The former Don's Service Station dates back to 1931 when it was erected by The Continental Oil Company (now ConocoPhillips) as a training station for gas dealers. Constructed of terra cotta in the Spanish Mission Revival style of architecture, the building served the east side of downtown Des Moines as a gas and service station nearly 80 years. JSC Properties, which is owned by Jim Cownie, acquired the property in August of 2008 as part of a larger real estate transaction. Cownie plans to develop the property as a parking lot.

In the summer of 2008, floods ripped through towns and cities along major Iowa rivers. Thousands of homes and businesses were destroyed. Among those structures were many historic buildings that are now in eminent danger of demolition.

Within the next few days (as of September 23, 2008), Congress is considering a supplemental appropriations bill to assist flooded communities. Please take a few minutes to write to your representatives an stress the importance of preserving and repairing historic buildings.

Angie's List, a popular subscription-based contractor rating service, has opened a Des Moines chapter in late 2007.

From the Angie's List website: More than a million members use Angie's List to find high quality service companies and health care professionals in over 500 categories. From plumbers and painters to dentists and dermatologists, reviews come directly from homeowners in your area.

Assistance is now available to reduce or eliminate lead hazards in housing for income-eligible qualified applicants through the Metropolitan Partnership for Lead Safe Housing program. This means that you can get help paying to repair or replace windows, siding, and other painted surfaces.

Homes selected for assistance must be privately ownedand constructed prior to 1978. Both homeowners and landlords in Polk and Dallas counties can apply to the program. There are limited funds in this program so act now to be sure that your home gets fixed.

Here is a list of questions to spark thinking about preservation and reuse of historic buildings. Please feel free to add your own suggested questions and/or responses in the comments below.

1. What makes a building "historic"? Is it related to age, design, location, social context, occupancy, or some combination of these factors? Which is most important?

2. Does a building have to be individually significant or architecturally unique to be worth preserving?
3. How dependent on its physical context is a historic building? If nearby buildings are demolished, does it affect the historic character of the remaining structures?
4. Is there ever a case when a historic building should be demolished? What are the determining factors?
5. Is it acceptable to drastically alter the interior of a historic building if the outside appearance is preserved?
6. Should there be restrictions on what people can do to historic buildings? Who should determine if a building is historic? What should the consequences be?

A former Iowa governor’s home and one of Des Moines’ last remaining railroad depots have been named to the Des Moines Rehabber’s Club “Seven Most Endangered Buildings” for 2009.

Over the period of about a month, the DMRC received nominations from the public for buildings, homes or structures within the City of Des Moines deemed to be in danger of demolition or neglect. With nearly 800 votes cast, the public made the final decision on which buildings would make the list. The results will help raise awareness of endangered structures in Des Moines and promote opportunities for rehabilitating them.

“Our main goal is to draw attention to these properties and raise awareness of their contribution to Des Moines history,” said Steve Wilke-Shapiro, DMRC organizer. “We also hope the resulting list will provide an opportunity for those who are interested to rehabilitate, reuse or reinvest in these worthy structures.”

The following have been selected as the 2009 “Des Moines Seven Most Endangered Buildings” (in no particular order):

Drake Neighborhood Victorian, 1075 26th Street. This 1889 home was purchased during a tax sale earlier this year. It had been converted into multiple small apartments, and the new owners gutted it in preparation for conversion back to single family. Their plans have changed and it is now for sale. Portions of the structure are currently open to the elements. This structure is located directly adjacent to the Kingman Place National Register Historic District and would potentially be eligible for inclusion as a contributing structure in a new nomination. It is an excellent example of the type and style of structure constructed as part of the early development of the Drake University neighborhood.
East Side Union Railroad Depot, 120 E. 5th. The structure is one of two known passenger depots still standing in Des Moines and the only one on the east side. Built in 1900, the depot came under scrutiny only four years later for not being big enough to accommodate the growing number of passengers. At the time, there were four railroads stopping at the “little station”: the Wabash Railroad, Chicago Great Western Railway; the Chicago Burlington and Quincy Railroad; and the Des Moines, Iowa Falls and Northern Railway.
Former Governor Jackson Mansion, 1618 Oakland. Frank Jackson and his family lived here prior to and during his term as governor (1894-1896). Since Iowa did not provide a house for governors at the time, the house was in effect the Iowa Governor’s Mansion from 1895 to 1897. The Jacksons lived here until the early 1920s when they moved to California. In 1925, the Jackson House and the home of Iowa Supreme Court Justice Scott Ladd at 1624 Oakland were purchased for a proposed Baptist Home and Orphanage.
Fairground Hardware, 2951 E. Walnut St. Built in 1895, the building served as the home of Sherman Lodge #576, associated with Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF). In 1998, it was sold to the current owners and has been the location of this neighborhood hardware store ever since. While this building isn't as physically in danger as many of the other nominations, this particular nomination highlights the fragile condition of the neighborhood hardware store that is critical to both homeowners and urban rehabbers. Several independent hardware stores in the City have closed in the recent past, and it is important to support the remaining ones. Not only do the staff actually know where everything is in the store, but they also often stock items particular to renovation and restoration work - and they know how to use them!
Former North Des Moines Town Hall, 1601 6th Ave. Also known as the Perry and Brainard Block, this building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. Erected between 1888 and 1889, the building is significant in the Annexation Movement in Des Moines and its suburbs in the late 19th century, and it is the only known public building surviving this critical period. North Des Moines played a pivotal role in the Annexation Movement, as it was the largest in population among the suburbs and also the most vocal in stipulating conditions before endorsing annexation. It is the last remaining historic mixed-used building along 6th Avenue that has not been rehabilitated.
Double House, 4018-4020 Ingersoll Ave. Built in 1909, this structure was one of several double houses identified in the City of Des Moines’ “Community Preservation Plan” (1994-1995). The plan reads: “Double houses were developed in Des Moines as early as 1878 and continued to be built until the early part of the 20th century. Since most double houses were built near the central city, many have been demolished in recent years.” Both units of the double house are currently vacant.
Row House, 709 E. Locust. This 1894 building may be the oldest surviving row house in Polk County, though recent research suggests that the building next to it is actually a year older. The Iowa Department of Administrative Services has purchased the buildings at the foot of the West Capitol Terrace in order to finish plans for that project. The State has indicated it is interested in preserving the two historical buildings, though at the current time, what that means is unclear. The building was renovated in the early 00’s.

