Demolitions loom for flood-damaged commercial buildings

CEDAR RAPIDS - Demolitions will proceed on two-thirds of an initial list of commercial buildings that could have historical significance, but a hold has been placed on 10 others, plus a historic church.

The Historic Preservation Commission, which reviews demolition permits for buildings 50 years and older, assessed 37 structures in the first round of flood-damaged commercial properties bought out by the city.

At its meeting Thursday night, the commission also reviewed a demolition permit application for the former People's Church, 600 Third Ave. SE. The church was not damaged in the Flood of 2008, but the congregation moved and sold the building to developer Steve Emerson.

Emerson, president of Aspect Architecture, plans to raze the church and construct an office building on the site.

The 1875 stucco and brick church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Commission members narrowly approved placing a 60-day hold on the demolition.

“I want (the record to show) that it was fought for,” chairwoman Maura Pilcher said in explaining her vote to place a hold on the permit.

Four commission members sided with Pilcher; two abstained and two voted against the hold, saying the building had been gutted by the congregation and lost its historical significance. Stained glass windows, carved wooden pews and other items were removed before Emerson acquired the building.

The commission's only “power” in demolition requests is placing the 60-day hold on permits, in hopes that a building could be moved or salvaged, but those take private investment.

Cedar Rapids historian Mark Stoffer Hunter said the building will likely be the first on the National Register that is demolished in Cedar Rapids without having been damaged by fire or natural disaster.

“It's really the last brick church of this era that's still standing (in the city,)” he said, noting that the stucco hid the original brick structure. “There isn't much left standing at all in Cedar Rapids from the 1870s.”

The commission could not consider placing a hold on 16 of the 37 flood-damaged commercial properties, because they were considered health and safety threats.

Those include the Log Cabin Lounge, 801 E Ave. NW; Saddle and Leather Shop, 48 16th Ave. SW and Brosh Chapel, 1028 Third St. SE.

One Czech Village property, Affordable Appliance at 1501 C St. SW, was pulled from the list at the request of developer Baron Stark.

Joe O'Hern, the city's flood recovery and reinvestment director, said negotiations are under way to sell that property.

Of the remaining 20, the commission voted to put a hold on half and allow demolition to proceed on the other half.

Commission members said they hoped the city could allow more than 60 days for private entities to come forward with proposals to potentially save the 10 structures on hold, which include Salem United Methodist Church, 221 First Ave. SW, and buildings in the Third Avenue SW district, which is eligible for the National Register.

O'Hern said all of the properties on the commercial list, which will number in the hundreds, must be razed by December 2012 because of funding stipulations.

Buildings under 50 years old, including the Ellis A&W, 1136 Ellis Blvd. NW, will not come before the commission because they are not old enough to merit consideration as historic.