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Rare brick home in Cedar Rapids faces demolition; offered free to move
14
Sep 2018

Rare brick home in Cedar Rapids faces demolition; offered free to move

This brick home, built in the 1800s in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, will be given away for free to anyone who can move it. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

By Cindy Hadish/Save CR Heritage

CEDAR RAPIDS – A rare brick house that predates an entire neighborhood in southeast Cedar Rapids will be demolished if no one steps forward to move it.

While some interior features of the home have been removed, others remain intact. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

The Historic Preservation Commission placed a 60-day hold on the demolition permit requested by owners of the home at 520 Cobban Ct. SE. That hold expires Oct. 8, 2018.

Representatives of the group said they have owned the house for about two years and have no immediate plans for the property, but fear break-ins at the vacant building.

They allowed an antiques dealer to salvage some architectural features from the home’s interior, but the exterior remains intact.

The group will offer the home to someone who can move it for free and have offered to show the home to anyone interested in moving it. They will not put the expenses they would save on demolition toward the cost of moving the home, which predates the 1890’s street where it was built.

“This has great exterior elements,” said Mark Stoffer Hunter, chairman of the Historic Preservation Commission.

Save CR Heritage has been raising awareness of at-risk historic properties in Cedar Rapids since 2012. Help continue this important educational and advocacy work by donating here. We can’t do it without you!

Stoffer Hunter noted that the home was likely built as a farmhouse before the neighborhood around it, which includes nearby McKinley Middle School, was created.

The home is individually eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, but this wouldn’t be the first historic home demolished in Cedar Rapids, which has seen a string of demolitions of historic buildings this summer, even after more than 1,200 homes and 200 businesses were demolished in the wake of the devastating 2008 flood.

Related: Skogman Realty demolishes three buildings in Downtown Historic District

End of the line for home on Grant Wood tour in Cedar Rapids

Exterior elements of the brick home remain intact. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Owners of the home allowed an antiques dealer to remove wood trim, baseboards and other architectural elements from the home’s interior. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Wood flooring is shown inside the home at 520 Cobban Ct. SE. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
The home’s basement is structurally sound, but owners want the house to be moved. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
The second floor of the brick home is spacious and features several rooms and closets. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
A window is shown in a bathroom of the home at 520 Cobban Ct. SE. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
The kitchen features a walk-in pantry. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Arched windows are among the architectural features of the brick home in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
This brick home in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is being offered for free to anyone who can move it. The home is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

 

 

 

 

10 comments

F. John Herbert

Possible to estimate, even very roughly, the moving cost?

    Jack Creason

    $20k plus just for moving. That doesn’t include the new land or foundation you’ll need or any permits needed.

    Cindy Hadish

    Jack’s estimate is about right – $20,000+ to move a building. That doesn’t include the costs of a new foundation, permits, etc. It’s much less expensive and easier to rehab in place.

      Dennis Andrews

      20,000 might be a good figure to round to on a wooden two story inside Cedar Rapids, but is way too low for a brick house. Guess higher..

      Cindy Hadish

      Thanks Dennis! Good to know!

      Bonnie Hald

      Not too many homes this nice can be purchased for 20, 000 in Cedar Rapids. Although it’s unfortunate an antique dealer was allowed to come in and strip out the “Good “Stuff”

Amy Butz

Who do I contact about viewing it?

    Cindy Hadish

    Thanks Amy! I’ll send an email to you with the contact information.

Tracy

Who can I contact with questions please!

    Cindy Hadish

    We can connect you with the owners.

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