The Des Moines Rehabber’s Club received 13 nominations to its 2nd Annual Most Endangered Buildings list. This list highlights Des Moines buildings in danger of demolition or neglect.

Nominations for the Des Moines Most Endangered Buildings list typically meet the following criteria:

• The building or structure must be located in the City of Des Moines.

• The building must be threatened with either active demolition or permanent damage due to neglect within the next year. The building must not be too far deteriorated as to make rehabilitation unfeasible.
• There is no preference for building type, use, style, or size.
• A building does not have to be on the National Register or located in a historic district to be nominated.

The Historic East Village, Inc. (HEV) Board of Directors today inked an agreement with Jerry Bassman to finalize the purchase of the building formerly known as Don’s East Grand Texaco.

The gas station, removed from its original location at 203 E. Grand in April, has been sitting on a temporary site at E. 3rd and Walnut while HEV sought a buyer and worked to raise money to offset moving expenses. In May, the Board voted to list the building on eBay. Bassman, an antiques collector and regular eBay user, first saw the gas station listed there and became interested.

The Des Moines Register reports:

KLM International, an international evangelistic organization founded by Pastors Kenney and Neja Linhart, has bought the former Kingsway Cathedral property at 901 19th St. The cathedral is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was put on a list of buildings the Rehabbers Club deemed to be in imminent danger of neglect or demolition last year.

Related Articles: 

901 19th - Kingsway Cathedral

Starting on April 22, 2010, every contractor who works on a house built before 1978 or any "child-occupied facility" where work will disturb lead based paint, must have successfully completed a certified renovator course delivered by an EPA-accredited trainer. In addition every firm involved in renovation in target housing must be registered with the EPA. This rule applies, with a few exceptions, to all renovations performed for compensation in target housing and child-occupied facilities. A home owner working on his or her specific owner-occupied housing unit is exempt from the rule, though it is of course strongly recommended that lead-safe work practices be followed.

In a nutshell - covered by the rule is any renovation where the work area will disturb either 1 square foot of painted surface. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Window replacement or repair

• Door replacement or repair
• Gutters
• Trim
• Cabinets
• Blown-in Insulation
• Siding/soffits
• Painting/stripping
• Plumbing, electrical, and HVAC (if walls are disturbed)
• Floor sanding
• Demolition

The following is a reprint of a Letter to the Editor published in the April 28, 2009, Des Moines Register:

To the Editor:

As the Iowa Legislature winds up a controversial session, I want to commend it on increasing the allocation for historic rehabilitation tax credits.

On January 27, 2009, the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED) announced a new Lead Professional Training scholarship program.

IDED recognizes that Iowa has a shortage of trained and certified lead contractors, workers, and inspectors primarily in the realm of lead abatement. Due to the impact of Iowa's 2008 disasters, this problem is compounded. In order to build the capacity and meet the demand for these services, IDED will immediately implement this program.

The parameters of the program are:

The Des Moines Register is publishing a series of articles highlighting each of the 2008 "Des Moines' Most Endangered Buildings". This coverage will provide a great deal of publicity for the list - hopefully people will come forward to take on these difficult projects!

THE 2008 NOMINATION PERIOD HAS CLOSED. THANKS TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO SENT IN NOMINATION FORMS.

