Restoration, preservation of Omaha landmarks began in 1965 BY RHONDA STANSBERRY WORLD-HERALD CORRESPONDENT
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rchitectural preservation in Omaha has gained steam and continues at a strong pace despite some setbacks in its 50-year history. That history dates from a spring 1965 meeting between Omaha University Dean William Utley and director of Joslyn Art Museum Eugene Kingman discussing how to save the Omaha Post Office from William demolition. Utley The post office occupied the entire block between 15th and 16th Streets on the north side of Dodge Street. Built of dark stone, it fronted east with bold Roman arches and a clock tower that rose high above its roof line. The Romanesque design was similar to others around the United States, including a larger one in St. Paul, Minnesota, that was saved and restored. Utley and Kingman enlisted more than 20 others to form Landmarks Inc., whose purpose would be: to stimulate public awareness and concern for the city’s architectural heritage; to encourage groups to undertake specific projects of restoration, preservation and effective use; and to serve as an intermediary in obtaining and conveying items of local importance. Landmarks’ attempts to save the old post office failed, and the group turned its attention to the John A. Creighton mansion at 20th and Burt Streets, the Victorian
home of one of the founders of Creighton University. The building, which had been converted over the years to a home for elderly residents, was deemed too far gone to save. But the spirit of preservation prevailed and a string of successes followed: Union Station, Orpheum Tower, the former Astro Theater (now the Rose Theater), Joslyn Castle, Dundee Theater and the Omaha Rail and Commerce Historic District. Landmarks also helped establish the Omaha Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission and preservation ordinances. Landmarks raised public awareness by hosting special events and publishing books, including “Omaha City Architecture” and “Building for the Ages.” George Haecker, a founding principal of Bahr Vermeer Haecker Architects in 1971 (now known as BVH Architects), became involved in the preservation organization in the mid-1970s. Over the years, he has served as a member of the preservation group and as its president. During the years his Omaha firm was housed in the old New York Life Building, now known as the Omaha Building, the Kutak Rock law firm “stepped up and that building was saved,” Haecker said. “We had offices in the Omaha Building, and I put a big red stop sign in the window,” he said of his personal commitment to saving the structure. As for the activities of Landmarks, he said “a lot has been saved, and lots have been lost. It’s still happening.” In 1989, Landmarks lost its battle to save Jobbers Canyon, an area of downtown warehouses,
Landmarks Inc. was formed in 1965 with the mission of saving the post office in downtown Omaha. While the group was unsuccessful at saving the post office, hundreds of other buildings have been saved because of their work. some of which had already been converted to loft-style apartments. Interest in Landmarks Inc. lost momentum, and membership declined. Enter Restore Omaha, which was launched in 2005 by a group of architects, city planners, neighborhood leaders, conservators and other preservation and restoration enthusiasts in Omaha and Council Bluffs. Its focus was similar to Landmarks but added a dimension that included neighborhood tours and annual seminars featuring presentations by nationally known and locally proficient preservationists and craftsmen. Those seminars brought the preservation movement a wider audience, said Lynn Meyer, who was a city planner from 1980 to 2007, served as an administrator for the Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission and worked
with Landmarks Inc. in a number of capacities. He helped write nominations to the National Register of Historic Places and gave presentations about Landmarks in various public forums. “I’ve just continually tried to advocate for preservation,” he said. “I think they’ve done a great job with the yearly events, the seminars that give hands-on experiences and the tours that create awareness of what we have here.” Another group, Omaha Urban Neighborhoods, was formed 10 years ago. The Nebraska nonprofit, operated by Vince Furlong, focused on revitalizing neighborhood business districts. Chief among its successes have been the listing of Vinton Street commercial district to the National Register of Historic Places, and walking tours of North and South 24th Streets. With the growing momentum in
preservation, Omaha still had no single organization that encompassed all preservation activities. In 2011, Omaha By Design commissioned the National Trust for Historic Preservation to assess the preservation community in the Omaha metro area. Their recommendation from the study was that a preservation makeover was needed for the metro region. That makeover resulted in the creation of Restoration Exchange Omaha in 2013, headed by executive director Kristine Gerber. Its mission, Gerber said, is to become the premier regional preservation force dedicated to educating and motivating the public to restore, preserve and rehabilitate older homes, buildings and neighborhoods. Today, through productive partnerships and more than 60 dedicated volunteers, Restoration Exchange Omaha educates through neighborhood tours, the Restore Omaha Conference and ongoing tours in historic commercial districts. It advocates by nominating and saving homes, buildings and historic districts, working closely with local and state government officials, the Landmark Commission and the public to create laws and policies that favor historic preservation. Using traditional communications, publications, social media and by developing and maintaining an online resource directory, Restoration Exchange Omaha serves as a resource for those who want to restore older properties, connecting people to the appropriate products, craftsmen and available funding sources. To learn more, go to www.restorationexchange.org.
