Harrison Elementary added to Cedar Rapids 'most endangered' list

CEDAR RAPIDS - The city's Historic Preservation Commission is making a pre-emptive strike to save an 83-year-old school building.

Commission members voted Thursday to add Harrison Elementary School to its Most Endangered Properties list.

The commission last month had finalized the list - created to draw attention to buildings at risk of being demolished or otherwise lost - but made the change after input from the Cedar Rapids City Council.

Harrison, 1310 11th St. NW, is one of four elementary schools that could be closed in Cedar Rapids.

A final public input session on the proposed school closings was under way Thursday, at about the same time the commission voted on adding Harrison to its list. Superintendent Dave Benson will make his recommendations to the school board Monday night.

Still, commission members said the school building was at enough risk to add it to the list of endangered properties.

To keep the list to 11, Fire Station No. 2, Fifth Street and E Avenue NW, was removed.

Commission member Jon Thompson noted that city officials have scheduled a public open house to solicit ideas on how to reuse the flood-damaged century-old firehouse.

“It's not as endangered as it once was,” chairwoman Maura Pilcher said.

That meeting is set for 4 to 6 p.m. Monday at St. Patrick's Parish Center, 120 Fifth St. NW.