Owners of Kinnick-style house agree to halt construction

IOWA CITY — A Decorah couple building a home in Iowa City that resembles the University of Iowa's Kinnick Stadium have agreed to halt construction while waiting for resolution of legal matters between neighbors of the house and the city.

During a district court hearing Monday at the Johnson County Courthouse, an attorney for Frederic 'Reed' Carlson and his wife Sandy — owners of 101 Lusk Ave., where construction of the 7,500-square-foot home is underway — said the couple has agreed not to continue building until after a hearing set for 1:30 p.m. March 31.

What happens after that date depends on the ruling of the court.

Neighbors of the property took the case to court after a September Board of Adjustment decision that failed to uphold their appeal of city decisions regarding the house. Neighbors were seeking to stop the house from being built, claiming that Iowa City erred in classifying the house as a single-family residence and granting a building permit.

In addition to traditional bedrooms, the house plans call for a home theater, sport court, courtyard, an industrial kitchen, and women and men's bathrooms.

The Carlsons have said the home is to be used for family gatherings.

But members of the Neighbors of Manville Heights Association have argued the home will become a party house that could overwhelm the area with people and cars.

Also in question was the house's use of a private sewer which connects to two other neighborhood homes. Bob Hatala, who represents the Carlsons, said Monday they do not plan to use the sewer but rather work with the city to find an alternate sewer route.

During Monday's hearing, attorneys for the neighbors, Iowa City and Carlsons met in judge's chambers and with their clients for roughly 45 minutes to hammer out a schedule regarding court matters.

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