1598 Central demolish catwalkPlanning Services Department
City Halt
50 West 13th Sl~eet
Dubuque, Iowa 520014864
(563) 589-42~0 office
(563) 5894221 fax
(563) 690-6678 TDD
planning~cityofdubuque.or g
October 27, 2003
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
City of Dubuque
City Hall-50 W. 13th Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
RE: Request for Demolition Permit
Applicant:
Location:
Demolition District:
Description:
Ken-Mo Farms. IncFFerry Mozena
1598 Central Avenue
Downtown Neighborhood District
To demolish/remove a second story catwalk from North side of
building
Dear Mayor and City Council Members:
The City of Dubuque Histodc Preservation Commission has reviewed the above-cited
request. The application, staff report and related materials are attached for your review.
Discussion
Terry Mozena, member of the Historic Preservation Commission, removed himself from
the table.
Mr. Mozena spoke in favor of the request to demolish/remove a second story catwalk
from the North side of the building at 1598 Central Avenue. He explained the
deteriorated condition of the catwalk, brick work, tuckpointing, and support brackets. He
indicated that the Building Services Department has notified him that the catwalk is not
structurally sound, and he barricaded it immediately. He reviewed the proposal to
remove the catwalk and replace it with a small landing for a door on the second floor.
He noted that the catwalk does not seem to be original, as do the porches located on
the rear of the structure. Mr. Mozena indicated that he had some safety and secudty
concerns for the two windows that are along the catwalk. He noted that the catwalk
serves no purpose at this time.
There were no public comments.
The Historic Preservation Commission discussed the request, noting that removal of the
catwalk will not affect the historical or architectural significance of the property.
Service People Integrity Responsibility Innovation Teamwork
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
October 27, 2003
Page 2
Recommendation
By a vote of 5 to 0 with one abstention by Commissioner Mozena, the Historic
Preservation Commission recommends that the City Council approve the request to
demolish/remove a second story catwalk, due to no affect on the architectural or
historical significance of the structure.
A simple majority vote is needed for the City Council to approve the request for a
demolition permit.
Respectfully submitted,
Christopher Wand, Chairperson
Historic Preservation Commission
cc: Rich Russell, Building Services Manager
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5S3-584-0282
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PLANNING APPLT~A'rZON FORH
City of
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Dubuque, IA 52001-48G4
Fax: 563- 589-42Z1
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Building Services Department
50 West 13th Sm-et
Dubuque, Iowa 520014864
(5(x~) 5894~50 office
(563) 589-0890 fax
(563) 6904,678 TDD
September 2, 2003
Terry Mozena
1036 W 3rd St.
Dubuque, IA 52001
Re: Washington Street Neighborhood Demolition District, 1598 Central Ave.,
Dubuque, IA 52001
Dear Terry:
Per your request for a written response to your proposal to remove a walkway at
the second floor level on the north side and the porches and exit stairs on the
east side of the above referenced bdilding, I must inform your that this building is
located in the Washington Street Neighborhood Demolition District and therefore
no demolition permit may be issued without prior approval of the Historic
Preservation Commission. The applicant shall file the information required in this
section with the historic preservation commission at the office of the planning
services department by the application deadline established by the commission.
Based upon my observations of the structural condition of the second floor
walkway located on the north side of the building, extending from the
landing eastward to the northeast corner and adjoining with the porches
on the east side of the building, it is my duty to notified you that it is an
unsafe appendage and you shall immediately barricade the area referred
to and present an acceptable timetable for the abatement of this hazard to
the Building Services Department of the City of Dubuque (589-4150)
within five (5) business days of the date of this letter. Thank you for your
concern in this matter.
I have found no requirements in the building code that would require you
to retain this portion of the walkway. However, the stair and landing on
the north side are a required portion of the exit system.
After reviewing both IBC Section 1004, and Dubuque Code of
Ordinances, Chapter 11, Article V Historic Buildings, Sections 11-70
through 11-73, I find no justification for eliminating the required exits on
the east side of the building. The building codes have historically required
two separate exits from dwellings located above the second floor and it
appears that two exits were provided at the time the buildings were
constructed and somewhat maintained from that time to the present and
these exits shall continue to be maintained or replaced. (For your
information, IBC Section 1004.2.1 would allow only one exit from a
residential space if the area served was less than 2,000 square feet. (Max.
