HomeMy WebLinkAbout52-02229_122 S Linn_MeardonBlgSite Inventory Form State Inventory No. 52-02229 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 Meardon Building
other names/site number
2. Location
street & number 122 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) see full legal
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)
02A01 COMMERCE/TRADE/business/office building 02A01 COMMERCE/TRADE/business/office building
7. Description
Architectural Classification (Enter categories from instructions) Materials (Enter categories from instructions)
Contemporary foundation
walls 03 BRICK
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 122 S. Linn Street Site Number 52-02229
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 1977 check if circa or estimated date
Other dates
07 COMMUNITY PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
Significant Person Architect/Builder
(Complete if National Register Criterion B is marked above) Architect
Brooks, Borg & Skiles, Des Moines Builder
Viggo M. Jensen
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, Architectural 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 52-02229
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 1
Meardon Building Johnson
Name of Property County
122 S. Linn Street Iowa City
Address City
7. Property Description
The Meardon Building is a freestanding, one-story brick office building built in 1977 on a parcel that had
previously contained a filling station built in ca.1950. After that building was razed in the mid-1970s, the current
owner constructed this structure. The building was built with footings sufficient to support the addition of a
second level (Svendsen, 2001). The building’s visual character is presentative of its construction era and of the
skill of the architects (Brooks, Borg & Skiles of Des Moines) that designed it. Generally restrained in character,
the building relies on the juxtaposition of reiterated arched forms against the simple rectangular box; an low and
elongated form, and elegant details.
This reinforced concrete building is clad in reddish brown brick and features seven semi-circular arched window
and entrance openings on the façade (Linn Street). The window openings are configured with six lights and the
arches are laid up in two courses of soldier brick. The 50- by 130-foot building has a low profile, with a cornice
consisting of two corbeled courses of soldier brick and no parapet (Svendsen, 2001).
The arched form is reiterated along the length of the façade. Reminiscent of the arches associated with
Romanesque architecture found in commercial buildings of the late 19th century, here the arch employs a simple
corbeled archivolt to add depth and dimension to the entrance while maintaining a contemporary character. The
primary entrance on Linn Street is deeply recessed within an arched opening. The paired bronze doors reiterate
the curved form of the arch in their embossed design and handles.
In 2017 the building appears as it did in the 2001 description.
Image 01. View of the building looking northeast across Linn and College streets
(Image by AKAY Consulting, August 2017)
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-02229
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 2
Meardon Building Johnson
Name of Property County
122 S. Linn Street Iowa City
Address City
Image 02. Detail of the primary (Linn Street) entrance
(Image by AKAY Consulting, August 2017)
The primary entrance on Linn Street is deeply recessed within this arched opening. The arched form appears along the length
of the façade. Reminiscent of the arches that typify Romanesque architecture found in commercial buildings of the late 19th
century, here the arch employs a corbeled archivolt to add depth and dimension to the entrance while maintaining a
contemporary character. The paired bronze doors reiterate the curved form of the arch in their embossed design and handles.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-02229
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 3
Meardon Building Johnson
Name of Property County
122 S. Linn Street Iowa City
Address City
Image 03. Detail of the College Street entrance with bronze door
(Image by AKAY Consulting, August 2017)
The emergency exit on College street reiterates the motif and materials of the primary entrance.
8. Statement of Significance
Built in 1977, the Meardon Building is associated with the Iowa City urban renewal program, which resulted in
the loss of dozens of historic buildings and reoriented the historic character of the city’s Central Business District.
As such the building derives significance under Criterion A in that historic association. Further, the building is
considered significant under Criterion C as a well-preserved example of mid-20th century commercial
architecture, which departed from the historic precedents that typify 19th and 20th century downtowns of Iowa. As
a work of the architectural firm of Brooks, Borgs & Skiles, the building has additional significance under
Criterion C. The Meardon Building is considered a contributing resource to a potential historic district.
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-02229
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 4
Meardon Building Johnson
Name of Property County
122 S. Linn Street Iowa City
Address City
As a resource less than 50-years of age, the Meardon Building meets Criterion Consideration G in association
with the Iowa City urban renewal program. The site upon which the building was constructed was occupied by a
ca.1950 filling station that was razed to accommodate construction of Meardon Building. The Iowa City program
of urban renewal is representative of the nationwide movement that transformed downtown commercial areas by
razing large swathes of buildings and replacing them with new buildings, parking lots, parking ramps, and other
features designed to restore economic vitality to communities in economic distress. The process of urban renewal
left scars – both physical and psychological – in towns large and small. That was certainly the experience in Iowa
City, where urban renewal created wide and painful schisms that remain to this day. However, in some cases and
to varying degrees, urban renewal did indeed support stronger economies and bring new amenities to downtowns.
The Meardon Building is an important piece in the history of Iowa City commerce and commercial architecture,
specifically as a representative of the impact of urban renewal. Its location at the end of the pedestrian mall – the
“centerpiece” of the City’s urban renewal program – adds to the historic association.
Historical Background
This building represents the third generation of buildings on this site. By 1883 this site held the Coldren House
and carriage house, which remained here until the 1920s. By 1926 fire insurance maps show the house
incorporated into an auto repair and filling station. In 1929 the property was sold to the Mid-Continent Petroleum
Corporation and a new filling station was erected the following year. By ca.1950 a replacement station was
constructed which stood until ca.1977 when it was razed to make room for the present building (Svendsen, 2001).
The law firm of Meardon, Sueppel, Downer, and Hayes Associates acquired this parcel in 1977 and construction
began on this office building the following year to house the firm’s offices. This firm remains the building owner-
occupant. A building name plate near the primary entrance reads “Meardon, Sueppel & Downer P.L.C. Lawyers.”
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, 122 South Linn Street, Urban Revitalization Act Study Area Survey, 1981.
11. Additional Documentation
Full Legal Description: Original Town, Block 62, West 60’ of Lot 5
Assessor: 002+01013766003
Latitude/Longitude: 41.659500/-91.531406
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-02229
Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number
Continuation Sheet
Page 5
Meardon Building Johnson
Name of Property County
122 S. Linn Street Iowa City
Address City
Parcel Map: