Commission grants COA to demolish deteriorated garage at 317 Ninth Street, owner to provide two on-site parking spaces

The Historic Preservation Commission approved a certificate of appropriateness allowing the demolition of a contributing detached garage at 317 Ninth Street in the Old Town Historic District, finding the structure’s condition makes retention impracticable. Approval was unanimous and includes a condition that the property provide a minimum of two concrete on-site parking spaces to meet zoning requirements for a single-family dwelling.

Staff told the commission that inspections found substantial roof deterioration, holes, bowing walls and insect damage; a tree had also fallen on the roof. The garage, built in 1920, was documented as a contributing structure in a 2003 district survey, but staff said repair would require substantial reconstruction. Planning staff said the demolition criteria in Chapter 31 require the commission to weigh historic significance against practicability of retention; staff recommended approval of demolition under Alternative 1, contingent on the parking condition.

Property owner John Malloy, who identified himself as the owner of Mexican Customs Service, told the commission the concrete slab was badly cracked and would need replacement after demolition. "The concrete is gonna have to come out. The concrete is cracked so bad that, over the years with the winter and all that other stuff, you know, Iowa weather, it's it's gotten into the concrete and it's heaved it up," Malloy said. He said he is coordinating an approach and a new slab with planning and zoning staff and plans to provide two compliant parking spaces.

Staff and the commission clarified that the existing slab, although cracked, currently satisfies parking requirements as an existing nonconforming condition; if the owner removes it, the new paving must extend to current standards (staff described required dimensions for maneuvering and parking depth). Staff also reminded the owner that any future new garage construction on the site would require a separate COA review.

The commission’s decision was limited to issuing a COA for demolition and did not include approvals for new construction or building permits. The motion adopted the staff recommendation and attached the parking-space construction condition.