OL 10)
Please contact me at (563) 589-4156 if you have any questions or wish to
discuss th se issues.
Sincerely,
Gerald P. Stoffel
Plans Examiner / Building Inspector
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa
Iowa Site Inventory Form
Continuation Sheet
Paqe 7
Site Number 31-0471
Related District Number
North Central Avenue Historic Distdct
Dubuque
Name of Property th
Central Avenue, 15th to 18 streets
Address
County
Dubuque
city
There are two apartments in the plan. The current front represents the re-fronting of a pre-1884 two-
story bdck residence. The house plan featured a back stairway and a north-facing second floor pomh
on the back of the north sidewall. John Drehouse, carpentedbuilding (1883) safe agent (1890), was at
this address as of 1883-90 and owned the lot as of November 1889 when the block was first sewered.
Emma Richter operated a millinery from this address as of 1899 and that probably closely dates the
storefront. Richter remained through 1925, being accompanied by several soft drink dealers (John
Gronana as of 1921, Frank Buffinton in 1925. J. J. Eisback, sheet metal worker, lived here in 1934 and
Matilda M. Dell did the same in 1952.
1555 Central Avenue-31-64788, John Drehouse Building, 1887.
This two-story narrow plan replaced a single-story frame carpenter's shop post-1884. There is
a high denticulated brick cornice on a narrow plan. Lintels are rounded. The storefront has been sided
in. The presence of a gap between it and the house/store to the south allowed for a south-facing upper
level side porch, along with front and rear exterior stairways. There is a single-story rear addition that
runs to the alley. The 1891 Sanborn locates a house mover at this address. John Drehouse built a
two-story bdck shop, 1557 Central, in 1886, valued at $2,430 (Herald, January 1, 1887) and owned the
lot as of November 1889 when the block was first sewered. This is a contributing property.
1564 Central Avenue, 31-01060, 1870 (date stone),
This is an elaborate, eady bdck two-story two-part commemial type plan. This is a parapet front
plan. The brick window arches have keystones, and the storefront features a continuous stone lintel. It
pre-dates 1884, at which time it housed a boots and shoes shop. At that time there were no buildings
located immediately north. This is a shorter plan with full-height rear porches and stairs. There is a
partial width concrete block garage (1920, contributing building) across the north part of the back lot.
The plan is L-shaped, the core measures 18x56, the south rear wing 7.5x12. There is a square frame
rear addition (15x14) with rear porch (12x6). Peter Meyer had a boots and shoes shop here as of
1890-99. Adam Geisler, fumiture dealer, was here 1880. tn 1875 he was manufacturing furniture at
1540 Central. He is a probable builder. Peter Meyer remained until 1921 and was succeeded by
Joseph Meyer by 1925. Peter Myers, certainly the same person, owned the lot as of 1902 when the
block was first sewered. The Royal Cafb was at 1564 in 1948, as was Johnnies Caf~ in 1952. This is a
contributing property.
\
1570-72-94-96-98 Central Avenue-31-01061, J. Simones Block, 1884 (datestone), 1897.
This is a splendid three-story bdck Italianate style block, with four storefronts. It was deemed to
be individually eligible for the National Register as a part of the Phase III survey and it is a key
contributing building within the district. It is a two-part commercial type plan. The singular plan features
an elaborate pressed metal cornice that has twin flanking open gables at each corner and a centered
pedimented pediment on the fac.~ade. There is a second centered triangular pediment on the fronts and
both pediments are inscribed with the date "1884.~ There is a narrow two-story square cut centered
oriole on the facade. The cemice is unusual with a two-layer effect. The core plan measures 81x56.
There are porches on the north and northeast sides. The storefront with c.1920s prism glass transoms
is intact. There is a metal stairway and porch on the north sidewall. The windows have cast stone
Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
State Historical Society of Iowa
Iowa Site Inventory Form
Continuation Sheet
Paqe 8
Site Number 31-047'1
Related Distdct Number
North Central Avenue Histodc Distdct
Name of Property th
CentratAvenue115 to 18th streets
Address
Dubuque
County
Dubuque
City
lintels and plain lintels. A single-story rear wing that includes an attached garage and carport measures
40x44: Joseph Petsche ran a notions store on the corner in 1875 and Henry Trepf ran a saloon there
in 1880. Nicholas Wulpi, photographer wes at 1570 Central as of 1880-83. Joseph Simones &
Company Department Store was here as of 1890. William Olanosky's Department Store was here
1913-34 (full building). Zehenter's Sporting Goods Co. was here in 1952 (1572-4). 1594 houses
apartments, Huekels Millinery (1913-21), and 1598 housed Simones Department Store (Alex P.