The Des Moines Rehabbers Club is seeking nominations for the first annual Des Moines Seven Most Endangered Buildings List! The nomination deadline is September 22, 2008.

This annual "Most Endangered Building List" will draw attention to buildings in danger of demolition before they are irrevocably destroyed.

• There are currently 25 buildings on the City of Des Moines "Demo List" - These are buildings that are in a state of disrepair such that the City has decided they are a danger to the public health and safety. Many more buildings are listed as "public nuisance" properties. If the conditions that caused a public nuisance action are not corrected, a public nuisance building may be demolished.

• Many other buildings are simply vacant and abandoned - If these buildings are not adequately secured from vandalism and weather, it is likely they will eventually end up on the demo list.
• Some of the buildings that are actively demolished could be rehabilitated - The "nuclear option" is used before all other options are exhausted.
• Demolition of "rehab-able" buildings is a waste of natural resources and energy - Rehabilitation of existing buildings is a "green" option compared to demolition. Reusing an existing building saves waste from landfills. Older buildings were often built to take advantage of natural ventilation, and can be made energy efficient.
• Buildings (even those in good condition) that stand in the way of new developments are demolished – The community can work with developers to save notable or historic structures. There are examples across the city of substantial buildings standing in the way of proposed projects.

[UPDATE June 25, 2008 - The final rule changes did not include the initially proposed five year holding period requirement. Thank you to everyone who helped highlight the negative impact of the proposed rule change.]

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PROPOSED RULE CHANGES - Note: the final rule changes did not include the following passage. However, this is an indication of how we must all be conscious of legislation and administrative rules concerning historic rehabilitation.

One change in particular concerned me greatly:

New Rule: 48.10A(303,404A) Repayment of tax credit certificates.
48.10A(1) The owner must retain ownership of the project building for five full years after completion of the rehabilitation or pay back the credit. If the building owner disposes of the project building within one year after certification of the project and award of the tax credit, the owner shall repay 100% of the tax credit. For properties held between one and five years, the tax credit repayment amount is reduced by 20% per year.

In practical terms, this rule would prohibit developers from utilizing the Historic Tax Credits to renovate otherwise qualifying historic single family homes - no developer could afford to hold a building for five years.

The Des Moines Register gives some more love to renovation on February 5, 2008, with an article about Central Campus students working on a renovation project:

Students at Central Campus are working together to flip a house without the rush and glamour of some reality shows.

Being Neighborly Part of Plan - Des Moines Register article, February 7, 2008.

The Des Moines Register published a wonderful story about Jack Daugherty's renovation project in the Union Park neighborhood. Daugherty, a project manager with Koester Construction, purchased and renovated the house next door to the one he and his family live in.

Daugherty... expects to make little if any profit from the sale.

He never intended the project to be about money.

From the Tuesday November 27, 2007, Des Moines Register, staff writer Melissa Walker reports on the Kingsway Cathedral:

Owners of the century-old church at 901 19th St. will again ask for permission to demolish the building, which the city ordered closed in early 2003 because of structural problems.

Congregation members said then that the problems were caused by vibrations from the Interstate Highway 235 reconstruction work.
Advertisement

Lead paint can be found on almost any surface of your historic home: windows, walls, ceilings, siding, cabinetry, and trim. Lead is a poison and can affect both humans and pets. Children are particularly susceptible. Contact the Polk County Health Department for more information on lead paint law, lead poisoning symptoms, and how to rid your house of lead.

Lynn Simmons
Program Specialist
Polk County Health Department
1907 Carpenter Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50314

Phone: 515-286-3596

e-mail: Lsimmon@co.polk.ia.us

NEW GROUP PROMOTES RENOVATION OF HISTORIC HOMES

The Des Moines Rehabbers Club is a new organization providing support and encouragement for people who are undertaking renovation tasks of all types, from repairing a plaster crack all the way through a gut renovation or full restoration project.

At tonight's meeting, the Pioneer Park application for recognition was approved by the Neighborhood Revitalization Board. Questions were asked regarding the spatial distribution of neighborhood organization board members (most of them live on one side of the neighborhood) and some specifics about membership voting rights.

The motion to approve passed unanimously after a couple minutes of discussion.

Congratulations Pioneer Park!

An update from the Des Moines Register on the previous Pioneer Park article. Pioneer Park is moving forward in its bid to become Des Moines' 51st "recognized" neighborhood.

The Des Moines Register reports that the Pioneer Park neighborhood association has selected officers and will be petitioning the Neighborhood Revitalization Board for recognition as early as the August 1 meeting.

The Des Moines Register has published an in-depth story of River Bend neighborhood residents' fight to reduce crime.

Troubled by the high number of renters and multi-family homes in the area, Jenison said her association has lobbied for zoning changes.

"We would like to swing the balance over more toward homeowners because of the investment they make," Jenison said. "Homeowners are vested in the neighborhood."

[Read more on DesMoinesRegister.com]