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Historic Preservation in Lansing I O W A Main Street Lansing Created October 2020 253 Main Street 563-538-9229 Lansing, Iowa 52151 [email protected] Contents 03) National Register of Historic Places Listings 04)--Lansing Stone School 05)--G. Kerndt and Brothers Elevator & Warehouses No. 11, No. 12, & No. 13 06)--G. Kerndt & Brothers Office Block 07)--Old Allamakee County Courthouse 08)--Lansing Fisheries Building 09)--Lansing Main Street Historic District 11) The Black Hawk Bridge 12) Selected Preservation Projects 13)--Coffee on the River 14)--The Pilot House 15)--50 N 3rd Street 16)--TJ Hunter's Banquet Hall 18) Preservation Funding Opportunities Historic Preservation in 02 Lansing Iowa Nestled along the banks of the Mississippi River, Lansing, Iowa, has a history stretching back to the 19th century. From the town's first settlement in 1848 to its incorporation in 1867, the community has forged a unique identity and a fondness for its past. A visitor can witness the town's history by simply walking Main Street and viewing the buildings. With more listings on the National Register of Historic Places than any other community in Allamakee County, Lansing's key industries of commerce, agriculture, and fishing are represented well. Spending time with the following six historic properties will allow anyone to gain a strong knowledge of Lansing's past as well as its vision for the future. Historic Preservation in 03 Lansing Iowa Lansing Stone School National Register of Historic Places Designation: 12/18/1973 Location: SW Corner of Center & Fifth Info: Originally constructed in 1864 with locally quarried limestone. Contains 8 classrooms. Served as a schoolhouse for 108 years. Current Use: Vacant; some storage Historic Preservation in 04 Lansing Iowa G. Kerndt and Brothers Elevator & Warehouses No. 11, No. 12, & No. 13 National Register of Historic Places Designation: 10/18/1979 Location: 60 S Front Street Info: Originally constructed in 1868 with brick and native limestone. Comprised of 3 adjoining structures: 2 warehouses and 1 joint warehouse/grain elevator. Contains much of the original equipment used to move and bag grain. Current Use: Lodging, Dining, Retail, Museum Historic Preservation in 05 Lansing Iowa G. Kerndt & Brothers Office Block National Register of Historic Places Designation: 11/10/1982 Location: 391 Main Street Info: Originally constructed in 1861 with brick; expanded in 1866. First used as a general store; after five years, expanded to offer banking services. Current Use: Residential, Dining, Community Center Historic Preservation in 06 Lansing Iowa Old Allamakee County Courthouse National Register of Historic Places Designation: 2/24/1983 Location: 650 S 2nd Street Info: First Allamakee County courthouse, used 1861-1867. Built in Greek revival style, with most architectural emphasis placed on the main facade. Victim of a county courthouse battle, losing its original purpose when the county seat was placed in Waukon. Current Use: Residential Historic Preservation in 07 Lansing Iowa Lansing Fisheries Building National Register of Historic Places Designation: 12/23/1991 Location: S Front Street, Across from Sports Complex Info: Built either 1915 or 1917. Used by the Iowa State Fish and Game Department to rescue, breed, and restock fish. Most historic equipment has not been retained. Current Use: VFW Hall Historic Preservation in 08 Lansing Iowa Lansing Main Street Historic District National Register of Historic Places Designation: 9/17/2014 Location: Main Street from 4th Street to Front Street Info: Consists of over 40 buildings; most constructed in the late 1880s to early 1900s out of native limestone and brick with an Italianate or Greek Revival style. 