Zoning application withdrawn for cottage property

IOWA CITY - The rezoning application that has stirred public concern for three mid-19th century cottages has been withdrawn by the applicant.

That said, the future of the cottages at 608, 610, and 614 S. Dubuque St. remains unclear now that two structural engineers offer conflicting opinions on the structural stability of the three buildings.

Alicia Trimble, executive director with Friends of Historic Preservation, said she had a structural engineer with Morning Star Studio in Cedar Rapids perform a survey of the cottages Monday morning.

Trimble said the cottages were found to be structurally sound.

'They are safe to be in, there is no danger that they're going to fall down,” Trimble said.

The official report had not been filed with the city as of Monday afternoon and calls to Morning Star Studio's Shanna Duggan, structural engineer, were not immediately returned.

A different report filed Thursday by James Jacob of Coralville's VJ Engineering states the opposite - the cottages are structurally unsafe and should be razed, noting several problems with the buildings including deteriorating bricks and mortar, warped walls and cracks in the foundation.

'The structures pose a danger to occupants and bystanders,” Jacobs wrote in the report. 'I would strongly recommend the buildings be vacated as soon as possible and be razed.”

Jacobs also indicates in the report that the buildings would not stand the stresses associated with lifting and moving the cottages and repair is impossible due to the extent of deterioration.

As a result of last week's report, Iowa City transportation planner John Yapp said the city will have to provide Ted Pacha, who owns the cottages, with a notice of violation, which would require an abatement. That could include repairing the buildings so they are no longer in violation, or potentially razing the structures.

Yapp said he wouldn't be able to comment on the second report until he has a chance to see it.

'I guess it would depend on what it said,” he said. 'Then we'll have to go into the details on determining why it's different.”

The future remains unclear for the tenants of the three cottages, which includes the Book Shop, Suzy's Antiques and Gifts, and Moy Yat Ving Tsun Kung Fu Academy.

Calls seeking comment to Kevin Digmann of Hodge Construction and Pacha were not returned Monday.

William Ingles, who lives in 608 S. Dubuque St. and operates the Book Shop, said he has already been informed by Pacha that an eviction notice would arrive this week.

While Ingles, who is not in a rental lease for the property, said he has no hard feelings toward Pacha, he added that he hopes the new report might sway city officials.

At this point, Ingles said he is prepared to be out of the cottage he has occupied for decades.

'I'm out on Jan. 1 with no place to go, I don't know what that means in my case,” he said.

Trimble said she is seeking national and local recognition for the historic nature of the cottages to preserve them.

Trimble said an application to the city could be finished by next week.

'The sooner the better,” she said.