Rezoning request made for former site of cottages

IOWA CITY - An area developer is seeking a rezoning of seven adjacent lots in the Riverfront Crossings District to allow for development of a mixed-use building up to four stories in height.

Last year, a similar rezoning request was made for the same roughly 1-acre site on the 600 block of S. Dubuque Street, which led to a flurry of community debate - which boiled down to property rights and development versus historic preservation - surrounding three cottages on the same block.

Ultimately, that rezoning request was pulled while residents picked sides between preserving the cottages and allowing development.

However, those cottages have since been demolished - one last year and the remaining two this spring - after the council voted against their historic preservation so city officials expect considerably less pushback this time around.

'At this stage, the cottages have been demolished,” said John Yapp, Iowa City development service coordinator.

Yapp added that, if a rezoning is approved, the project could be built in phases.

On Thursday, the Iowa City Planning and Zoning Commission will discuss the rezoning for the seven plots - 602, 604, 608, 610, 614, 620 and 628 S. Dubuque St.

City staff have recommended approval of the request to rezone the site to Riverfront Crossings District's Central Crossings zone, subject to a conditional agreement that requires the inclusion of a pedestrian passage or mid-block forecourt frontage to provide additional open space for future residents or commercial tenants.

Kevin Digmann, with Hodge Construction, who was listed as the contact for rezoning applicant HD Capital Partners LLC, said a specific design for the building has not been completed, but added that the structure will adhere to all requirements laid out in the Riverfront Crossings District zoning rules.

The Riverfront Crossings form-based zoning would be a 'significant upzoning” from the current Community Commercial zone, according to a staff report on the rezoning application. The new zone would allow for a broad mix of commercial and residential uses and up to four stories in height - all floors above the third must have a facade step back - with the possibility for four additional floors through applicable bonus height provisions such as historic preservation or the inclusion of affordable housing.

Cottage sites aside, many of the remaining tenants on the 600 block of S. Dubuque Street have left or are preparing to relocate.

Michael Chamberlain, owner of The Broken Spoke, 602 S. Dubuque St., said his lease expires at the end of December and it has not been renewed. He also had not heard of the rezoning request.

'I haven't been informed of anything, which isn't too surprising,” he said. 'I know my building will probably not be here within six months.”

Fortunately, Chamberlain has found a new home at 757 S. Gilbert St. and will soon be moving.

That said, Chamberlain, who was vocal during the countless cottage-related meetings last year, added that he's still disappointed by the potential demolition and redevelopment, which he said replaces affordable business locations with high priced commercial space.

'My disappointment greatly comes from the fact that this is the systematic disintegration of cheap commercial rent,” he said.