Residents host cottage memorial service for Dubuque Street buildings

IOWA CITY - About a dozen area residents gathered Saturday outside the three mid-19th century cottages on the 600 block of South Dubuque Street to mourn what appears to be the impending demolition of the most southern of the three structures.

Supporters of preserving the cottages shared comments about the buildings and hung yellow signs in the windows at 608, 610 and 614 s. Dubuque St. that read 'Support Our Neighborhoods” and 'Vote For Preservation.”

The signs contrasted significantly with the yellow demolition notice placards already placed on the three buildings.

The building at 614 S. Dubuque St., formerly home to Moy Yat Ving Tsun Kung Fu Academy, has since been wrapped in fencing and the electricity meter removed.

Alicia Trimble, executive director with Friends of Historic Preservation, said she had learned Friday afternoon that demolition on the southernmost cottage could begin as soon as Saturday, which prompted the gathering.

'I think it's really important that all three of these are saved, but if (property owner Ted Pacha) does intend to tear down this building and there's nothing we could do about it, we'll move forward with trying to save the other two,” Trimble said Saturday. 'Ideally I would like to see this whole block stay here.”

The cottage memorial service was held just two days after the Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission voted unanimously that the three cottages meet the criteria to be named historic landmarks and four days after the Iowa City Council voted against setting a public hearing to discuss the landmark application, which would have put in place a 60-day moratorium on any demolition on the properties. Property owner ted Pacha's demolition permits for the three buildings were issued Wednesday and are valid for 180 days.

While Pacha has offered Friends of Historic Preservation $25,000 per building to relocate the three cottages, Trimble said the overall cost would be considerably more, moving the buildings out of the railroad district would eliminate their historic significance and, as they are built on a hill, it's unlikely the buildings would survive the move.

Tenants of the other two cottages, Will Ingles of the Book Shop at 608 S. Dubuque St. and Susan Hultman of Suzy's Antiques and Gifts at 610 S. Dubuque St. have remained in their building's, despite notices to vacate the properties.

Ingles said his plan for the future still is undetermined but said he was a little surprised that it appears demolition on at least one of the cottages is moving forward following Thursday's declaration of them being historically significant buildings.

'My most likely incorrect assumption was given Thursday's Iowa City Historic Preservation Committee's meeting, that they would have respected that enough to not want to risk either violating the process or disappointing all the people who would like to see these things saved,” he said.

Calls to Pacha were not immediately returned Saturday. In previous correspondence, Pacha has cited health concerns in recent years as his reason to try to sell the properties.

Next up for the cottage discussion will be the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting Dec. 18. Then the application for historic landmark designation moves to the Iowa City Council Jan. 6, which will set a public hearing and enact the 60-day moratorium on demolition as long as significant progress has not been made.