Neighbors cry foul over Kinnick-style house

IOWA CITY — An Iowa Hawkeyes fan plans to build a house bearing a striking resemblance to one of this city's most iconic structures — the University of Iowa's Kinnick Stadium.

The 7,400-square-foot house, planned for 101 Lusk Ave., has some nearby Manville Heights residents worried about how such a building fits in with the neighborhood and what its intended use will be.

About a dozen residents who live near the proposed house attended Tuesday's Iowa City Council meeting to raise concerns. They said about 50 of them gathered in a neighborhood meeting Monday to question it.

Anne Lahey, who owns a home next to the planned Kinnick-shaped house, said the streets there don't have enough parking or room for emergency vehicles if the building were to be used as a gathering spot.

'Obviously I'm very concerned about the neighborhood.' she said. 'It's a very friendly type of residential neighborhood.'

City staff says little can be done to keep such a house from being built, as long as it meets the building code.

John Yapp, Iowa City development services coordinator, said staff had received 'a handful' of concerns.

'In general, the two concerns were the appearance and design of the house and then how would the house be used,' Yapp said.

Yapp said while the house — proposed by Decorah resident Frederic Reed Carlson — is unusual, city code allows the proposal as long as it fits the definition of a single-family house, which includes elements like a kitchen, bedrooms and living spaces common in a home.

While the top floor's plans include those living spaces, the first floor calls for a commercial kitchen and men's and women's bathrooms.

Plans filed with the city also show a theater, what appears to be a mini-basketball court and an 'open courtyard' in the center.

The house is not proposed for property within a protected district, so enforcement on design is limited.

'Staff has no authority to control the design of a single-family house in an area that is not a historic or conservation district, other than for code compliance,' according to a staff memo sent to the City Council.

Carlson said he has no plans to turn the building into a party hangout. He said the Kinnick Stadium likeness simply stems from fandom.

'I'm a theme guy and I'm obviously a Hawkeye fan,' Carlson said in an interview.

Carlson, 64, who lives in Decorah and has family in Iowa City, said he plans occasional family gatherings at the house but it would be vacant much of the year.

'It's a second home,' he said.

This isn't the first time Carlson, co-owner of Decorah's Geothermal Eco Options., tried to build a house bearing strong resemblance to Kinnick Stadium.

Last August, the University Heights City Council denied his attempts to build a house — which also looked like Kinnick Stadium — on Highland Drive.

That proposal was tied to a required sewer easement from the city, which required a vote from the council.

Carlson said he felt opposition to the building from neighbors played a major role in that council's denial.

'The neighbors in opposition said, 'Oh, they're going to have all these parties.' I think what they thought was we were going to rent this to college students,' he said.

In an attempt to curb concerns, Iowa City has had Carlson sign an affidavit of use, which essentially has him agreeing to use it as a single family residence. That means it cannot host alcohol sales or be a rental without permitting from the city.

Plans have been reviewed by the city and a building permit could be approved soon, documents show.

City Attorney Eleanor Dilkes said the City Council has no authority over the matter.

But the council asked for the Kinnick-shaped house to be placed on a future agenda so members could discuss the neighborhood concerns.