s) Lot 3, W 5' Lot 4
3. State/Federal Agency Certification [Skip this Section]
4. National Park Service Certification [Skip this Section]
5. Classification
Category of Property (Check only one box) Number of Resources within Property
building(s) If Non-Eligible Property If Eligible Property, enter number of:
district Enter number of: Contributing Noncontributing
site
buildings 1
buildings
structure
sites
sites
object
structures
structures
objects
objects
Total 1
Total
Name of related project report or multiple property study (Enter “N/A” if the property is not part of a multiple property examination).
Title Historical Architectural Data Base Number
Iowa City Central Business District Study - 2017 UPDATE 52-127
6. Function or Use
Historic Functions (Enter categories from instructions) Current Functions (Enter categories from instructions)
02E01 COMMERCE/TRADE/specialty store/auto showroom 02E COMMERCE/TRADE/specialty store/.
01B02 DOMESTIC/multiple dwelling/apartment building 01B02 DOMESTIC/multiple dwelling/apartment building
7. Description
Architectural Classification (Enter categories from instructions) Materials (Enter categories from instructions)
07A LATE 19th & EARLY 20th CENTURY AMERICAN foundation
MOVEMENTS/Prairie School walls 03 BRICK; 15H Synthetic Stucco/EIFS
roof
other Narrative Description ( SEE CONTINUATION SHEETS, WHICH MUST BE COMPLETED)
8. Statement of Significance
Applicable National Register Criteria (Mark “x” representing your opinion of eligibility after applying relevant National Register criteria)
Yes No More Research Recommended A Property is associated with significant events.
Yes No More Research Recommended B Property is associated with the lives of significant persons.
Yes No More Research Recommended C Property has distinctive architectural characteristics.
Yes No More Research Recommended D Property yields significant information in archaeology or history.
County Johnson Address 104-116 S. Linn Street Site Number 52-02228
City Iowa City District Number
Criteria Considerations
A Owned by a religious institution or used E A reconstructed building, object, or structure.
for religious purposes. F A commemorative property.
B Removed from its original location. G Less than 50 years of age or achieved significance within the past
C A birthplace or grave. 50 years.
D A cemetery
Areas of Significance (Enter categories from instructions) Significant Dates
Construction date
01 ARCHITECTURE 1919 check if circa or estimated date
Other dates
05 COMMERCE 1924
Significant Person Architect/Builder
(Complete if National Register Criterion B is marked above) Architect
N/A
Builder
Theo. Stark & Co. (1924)
Narrative Statement of Significance ( SEE CONTINUATION SHEETS, WHICH MUST BE COMPLETED)
9. Major Bibliographical References
Bibliography See continuation sheet for citations of the books, articles, and other sources used in preparing this form
10. Geographic Data
UTM References (OPTIONAL)
Zone Easting Northing Zone Easting Northing
1
2
3
4
See continuation sheet for additional UTM references or comments
11. Form Prepared By
name/title Alexa McDowell, Historian
organization AKAY Consulting date 10/2017
street & number 4252 Oakland Avenue telephone 515-491-5432
city or town Minneapolis state MN zip code 55407
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION (Submit the following items with the completed form)
FOR ALL PROPERTIES
1. Map: showing the property’s location in a town/city or township.
2. Site plan: showing position of buildings and structures on the site in relation to public road(s).
3. Photographs: representative black and white photos. If the photos are taken as part of a survey for which the Society is to be
curator of the negatives or color slides, a photo/catalog sheet needs to be included with the negatives/slides and the following
needs to be provided below on this particular inventory site:
Roll/slide sheet #
Frame/slot #
Date Taken
Roll/slide sheet #
Frame/slot #
Date Taken
Roll/slide sheet #
Frame/slot #
Date Taken
See continuation sheet or attached photo & slide catalog sheet for list of photo roll or slide entries.
Photos/illustrations without negatives are also in this site inventory file.
FOR CERTAIN KINDS OF PROPERTIES, INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING AS WELL
1. Farmstead & District: (List of structures and buildings, known or estimated year built, and contributing or non-contributing status)
2. Barn:
a. A sketch of the frame/truss configuration in the form of drawing a typical middle bent of the barn.
b. A photograph of the loft showing the frame configuration along one side.
c. A sketch floor plan of the interior space arrangements along with the barn’s exterior dimensions in feet.
