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Home My WebLink About52-04054_222 S Linn_LeffLawFirmSite Inventory Form State Inventory No. 52-04054 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 Leff, Leff, Leff, Haupert & Traw’s Law Firm other names/site number Leff Law Firm 2. Location street & number (220) 222 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) 63 Lot(s) N50' of Lot 5 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 1 buildings buildings structure sites sites object structures structures objects objects 1 Total 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) 09F COMMERCIAL foundation 10A CONCRETE/Block walls 10A CONCRETE/Block 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 (220) 222 S. Linn Street Site Number 52-04054 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 1966 check if circa or estimated date Other dates Significant Person Architect/Builder (Complete if National Register Criterion B is marked above) Architect Builder 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 52-04054 Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number Continuation Sheet Page 1 Leff, Leff, Leff, Haupert & Traw’s Law Firm Johnson Name of Property County (220) 222 S. Linn Street Iowa City Address City 7. Narrative Description This two-story office building was constructed in 1966. The building has a decorative, concrete block cladding where the cast blocks create a pattern of triangles. Frame moldings and trim boards are used to create a wide beltcourse and cornice.The molding pattern is repeated in the pediment over the offset entrance. The sash are fixed vertical lights placed asymmetrically on lower and upper levels. The entrance opening has a metal and glass door with rectilinear sidelights and transom.The first floor originally contained a single entrance centered on the front with plate glass windows to either side, marble cladding, and a course of dentils along the beltcourse separating the floors. The building is approximately 45-ft. wide with a depth of 130-ft. (Svendsen, 2001) In 2017 the building appears as described above. Image 01. View looking southwest across S. Linn Street (Image by AKAY Consulting, April 2018) 8. Statement of Significance This building is an example of a mid-20th century building type that was substantially modified. A 1966 image and description provides some understanding of the historic appearance, which indicates a significant reconfiguration of the façade and the removal of marble cladding. As a result, due to loss of historic integrity that significantly diminishes out ability to properly interpret the building, it must considered a non-contributing resource to a potential historic district. Should additional information regarding historic context tying the building’s construction to the urban renewal era in a significant way become known, the building should be re- evaluated (2017). Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-04054 Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number Continuation Sheet Page 2 Leff, Leff, Leff, Haupert & Traw’s Law Firm Johnson Name of Property County (220) 222 S. Linn Street Iowa City Address City Historical Background This parcel was occupied by a two-story, Victorian era residence through at least 1948 and likely through the 1966 construction of the present building (Figure 01). Dr. Henry Urban his wife Dr. Grace Urban have been tied to this property. Both doctors were osteopaths, practicing in Iowa City for many years. The 2001 site form notes that property transfer records indicate the couple owned the property from 1942 and 1953. However, no evidence of them occupying the building, either as a residence or an office, has been found. Rather, the couple and their two children lived in the house next door at 224 S. Linn Street from at least 1940 through 1949 with their professional office also located at that address. Dr. Grace D. Urban died in July of 1951. She was living with her daughter in Illinois at the time of her death. Her husband, Dr. Henry Urban passed in October of the previous year. It may well be that the Urban’s owned the residence at 220 (now numbered 222) as a rental property. City directories note tenants came and went with regularity, none of which are noted in the directory listing as the property owners (2017). Figure 01. Fire Insurance Map (1948 rev.1933) (Source: Sanborn Company Fire Insurance Map, 1948 rev.1933.) This parcel remained occupied by a large, two-story residence through issuance of the 1948 fire insurance map. City directory entries suggest that the building at 220 (now numbered 222 according to the City Assessor) remained in use as a residence through 1951. Beginning in 1952, a realtor by the name of Stella Scott listed the address as her business, which it remained through at least 1959. Given the documented construction of the present building in 1966, there is no reason to think the early residential building had not simply been converted for business use (2017). Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-04054 Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number Continuation Sheet Page 3 Leff, Leff, Leff, Haupert & Traw’s Law Firm Johnson Name of Property County (220) 222 S. Linn Street Iowa City Address City Image 02. Historic Image – 1966 (Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen. June 08, 1966.) In 1966 the property was purchased by the Morris Plan Leasing Company, which had its offices here. The Morris Plan Co., with its home office in Cedar Rapids. The firm specialized in personal loans from its new Iowa City office (2017). An image of the new building appeared in the local newspaper (Image 02) with a description. The building had office spaces on the first floor (The Morris Plan Co. occupied one-half of that floor) with apartments on the upper story. The structure was described as “shadow block with marble facing.” The accompanying image suggests that the upper story surface appeared much like it does today, with concrete blocks of a form and arrangement to cast shadow patterns. The cornice and beltcourse appear much as they do today. However, the ground floor façade wrapping to the side elevations, retains none of the marble cladding as described in the article (2017). In 1976 Morris Plan sold the property to Arthur Leff who moved Leff, Leff, Leff, Haupert & Traw’s law offices here a short time later. The firm remains the sole occupant in 2017. 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, 220 South Linn, Urban Revitalization Act Study Area Survey, 1981. Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-04054 Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number Continuation Sheet Page 4 Leff, Leff, Leff, Haupert & Traw’s Law Firm Johnson Name of Property County (220) 222 S. Linn Street Iowa City Address City 2017: References Svendsen, Marlys A. “Survey and Evaluation of the Central Business District.” Prepared for the Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission, 2001. Svendsen, Marlys A. “Leff Law Firm: 52-04054.” Iowa Site Form, 2001. Newspapers Iowa City Press-Citizen. “Doctor Dies in Illinois.” July 21, 1951. Iowa City Press-Citizen. “L.E. Urban Named Executor of Will.” August 01, 1951. Iowa City Press-Citizen. Advertisement “New Office Space Available.” April 19, 1966. Iowa City Press-Citizen. “Morris Plan Opens New Office Here.” June 08, 1966. Iowa City Press-Citizen. “Apartments for Rent.” August 01, 1967. Timeline 1940 City Directory – Reverse directory: 220 Clarence E Tiffany 222 No address 224 Urban & Urban, osteopaths Urban, Henry L., osteopath Urban, Grace Mrs., osteopath 1942 City Directory – Reverse directory: 220 Clarence E Tiffany 222 No address 224 Urban & Urban, osteopaths Urban, Henry L., osteopath Urban, Grace Mrs., osteopath 1943 City Directory – Reverse directory: 220 Carlotta Nikirk 224 Urban & Urban, osteopaths Urban, Henry L., osteopath Urban, Grace Mrs., osteopath 1946 City Directory – Reverse directory: 220 Minnie C Forward 224 Urban & Urban, osteopaths Urban, Henry L., osteopath Urban, Grace Mrs., osteopath 1949 City Directory – Reverse directory: 220 Ella G Kelly 224 Henry L Urban Mrs. Grace Urban, osteopath LaVerne Wintermeyer, music teacher Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs State Historical Society of Iowa Site Number 52-04054 Iowa Site Inventory Form Related District Number Continuation Sheet Page 5 Leff, Leff, Leff, Haupert & Traw’s Law Firm Johnson Name of Property County (220) 222 S. Linn Street Iowa City Address City 1951 City Directory – Reverse directory: 220 Ella G Kelly 224 Frederick A Webster, osteopath 224-1/2 Mrs. Irene Murray 1952 City Directory – Reverse directory: 220 Bert E. Sowers Stella S. Scott, real estate City Directory: Stella Scott, saleswoman at Whiting-Kerr Realty Co., r 414 N Gilbert 1954 City Directory – Reverse directory: 220 Bert E. Sowers Stella S. Schott, real estate City Directory: Stella Scott, Realtor, 220 S. Linn St., r 321 McLean 1956 City Directory – Reverse directory: 220 Phyllis Mitchell Stella S. Schott, real estate 1958 City Directory – Reverse directory: 220 Edward M Yoder Stella S. Schott, real estate 1959 City Directory – Reverse directory: 220 Edward M Yoder Stella S. Scott, real estate 11. Additional Documentation Legal Description: Original Town, N 50’ Lot 5 Blk 63 Assessor PIN: 002+1010381002 Latitude/Longitude: 41.658328/-91.531501 Parcel Map - 2017