The importance of ‘endangered historic buildings’ lists

By Mark Stoffer Hunter

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Recently, the Cedar Rapids Historic Preservation Commission released a listing of “11 Most Endangered Properties.” This is a key component to informing the public and raising awareness about current threats to places important to the history and identity of Cedar Rapids.

Although only 11 sites were selected, the complete current list of endangered sites numbers nearly 75. Not since the old urban renewal period of the 1960s and early 1970s has there been such a significant threat to so many historic sites at the same time.

In those years, city urban renewal projects such as building municipal parking facilities and a new civic center resulted in the demolitions of landmarks such as Union Depot in 1961 and the old Danceland Ballroom building in 1973.

Additional city urban renewal projects in the late 1960s eliminated entire blocks of the downtown area without any consideration of a blend of new construction combined with preserving some existing historic sites on those blocks.

An appropriate blending of the old and the new is the most successful way to preserve a unique sense of identity for the community. The core of Downtown Cedar Rapids on the east side of the Cedar River has demonstrated this effectively in the post-2008 flood recovery period: First Street SE features modern high-rise structures such as the new federal courthouse and at the same time retains historic landmarks such as the older federal courthouse and the Smulekoff and Hach buildings.

The preservation of important places such as the old Roosevelt Hotel and the Iowa Theatre on First Avenue while creating a new Convention Center sends a message about a community that respects its past and moves toward the future concurrently. Similar patterns are occurring in the New Bohemia and Czech Village areas.

The vast majority of places on the endangered list are actually in the adjacent neighborhoods surrounding downtown. Many are located on Third Avenue SW, just west of the river in an area designated a “potential construction zone” for future flood protection on the west side.

Top concern there is the Louis Sullivan-designed former Peoples Bank (Wells Fargo) building at 101 Third Avenue SW, an internationally known work of American architecture.

A similar “construction zone” designation on the east side of the river still potentially threatens structures such as the old Czech School building at 925 Second Street SE.

A large number of flood-affected commercial properties that are part of the city's buyout process will fall to the wrecking ball this year. Some are historic in nature such as the Saddle & Leather Shop building in Czech Village and the old Calvary Baptist Church at Fifth Avenue and Sixth Street SW, built in 1891.

The growing medical district east of the downtown creates concern for existing historic landmarks. Structures already slated for demolition in the coming weeks include the old DeSoto dealership building at 829 Second Avenue SE, the old Williams residence at 834 Third Avenue SE (built c. 1885) and the massive century-old First Christian Church at 840 Third Avenue SE.

Among other concerns are the fates of historic structures in the flood-affected areas that are being acquired by the city even though they were completely or partially restored since the flood.

Learning more about the history of an endangered building or encouraging City Council to take a look at redrawing “construction zone” parameters are examples of why the involvement of private property owners, developers and the public at large is always critical in determining the fate of the unique historic landmarks of Cedar Rapids.

Mark Stoffer Hunter is a historian, specializing in Cedar Rapids area history. Comments: markcrhistory@yahoo.com.