State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) Use Only Below This Line
Concur 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:
Evaluated by (name/title): Date:
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-02228
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 1
J.A. O'Leary Velie Co. Garage and Iowa Apartment Building Johnson
Name of Property County
104-116 S. Linn Street Iowa City
Address City
7. Narrative Description
When constructed in 1919, this quarter-block building was a one-story brick building on a reinforced concrete
foundation. The 80- by 150-ft. building was constructed to house an auto showroom on the north end with a 40-
car capacity storage garage in the center and a repair shop on the south end along the alley. A separate 38-car,
one-story brick garage (non-extant) was located to the east. In 1924 all but the south section of the ground floor
was converted to retail shops and a low-pitched hipped roof, two-story addition with a U-shaped plan was added
above. The stucco-clad floors contained 32 apartments (2017).
The original ground level is divided into four bays along Linn Street and three bays along Washington Street with
plain brick and stone trimmed pilasters separating the bays. The storefronts are accessed from Linn Street because
the site slopes down along Washington Street. The original storefront arrangement had plate glass windows with
multi-light transoms above and entrances set off-center. The storefront at (104) retains the original prism glass
squares intact beneath a fixed awning. Other combinations of plate glass, transoms, infill panels, and awnings are
present in 2000. The apartment entrance is located between the second and third bay along S. Linn Street. The
original cornice/ parapet section of the 1-story building now serves as a wide beltcourse between the first and
second floors. It is composed of top and bottom limestone bands separated by a brick section that contains a series
of corbeled brick and stone panels between each bay. The brick is brownish red and the mortar is pinkish color.
This element provides a strong horizontal design feature that exaggerates the building’s size and low-profile.
The building has a low-pitched hipped roof with wide eaves. Angular parapet sections protrude through the eaves
to break the horizontal line of the building’s massive roof (Svendsen, 2001).
The original stucco walls of the upper levels had a series of 1/1 double-hung windows that spanned each level of
the building like ribbons. In the early 1990s the deteriorating stucco was clad in new synthetic stucco panels (i.e.
EIFS) and the windows were replaced with a combination of 1/1 bay window groups (three along Washington
Street and six along Linn Street). The smaller sash included in the fenestration were originally sized as such but
the bay window openings originally contained two 1/1 sash (Svendsen, 2001).
In 2017 no significant alterations have been made subsequent to the previous survey. The first story is occupied
by Uncle Sun (100), Baroncini (104), The Konnexion (106), apartment entrance (108), Release Body
Modification (110), White Rabbit (112), The Art Mission (114), and Record Collecto r(116). The second story
remains apartment units.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-02228
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 2
J.A. O'Leary Velie Co. Garage and Iowa Apartment Building Johnson
Name of Property County
104-116 S. Linn Street Iowa City
Address City
Image 01. View looking southwest across Iowa Avenue
(Image by AKAY Consulting, August 2017)
8. Statement of Significance
This building is an example of an early 20th century building form – the automobile garage – that was later
expanded to include two floors of apartments in response to the growing need for downtown housing between the
World Wars. The 1990s installation of synthetic stucco and new windows has diminished its architectural
significance and prevents the building from being individually eligible for the National Register of Historic
Places. However, the building retains a sufficient level of historic integrity specific to its period of significance
and bears a demonstrable association with the history of commerce related to both the automobile era and
downtown housing. As a result, the O’Leary Velie Garage and Iowa Apartment Building is considered a
contributing resource to a potential historic district.
Historical Background
This commercial block with apartments above is located along the eastern fringe of the downtown where a series
of public and quasi-public buildings appeared beginning in the late 19th century. Earlier examples included the
original City Hall at 230 E. Washington (1881), the former Post Office at 28 S. Linn (1904, 1931 addition), and
the Carnegie Library at 220 S. Linn (1904). Three fraternal halls - the Knights of Columbus Building, the Elks
Building, and the Masonic Temple – were located just east of Linn Street. This building is the largest example of
a break with this tradition (Svendsen, 2001).