Preservation successes A few of the many buildings saved in Omaha in the last 50 years. (Find descriptions of these buildings on Pages 4 & 5.)
Trinity Cathedral 18th & Capitol
Burlington Headquarters 10th & Farnam
A special advertising section of the Omaha World-Herald, produced in conjunction with Restoration Exchange Omaha.
Brandeis Building 16th & Douglas
Special sections editor Shelley Larsen Section editor/designer Kiley Cruse Reporters Carol Bicak, Rhonda Stansberry
Nash Block Ninth & Farnam
Photographers Ken Mayer, Aaron Deter, Kristine Gerber, Lynn Meyer, Trina Westman, Greg Eden, Jeffrey Spencer, Jim Scholz, Dorothy Tuma, Kessler Photography
First National Bank 16th & Farnam
Contributors Kristine Gerber, Gary Rosenberg Copy editor Howard K. Marcus Advertising coordinator Marilyn Martin
Redick Tower 15th & Harney
St. Philomena Church 10th & William
ON THE COVER Top row, from left: Anheuser-Busch Building, Florence Mill, St. Cecilia Cathedral. Middle row, from left: Scottish Rite, Central High School, Joel Cornish Residence. Bottom row, from left: Carpenter Building on South 24th Street, Rose Theater Dome.
KIMBALL AWARD WINNER
Heistand understands importance of history BY CAROL BICAK WORLD-HERALD CORRESPONDENT
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Todd and Mary Heistand
pend time in downtown or midtown Omaha, and you’ll see Todd Heistand’s vision. It’s in old apartment buildings that have been saved from destruction and in the repurposing of old business and industrial sites. Heistand is a developer who knows the importance of history. Since 1988, he has been working to save the city’s rich architectural heritage. His company, NuStyle Development Corp., is responsible for much of Omaha’s restored urban landscape. For that work, Heistand will receive this year’s Kimball Prize from Restoration Exchange Omaha. “It’s nice to be recognized,” he said. His company is very much a family affair. Heistand’s sister, Tammy Barrett; his wife, Mary; and their children all have been or are involved in NuStyle. The company currently has 26 employees, though Todd Heistand works with numerous contractors. Despite doing a lot of work in Omaha, Heistand lives in Woodbine, Iowa,
Todd Heistand transformed a former office building at 2223 Dodge St. into the Highline Apartments. where he also has been involved in renovating old buildings. NuStyle is responsible for pro-
ducing affordable and market-value housing in older Omaha neighborhoods. Many apartment buildings that had stood empty or fallen into ruin have been revitalized and renovated. If Heistand has a regret, it’s that many of the interior architectural treasures of those buildings cannot be saved. But he is happy to save any part of an old building. “They were built to last a hundred years,” he said. “Now they’ll be good for another hundred.” The company’s list of accomplishments is long, including salvaging 116 condemned single-family homes, constructing 68 new single-family homes and converting 74 buildings to housing units or commercial space. Thirty-nine of Heistand’s renovated buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The names are familiar, including Highline Apartments, TipTop Apartments, Old Market Lofts, Drake Court Apartments, Beebe Runyan Building and El Mercado, to name a few. Heistand said if he had to choose a favorite project, it would be the Livestock Exchange Building in South Omaha.
YOUNG PRESERVATIONIST AWARD WINNER
Baker saw home as ‘diamond in the rough’ BY CAROL BICAK
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WORLD-HERALD CORRESPONDENT
hen Matt Baker moved his wife and 2-monthold son into a 1925 house on Minne Lusa Boulevard back in 2007, he wasn’t seeing a “money pit.” He saw a diamond in the rough. Baker saw possibilities in the house and the neighborhood. Since then, he has dedicated time and money to restoring both. Now, in addition to having a lovely home in an area that is regaining some of its historical significance, Baker has been named recipient of Restoration Exchange Omaha’s Young Preservationist Award. He was nominated for the award by two of his neighbors, Beth Richards and Sharon Olson, founders of Minne Lusa House, another force seeking to revitalize the neighborhood. In the seven years since Baker purchased his home, he has restored much of it to its 1925 appearance, including removing asbestos tiles that covered the original clapboard siding, reconstructing exterior window frames, and opening and partially rebuilding the front porch. In the nomination letter, Baker’s wife, Brandy, is quoted as saying that “Matt’s focus on preservation seems to teeter between passion and obsession.” Matt Baker is a firm believer in preserving over replacing, calling his view of what can be done with old houses “PreserVision.” He said he hopes his efforts inspire his neighbors to follow his lead.
