Historic Sanxay-Gilmore house will be preserved after Iowa City, Board of Regents strike a deal

IOWA CITY — The Sanxay-Gilmore house, believed to be one of Iowa City’s oldest residences, will be historically preserved following a deal between the city and the Iowa Board of Regents.

The future of the house, constructed in the 1840s, has been up in the air since the University of Iowa bought the property in 2018. Plans ranging from complete renovation to physically moving the house from its place at 109 Market St., have all fallen through.

The Greek Revival house, which was built using limestone thought to be left over from construction of the Old Capitol, was once owned by Eugene Gilmore, the UI’s 12th president from 1934 to 1940.

Preservation Iowa, a statewide historical preservation alliance, in 2018 listed the house among its most endangered properties.

Typically, state owned properties are not subject to Iowa City’s city code, which includes protections for local historic landmarks and districts.

However, in 2003 the university agreed to voluntarily subject a different property — the Cannon-Gay house located near Boyd Law Building — to the city’s historic preservation standards.

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The Cannon-Gay is no longer being used after the university identified safety concerns due to issues with the house’s foundation.

The university has noted that any construction to make the house suitable would significantly alter the historic elements of the building and be “fiscally irresponsible.”

“The University approached us with this dilemma, knowing that one of our biggest historic preservation goals that we have had for the last decade is to protect a different property, the Sanxay-Gilmore house,” City Manager Geoff Fruin said at a city council meeting Tuesday night.

The result was a trade offer, which was unanimously approved by Iowa City Council earlier this week. The city will remove the local historic preservation requirements on the Cannon-Gay house and in return the university will ensure the Sanxay-Gilmore house’s long term preservation.

“The University will agree to the stipulations of those preservation requirements and keep the Sanxay House where it sits. It also will explore options for the use of the building,” Rod Lehnertz, Senior Vice President of Finance and Operations at UI, wrote in a letter to the city.

Sanxay-Gilmore house is not currently in use by the university. While the exact future of the Cannon-Gay house still is to be determined, efforts will be made to preserve its historic front door.

Comments: megan.woolard@thegazette.com

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