By 1919 Joseph A. O’Leary had acquired Lot 4 containing four identical 1½-story brick houses that faced S. Linn
Street. O’Leary either moved or razed the houses and replaced them with a new building to house his Velie
automobile dealership, storage garage and repair shop. The Velie automobile was manufactured in Moline,
Illinois. In July of 1924, plans for a two-story addition to the building appeared in the local newspaper. The
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-02228
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 3
J.A. O'Leary Velie Co. Garage and Iowa Apartment Building Johnson
Name of Property County
104-116 S. Linn Street Iowa City
Address City
project included 32 apartments (16 on each floor) with the existing ground floor renovated into five storerooms.
News accounts about the expansion note that O’Leary remained in the automobile business, though his storage
business was discontinued – that space was converted to storerooms, while the salesroom occupied the south end
of the first floor (2017).
By the end of 1924, the “New Iowa Apartment Building” was nearing completion with one-third of the
apartments reported as leased in late December. The units were “efficiently arranged and are well lighted and airy.
The apartments in the rear half of the building are arranged in wings around courts. Living room, bathroom,
kitchenette and dressing room comprise the apartment arrangement. The apartments are fully equipped.” Rental
rates were $55.00 and $60.00 per month. The pending tenants included a number of professors and students; later
advertisements would target that demographic (2017).
Leasing of the first floor retail spaces was also underway. As noted, the Velie Co. salesroom would occupy the
south storeroom. The F.A. Fleming accessory chain store took the storeroom adjacent to the salesroom (2017).
Bonds had been sold to construct the building expansion and the construction of such a large-scale apartment
building proved to be a poor investment for O’Leary. The bondholders foreclosed and in 1930 the property was
transferred by a sheriff’s deed to Theodore and Ann Stark. City directories for 1930 show the corner shop space
(102) occupied by the Iowa Drug Store under the proprietorship of Charles Goza. Goza also resided in one of the
apartments in the building. Other retail tenants by 1930 included the Red Ball Stores (104), the Wier Nelson meat
market (106), First Industrial Lenders (110), and an automobile repair shop in the south end (Svendsen, 2001).
In 1930 the Iowa Apartments housed a mix of tenant types including students, store clerks, store managers, a
news reporter, a contractor, a nursing supervisor, and a SUI nursing supervisor. Profitable operation of the
building proved impossible for the Starks as well and in 1933 in the heart of the Depression, the building was
transferred by a sheriff’s deed again to Henry Negus. Two years later a third sheriff’s deed saw the Iowa
Apartments Inc. take ownership. By 1940 retail tenants in the building included (from north to south) the Iowa
Drug Store, Barron Motor Supply, the Iowa City Tent and Awning Company, and Iowa City Plumbing and
Heating. The Iowa Apartments Inc. retained ownership in the property until 1972 selling it to Edwin and Helen
O’Brien. Over the years the tenant mix gradually shifted to elderly residents. In the early 1980s, the retail spaces
housed several insurance offices and two bookstores one of which was Prairie Lights Books. The O’Brien’s held
the property until 1991 when they sold it to Robert Wallace Fox (Svendsen, 2001).
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-02228
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 4
J.A. O'Leary Velie Co. Garage and Iowa Apartment Building Johnson
Name of Property County
104-116 S. Linn Street Iowa City
Address City
Image 02. Historic Image - 1921
(Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen. 04/02/1921.)
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-02228
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 5
J.A. O'Leary Velie Co. Garage and Iowa Apartment Building Johnson
Name of Property County
104-116 S. Linn Street Iowa City
Address City
Image 03. Historic Image - 1924
(Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen. 07/04/1924.)
Although the quality of this image is poor, the remarkable transformation from this one-story commercial building with a
barrel shaped façade parapet to the three-story building with apartments can be appreciated – see the previous image for
another view and the following image for the transformation.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-02228
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 6
J.A. O'Leary Velie Co. Garage and Iowa Apartment Building Johnson
Name of Property County
104-116 S. Linn Street Iowa City
Address City
Image 04. Historic Image - 1924
(Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen. 07/04/1924.)
With the addition of two upper stories for the Iowa Apartments, the building became what largely remains intact today.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-02228
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 7
J.A. O'Leary Velie Co. Garage and Iowa Apartment Building Johnson
Name of Property County
104-116 S. Linn Street Iowa City
Address City
9. Major Bibliographic References (2001)
Iowa City city directories.
