Last month, the state of Iowa voted to demolish a house at 711 Melrose Avenue, despite opposition from local community members and residents along Melrose Avenue. The stat plans to proceed in demolishing the house, although in an attempt to preserve some history, the barn behind the house will be left standing.
It has not been decided as of yet whether the barn will be moved to another location or remain on the site of what will be a parking lot for the University of Iowa's hospital staff. It may only be shifted slightly to allow cars to move around it safely.
The house on the site, which was over 100 years old, had to be demolished in order to create the extra parking space at all. This decision causes some issues with those that wanted to preserve the piece of Iowa City's history.
There was no option to keep the house standing, but the Board of Regents wanted to work with those interested in preserving the city's history, so they compromised with the decision on the barn. It is small enough to not interfere with the movement that will be in the parking lot.
Even though the removal of the house will have an impact on Iowa City's Historical District, official suggest the negative impact will be lessened by the barn's preservation. It is in much better condition than the house and still retains its original roof and siding. The house would have to be restored if it was to be left standing.
Discussions have taken place about naming the parking lot something to refer to the house that will be torn down for it, but this is very unlikely because it is the University of Iowa's practice to name their parking lots by numbers.
The house on the site, which was over 100 years old, had to be demolished in order to create the extra parking space at all. This decision causes some issues with those that wanted to preserve the piece of Iowa City's history.
There was no option to keep the house standing, but the Board of Regents wanted to work with those interested in preserving the city's history, so they compromised with the decision on the barn. It is small enough to not interfere with the movement that will be in the parking lot.
Even though the removal of the house will have an impact on Iowa City's Historical District, official suggest the negative impact will be lessened by the barn's preservation. It is in much better condition than the house and still retains its original roof and siding. The house would have to be restored if it was to be left standing.
Discussions have taken place about naming the parking lot something to refer to the house that will be torn down for it, but this is very unlikely because it is the University of Iowa's practice to name their parking lots by numbers.
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