Buildings being razed in path of PCI’s medical mall

Despite attempts to relocate two historic apartment buildings, the structures will be razed this month to make way for Physicians' Clinic of Iowa's new medical mall.

The 1930-built Roman Apartments, 1115 Second Ave. SE, and the Ellinor, a dusty-blue 12-plex built in 1910 at 1040 Third Ave. SE, were both eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

Developers can recoup about half of moving and rehabilitation costs in the form of tax credits for historic buildings.

Green Development LLC of Iowa City had an agreement to purchase a parking lot owned by SourceMedia Group (Gazette Communications) at Seventh Street and Fourth Avenue SE to relocate the buildings, but Green president Charles Jones said he could not obtain the necessary financing.

“It's such a different project, that in this climate, the banks didn't go for it,” Jones said.

Demolition began Monday, Nov. 15, on the former Elegant Repeats, 1101 Second Ave. SE. Built in 1957, the shop was the first of several buildings to come down in the path of PCI's medical mall.

A vacant concrete structure built in 1958 at 1035 Third Ave. SE, is also scheduled to be razed, as are the former Young Parents Network, 205 12th St. SE, a 1920's Dutch Colonial; and the Wicker Hill Tea Room, 1038 Third Ave. SE, built in 1900.

Jones is making a last-ditch effort to save the final building: a historic 1915 home-turned-office at 1113 Second Ave. SE that is also eligible for the National Register.

The stucco Arts and Crafts-style home has five fireplaces, built-in bookcases, oak woodwork and original tiles. Windows line a sun porch, as well as the landing of the grand staircase. The Hamilton family, which started Hawkeye Seed Co., lived in the home in its early years.

It most recently housed The Creative Gene, an advertising agency.

Jones said he hopes to move the building nearby, where it can be leased for office space.

The cost of the $106,000 move will be offset by money that would have gone to demolition, he said.

St. Luke's Hospital is assembling the property for PCI's medical mall. The City Council voted this fall to close part of Second Avenue SE for the massive complex, which will anchor a new medical district between St. Luke's and Mercy Medical Center.