6 history podiums provide information about buildings and events. Current Use: Retail, Dining, Residential, Services, Museum Historic Preservation in 09 Lansing Iowa While not listed on the National Register of Historic Places, any discussion of historic structures in Lansing, Iowa, would not be complete without mentioning... Historic Preservation in 10 Lansing Iowa The Black Hawk Bridge Location: Meeting of Iowa Highway 9 and Wisconsin Highway 82 Info: Dedicated in 1931, this bridge connects Iowa and Wisconsin. Operated as a toll bridge until 1945. Was not in use from 1945 to 1957 due to damage of approach bridges on the Wisconsin side. Its cantilevered truss design is unique along the Mississippi River. Future: Due to issues related to its age, a replacement bridge is scheduled to begin construction in 2024 Historic Preservation in 11 Lansing Iowa Along with identifying and celebrating historic structures in Lansing, residents have often taken the initiative to preserve and rehabilitate these important pieces of the community's past. The following pages showcase a sample of the many great projects completed. Historic Preservation in 12 Lansing Iowa Coffee on the River Left: Before Above: After Project Completed By: Diana Wilson-Thompson & Wendi Eiden Project Timeline: June 2019-September 2019 Location: 60 S Front Street Info: Sisters Diana and Wendi built Lansing's first coffee shop in a historic grain elevator along the Mississippi River (see Page #05). Using scrap lumber, tin, and recycled cabinetry, they were able to complement the stone building and the historic wood hoppers original to the structure. Roughly 1500 work hours were put in by the sisters, accounting for 85-90% of the labor. Winner of the Best Small Commercial Project award from Preservation Iowa in 2020. Historic Preservation in 13 Lansing Iowa The Pilot House Before After Project Completed By: Edward, Judy, and Ryan Benson Project Timeline: Fall 2014 - Fall 2016 Location: 271 Main Street Info: Built in 1887, the Pilot House was derelict when purchased by Edward Benson. With support from Main Street Lansing and Kerndt Brothers Savings Bank, the Benson family salvaged what they could and renovated everything else. Saved from oblivion, the building now houses apartments and a joint art studio and gallery featuring art created by Fred and Velga Easker. Historic Preservation in 14 Lansing Iowa 50 N 3rd Street Before After Project Completed By: Wally and Traci Mahr Project Timeline: February 2019 - September 2020 Location: 50 N 3rd Street Info: A former church, the building at 50 N 3rd Street had become an eyesore when Wally and Traci Mahr purchased it. On the outside, they cleared exterior plants, cleaned the brick work, and replaced windows. The interior was completely renovated and now boasts an industrial vibe with a rustic flair. A brand new third floor, with a commanding view of downtown and the river, was constructed as well. The building currently houses 4 high-end apartment units. Historic Preservation in 15 Lansing Iowa TJ Hunter's Banquet Hall Clockwise from Left: Exterior, Banquet Hall, Basement Project Completed By: Jason Drape; Jason Drape & Jackie Moody Project Timeline: April 2013-Feb. 2014 ; Feb. 2020-May 2020 Location: 377 Main Street Info: Built in 1938, the building originally housed Lansing City Hall. Prior to purchase by Drape, the building was a bowling alley, and wood from the former bowling lanes can be seen as embellishments throughout the building. The first floor was renovated to become a banquet hall and event venue. Years later, the basement was renovated to complement the reception hall and become a venue in its own right. Historic Preservation in 16 Lansing Iowa While preservation projects can be expensive, multiple funding opportunities exist to assist in the completion of projects. The following page highlights some of the more significant options. Historic Preservation in 17 Lansing Iowa Preservation Funding Iowa State Tax Credit: --Provides a state income tax credit of up to 25% for qualified rehabilitation expenditures. Federal Tax Credit: --Provides a 20% federal income tax credit for the rehabilitation of historic, income-producing buildings Main Street Iowa Challenge Grant: --Exclusively available to Main Street Iowa communities, the Challenge Grant offers a dollar-for-dollar cash match grant for brick-and-mortar rehabilitation projects. 2020 grant awards ranged from $15,000 to $75,000. Main Street Lansing Building Rehabilitation Loan: --Partnering with Kerndt Brothers Savings Bank, this below market interest rate loan promotes historic preservation of commercial properties in the Main Street Lansing district Historic Preservation in 18 Lansing Iowa Questions? Reach out to: Andy Kelleher, Executive Director Main Street Lansing 253 Main Street Lansing, Iowa 52151 563-538-9229 [email protected] Historic Preservation in 19 Lansing Iowa.