Simones) 1909-1918, and Correll &Weber Furniture 1921-52. J. Simones built a four-store block,
valued at $16,000 in 1884 (Herald, December 12, 1884). This building appears on the 1887 photo
shown in Section 8, below. The 1889 lithograph (see below) locates the Simones firm at this location.
This is a contributing property and includes four storefronts. Excavation work was underway for an
addition to this block in May 1897 when workers found a gravestone dated to 1817 (Dally Telegraph,
May 7, 1897). Jos. Simones owned the a lot and a half as of 1902 when the block was first sewered.
583-85 Central Avenue-31-04790, 1909-1936
This is the southern half of a double storefront. This is a parapet front plan. This is a single-
story tile storefrent, a one-part commercial block type plan. When first built it had two small storefronts.
A rear addition ran back heady to the alley. A wallpaper and paint store was here as of the 1930s and
1962. Robert Whiting owned the north half of the middle fifth lot as of November 1889 when the block
was first sewered, v~r~lliam Shaefer owned the south half of the north fifth at that time. This is a
contributing property.
1587/1599 Central Avenue-31-04791, 1909-1936.
This is a single-story double storefront. This is a single story, one-part commercial block type
plan. The plan is a short one. It was a photo studio with a rear north-side skylight or window as of
1909136. This is a contributing property. Robert Whiting owned the north half of the middle fiEh lot as
of November 1889 when the block was first sewered. William Shaefer owned the south half of the
north frith at that time. W'~lliam Keeper owned the lot as of November 1889 when the block was first
sewered. This is a non-contributing property.
40 East 16th Street-31-04793, 1852 (Assessor dates to 1852).
This is a very eady two-story bdck duplex, side gable in plan with a unified centered entryway
and short porch. If the 1852 date is anywhere close, then this one of the city's earlier surviving
buildings. The plan measures 34x38 with rear porches (25x4). The duplex is divided vertically. The
building is set close to the rear porch system of the commercial block to the west and it physically
connects with a curtain wall on the ground level. There is a single story bdck wing set immediately
behind (south) of this house, it has an L-plan and there is a carport in the void. This is a contributing
property. The very eady date is worth further investigation--the building is present on the 1872
lithographic overview and the 1866 lithograph. It also appears in the 1880 photograph (Section 8,
below).
1600/02 Central Avenue, 31-01062, Henry Hoffman's Palace Saloon, 1885.
· DEMOLITION STAFF REPORT Meeting Date: October 16, 2003
Property Address:
Property Owner:
Applicant:
Project:
1598 Central Avenue
Ken-Mo Farms, Inc.
Terry Mozena
To remove a second story catwalk from the North side of building
Demolition District:
Style: Italianate
Present Land Use:
Downtown Neighborhood
Funding: No
Commercial/Residential Existing
Landmark: No
Date Built: 1884
Zoning: C-4
Physical Characteristics: The structure is a three-story brick Italianate style block, with
four storefronts. It is a two-part commemial type plan. The singular plan features an
elaborate pressed metal cornice that has twin flanking open gables at each comer and
a centered pediment on the fa(;ade. There is a second centered triangular pediment on
the front. There is a narrow two-story square cut centered oriole on the lat..ada. A
catwalk is located on the north side and porches are located on the east side of the
structure. Lintels are composed of cast stone. Attached to the rear of the structure is a
garage and carport.
Property History: The property was surveyed by Jim Jacobsen of History Pays in 2002-
2003 as part of the Phase III Architectural/Historic Survey/Evaluation. It has been
identified as being individually eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
Staff Analysis: 'The applicant is proposing to remove a second story catwalk located on
the North side of the structure. The Building Services Department has condemned the
catwalk stating it is unstable to walk on.
At the September 18, 2003 Historic Preservation Commission meeting, the applicant
indicated that he is proposing to remove the catwalk and install a small landing
providing access to the door located on the second floor. He noted that the metal stair
steps would be cleaned and repainted.
The Historic Preservation Commission role is to provide a recommendation to the City
Council about the demolition of the catwalk.
Prepared by.'~~~~ Reviewed:"~t~~ Date: I,~)-~'-0¢~