Historic buildings face deadline; smokestack efforts move ahead

The clock is ticking on historic buildings that face the wrecking ball in the proposed Cedar Rapids medical district.

At the same time, plans are progressing on another historic preservation issue: the Sinclair smokestack.

The Historic Preservation Commission voted unanimously Thursday night to release for demolition the building housing the Young Parents Network, 205 12

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St. SE.

Built in 1920, the Dutch Colonial sits on the site where Physicians' Clinic of Iowa plans to build a medical mall. Proponents say the mall would become an anchor for a medical district spanning from St. Luke's Hospital to Mercy Medical Center .

Commission members had hoped to relocate five of at least seven buildings slated for demolition to make way for the mall.

Thursday night's vote followed a similar one last month on the Wicker Hill Tea Room, 1038 Third Ave. SE.

Neither building had been inventoried to see if it was eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

Without that designation, there is less financial incentive to move the buildings. Developers can recoup about half of moving and rehabilitation costs in the form of tax credits for historic buildings.

Commission member Amanda McKnight, who has been working with St. Luke's officials, said St. Luke's had extended its deadline by 30 days. That deadline expires Friday.

St. Luke's is buying the properties to lease to PCI.

McKnight said time is also running out on three buildings that qualify for the national register and have an interested developer: the 1930-built Roman Apartments, 1115 Second Ave. SE; the Ellinor, a 12-plex built in 1910 at 1040 Third Ave. SE; and a 1915 home-turned-office at 1113 Second Ave. SE.

All three need contracts to purchase vacant lots where the buildings would be relocated, she said. St. Luke's needs that information by Friday.

Also last night, commission members launched fundraising efforts for the century-old Sinclair smokestack.

Noting that misinformation has been circulating in the community, members said they will be available at public events, such as farmers markets and the Freedom Festival, to provide details.

For example, a call to tear down the smokestack and reuse the bricks as a memorial to the former meatpacking plant is unfeasible.

Chimney experts say the bricks interlock, with each binding to the next. Mortar is poured into holes down the middle, making them monolithic and impossible to separate and reuse.

Members will also have photos showing historic smokestacks that have been preserved across the country, such as the Lucky Strike tower, which became the anchor for redevelopment in Durham, N.C.

Tax-deductible contributions for the Sinclair smokestack preservation can be sent to: The Historic Preservation Commission, c/o Sushil Nepal, Cedar Rapids City Hall, 3851 River Ridge Dr. NE. Make checks out to the Historic Preservation Commission and write “smokestack” in the memo line.