Cedar Rapids buildings could move to make way for medical mall

An idea to radically change health care delivery in Cedar Rapids is being met with an equally radical proposal to preserve part of a neighborhood.

Mike Sundall, chief executive officer for Physicians' Clinic of Iowa, said PCI's planned medical mall - part of an emerging medical district - would offer a cutting-edge delivery model to benefit patients in Cedar Rapids and beyond.

The plan combines PCI's five locations into a 180,000-square-foot campus that will span two blocks between 10th and 12th streets SE, potentially close part of Second Avenue SE and require removal of at least seven buildings.

Community leaders believe the new medical district near downtown will spur health care collaboration and additional development, including places for medical workers to live. One idea is to pick up and move housing that already exists.

Two apartment buildings and several businesses could face demolition in coming months to make way for the medical mall, but preservationists hold high hopes to move some of the structures.

The Cedar Rapids Historic Preservation Commission is in discussions with St. Luke's Hospital, which is buying the land to lease to PCI, as well as an Iowa City developer who might finance the moves.

“I don't think there's a question that we want to do this,” said commission Chairwoman Maura Pilcher. “The question is: Is there money to do it?”

Pilcher said anyone interested in the buildings on Second and Third avenues SE should contact the commission.

One of those properties, the 1930-built Roman Apartments, 1115 Second Ave. SE, is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Other properties are under review.

Historical designations could mean the difference between hauling tons of demolition debris to a landfill and reusing

buildings elsewhere in the city, said Rod Scott, president of Preservation Iowa.

Nearly half of moving and rehabilitation costs can be recouped in the form of tax credits for

historical buildings.

Demolition costs might also be put toward the move.

Scott, who has advocated moving flood-damaged homes instead of demolishing them, noted that reusing buildings is more environmentally responsible and less costly than building new.

His employer, Jeremy Patterson Structural Movers of Washington, Iowa, has moved thousands of homes throughout the United States.

Two commercial

buildings will likely be demolished, though: the former Elegant Repeats, 1101 Second Ave. SE, built in 1957, and a vacant building constructed in 1958 at 1035 Third Ave. SE.

The commission hopes all five others can be moved. The city or a private owner would need to identify lots near the proposed medical district to relocate the buildings.

Sundall said he supports moving the buildings.

St. Luke's officials said nothing formal has been proposed. Spokeswoman Laura Rainey said the commission has a Tuesday deadline to come back with an official proposal.

All the buildings would have to be removed before spring 2011, when PCI plans to break ground. The medical mall should be finished by January 2013.

Besides the seven buildings, purchases are being negotiated on other properties, including His Hands Free Medical Clinic, 1043 Third Ave. SE. Director Andi Doane said the clinic has been given no timeline on when it must move.

With stained carpet on the stairs, the Ellinor, a dusty blue three-story apartment building at 1040 Third Ave. SE, has seen better days. Heavy wooden doors with beveled glass and banisters lit by a skylight and chandelier hearken back to the 1910 building's more luxurious years.

Donya Humbles, 32, said the building still fulfills a need. As a full-time Kirkwood student, Humbles said it's difficult to find housing as affordable as the $450 monthly rent she pays there.

Residents in the 14-unit building were given notice to move out by June 1, she said.

The same will be true of the 11-unit Roman Apartments, but some entities are staying.

The Rev. Dan Kolander, senior pastor of First Lutheran Church, 1000 Third Ave. SE, said the congregation has discussed moving and has been asked if it would sell.

“At this point, we are going to be here,” he said.

The medical mall could be built in an L-shape around the church. Kolander said he sees the 2,500-member congregation playing a role in the medical district.

“Spiritual health is part of the whole health continuum,” he said. “We think it's a positive thing for our community and for our church.”