Preservation Iowa has designated 9 properties across the state for the 2020 Most Endangered Properties List including the historic Daum House at 513 N Court in Ottumwa.
Preservation Iowa start the Most Endangered Property program in 1995 to educate Iowans about the special buildings and historic sites that are slowly and gradually slipping away. In the past 25 years, Preservation Iowa has designated over 150 homes, churches, archeological sites, landscapes, commercial buildings and a variety of other properties. The Most Endangered Properties program helps to bring to the public’s attention the risks to a designated historic property and introduces owners of an endangered property to preservation advocacy and resources that can help preserve their historic property. Additionally, there have been interest groups who have been able to use the designation as a mechanism to leverage other financial resources to restore and preserve properties. For more information about the Most Endangered Program, check out Preservation Iowa’s website at www.preservationiowa.org or contact Preservation Iowa at info@preservationiowa.org.
The house at 513 N. Court was built in the early 1880s for W.R. Daum President of the Electric Street Railway Company. The house is a contributing structure to the Court Hill Historic District, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. The home is a unique example of brick Italianate style with segmented arches of cream-colored brick, cream-colored brick quoins and decorative cornice brackets.
As the result of fire damage and neglect, the property is currently placarded by the Health Department as unfit for human habitation. The property has been placarded by the Health Department numerous times in the past and the current case was opened following a fire in October 2018. Even before the fire, the property had been poorly converted from a single-family residence into an 8-unit multi-family building. Features of the most recent deficiency list include: damaged floors, ceilings, walls and windows; smoke and fire damage; deficient plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems; and broken windows, doors, soffit, fascia and deficient structural elements.
As this property remains vacant, its condition continues to deteriorate and the owner has shown little interest in making repairs and maintaining the property. It has been a magnet for looters, squatters and vandals increasing the fire threat. Nuisance issues including tall grass and litter are persistent. In addition, in its present condition the property continues to have a negative catalytic effect on the rest of the historic district.
Supporters of the house and historic district are hopeful that a party interested in restoring the house can be found. If a buyer could be found, the City Planning Department would provide technical assistance and leverage funding opportunities to assist in a rehabilitation of the property.
The Ottumwa Historic Preservation Commission is accepting nominations for the 2023 Excellence in Preservation Awards.
Inflated tire disposal costs have driven the Ottumwa/Wapello County Recycling Center to raise the fee for disposing of tires.
The City of Ottumwa has been awarded a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) for the upper-story apartment project at 307 East Main Street.
Shared electric scooter company Bird Rides has launched its app-based e-scooter program in Ottumwa.
Internet users interested in local historic preservation will have a new way to engage with the Historic Preservation Commission online. The Commission has expanded its online presence, offering new resources and a guided walking tour. The new webpage, www.cityofottumwa.com/preservation, includes a record of local nominations to the National Register of Historic Places, news about historic preservation in Ottumwa and a virtual guided tour. When the Commission launches its newsletter this summer, the webpage will also house current and past issues.
Improved permitting software will now allow Ottumwa residents and contractors to make payments for permits online. City Hall Departments adopted the new software, iWorQ, in March. In addition to improving recordkeeping and coordination between departments, the software has a number of features available to the public via the Public Portal. Residents and contractors can use the Public Portal to complete permit applications, search active permits, check the status of open code enforcement files and, beginning this week, make permit payments. The Public Portal supports licenses issued by the City Clerk, building and rental permits issued by Building and Code Enforcement and fence and sign permits issued by the Planning Department.