Property Transfer Records, Johnson County Auditor’s Office.
Tax Assessor’s Records, City of Iowa City Assessor.
Sanborn maps, 1874, 1879, 1888, 1892, 1899, 1906, 1912, 1920, 1926, 1933, and 1933 updated to 1970.
Summary Sheet, 104-116 South Linn Street, Urban Revitalization Act Study Area Survey, 1981.
“Linn Street Homes Looked Alike.” Iowa City Press-Citizen. September 13, 1980.
2017: References
Iowa City Public Library. Digital Photograph collection. http://history.icpl.org.
Iowa City Then & Now. Publisher unknown.
Mansheim, Gerald. Iowa City: an illustrated history. Norfolk, VA: The Donning Company, 1989.
State Historical Society of Iowa. Iowa City. Photograph Collection.
Slonneger, Marybeth. Finials: A View of Downtown Iowa City. Iowa City: Hand Press, 2015.
Svendsen, Marlys A. “Survey and Evaluation of the Central Business District.” Prepared for the Iowa City
Historic Preservation Commission, 2001.
Svendsen, Marlys A. “O’Leary Velie Garage & Iowa Apartment Building: 52-02228.” Iowa Site Form, 2001.
Newspapers
Iowa City Press-Citizen. “Velie Tractor is Doing Fine Work.” March 28, 1919.
Iowa City Press-Citizen. “O’Leary Opening of New Garage is Thursday Evening.” November 15, 1919.
Iowa City Press-Citizen. “O’Leary Garage House Warming Thursday Night. Finest Garage In This Section of
Iowa Will Open for Business.” November 19, 1919.
Iowa City Press-Citizen. “Notice.” December 19, 1922.
Iowa City Press-Citizen. “For Rent.” August 29, 1923.
Iowa City Press-Citizen. “Iowa Apartment Building Magnificent Block Will Be J.A. O’Leary’s Enterprise.” July
04, 1924.
Iowa City Press-Citizen. “Tenants Move in Apartments.” December 29, 1924.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-02228
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 8
J.A. O'Leary Velie Co. Garage and Iowa Apartment Building Johnson
Name of Property County
104-116 S. Linn Street Iowa City
Address City
Iowa City Press-Citizen. “O’Leary Builds Apartments.” December 31, 1924.
Iowa City Press-Citizen. Advertisement for “The New Iowa Apartments.” January 03, 1925.
Iowa City Press-Citizen. “O’Leary Moves Salesroom to New Storeroom.” January 20, 1925.
Iowa City Press-Citizen. “New Store to Open March 7.” March 05, 1925.
Iowa City Press-Citizen. Advertisement for “J.A. O’Leary Velie Co. September 28, 1925.
Iowa City Press-Citizen. Advertisement. November 17, 1926.
Timeline
1919 March 29. “The automobile business will be moved into the new building, opposite the post office …”
November 15. Open house for the new J.A. O’Leary-Velie Co. garage.
November 19. Open house for formally opening of the “great modern garage.”
1922 December 19. Velie Garage was advertising for indoor heating parking.
1923 August 29. For rent notice, “Tile floor storeroom adjoining alley south end of Velie garage, frontage on
Linn St.”
1924 July 04. Plans for construction of Iowa Apartment building announced. Images of existing and planned.
December 29. Tenant begin to move into “newly-erected Iowa apartment building.”
1925 January 20. Velie sales department moved into new quarters designed for it at 114-116 S. Linn, “in the
south storeroom of the new O’Leary apartment building.”
First floor of the building occupied by Owners’ Cut Rate Store (a chain auto accessories store).
March 05. Red Ball opens in the “O’Leary (Iowa) Apartment building.”
1926 November 17. Advertisement notes “J.A. O’Leary Velie Co., Sales and Service Room South End Iowa
Apartment Building on Linn Street.”
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-02228
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 9
J.A. O'Leary Velie Co. Garage and Iowa Apartment Building Johnson
Name of Property County
104-116 S. Linn Street Iowa City
Address City
11. Additional Documentation
Legal Description: Original Town, Block 62, West 5’ of Lot 3 and all of Lot 4.
Assessor PIN: 009+1010376002
Latitude/Longitude: 41.660054/-91.531501
Parcel Map – 2017
(Source: http://maps.google.com.)