Matt Baker moved into this home on Minne Lusa Boulevard in 2007 and has restored much of it to its 1925 appearance. Baker spoke about the work he did on his porch during the Restoration Jam! Session at the Restore Omaha conference in March. It is clear that he has contributed to a communitywide effort. Baker led the drive to have Minne Lusa listed as a Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. He uses social media to stay in touch with neighbors and to encourage potential home buyers — especially young people — to invest in Minne Lusa. In an interview, Baker said he is flattered but a little
uncomfortable being in the spotlight. Yet he is happy to draw attention to the changes in Minne Lusa. “Getting our name out there is exciting,” he said. Baker won’t be resting on his laurels. He isn’t finished working on his house, and the neighborhood is making plans for its centennial celebration in September. “I’d like to believe I’ve been an influence,” he said.
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SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2015
OMAHA WORLD-HERALD
11 1. St. Mary Magdalene Church • 19th & Dodge • 1903 Gothic-style church of buff brick withstood the addition of a new substructure in 1920 when the city lowered Dodge Street. It was officially completed in 2007, when topped by a 70-foot, aluminum steeple. 2. Burlington Headquarters • 10th & Farnam • 1879 Long associated with the Burlington Railroad, this building’s historical importance and beauty helped it survive when the Central Park Mall coursed through downtown Omaha. The redesigned interior includes a central atrium and skylight. 3. King Fong • 315½ S. 16th St. • 1880 Tolf Hanson had grand plans for his Café Beautiful in 1908, but the restaurant was short-lived. King Fong, with its exotic décor, has called it home since 1920. 4. Old Market • 10th to 13th, Harney to Jackson Streets • 1880-1905 Bulldozers once threatened this collection of warehouse buildings that housed produce wholesalers and commission merchants. Since the late 1960s, it has become a vibrant zone of restaurants, shops and apartments and one of Omaha’s top tourist attractions. 5. Ford Warehouses • 10th & Jones • 1881-1918 These three warehouses were first built for wholesale food distribution. Ray Ford bought them and used them for his moving and storage company. They now house 186 residential units and retail shops. 6. Trinity Cathedral • 18th & Capitol • 1883 This Late Gothic Revival-style cathedral has maintained its stately presence over the decades. English architect Henry Harrison designed the Episcopal cathedral; a historical society and museum are dedicated to its heritage. 7. Christian Specht Building • 1110 Douglas St. • 1884 This distinctive building, with its cast-metal façade, survived a demolition threat in 2001. It now houses a design studio and apartments. 8. Anheuser-Busch Building • 1213 Jones St. • 1887 The only remnant of the original Krug Brewery, this building features arched windows and distinc-
tive ornamentation. It was renovated for office space in 1989. 9. New York Life Building • 17th & Farnam • 1889 Omaha’s first skyscraper, this Renaissance Revival building is an imposing 10-story structure of brownstone and brick. Kutak Rock, its primary tenant since 1977, has twice made major renovations to the structure, now known as the Omaha Building. 10. Harriman Dispatch Center • Ninth & Jackson • 1890 A good example of reuse, the center’s steel trusses are from the original Union Station of 1872. Union Pacific adapted the former freight depot into a state-of-the-art dispatch center in 1988. 11. Omaha Public Library • 19th & Harney • 1892 One of six on the list designed by Omaha native Thomas Rogers Kimball, this Italian-inspired building was Omaha’s first permanent library. It was redeveloped as office space when a new library was built in 1977. 12. Central High School • 20th & Dodge • 1912 This edifice was designed by Omaha architect John Latenser in the Second Renaissance Revival style. It was constructed one side at a time around the existing Omaha High School between 1900 and 1912. 13. Brandeis Building • 16th & Douglas • 1906 Originally an eight-story structure, the J.L. Brandeis & Sons Department Store added two additional stories in 1921. The store closed in 1980; the building now houses apartments and condominiums. 14. Nash Block • Ninth & Farnam • 1907 Built with a twin warehouse building to the south, this eight-story structure now houses apartments. It is the sole remaining structure of the Jobbers Canyon district. 15. Douglas County Courthouse • 17th & Farnam • 1912 This limestone-and-granite fortress was designed in the French Renaissance Revival style by John Latenser. The rotunda features a skylight and eight murals that depict westward migration and agriculture.
16. Scottish Rite Cathedral • 20th & Douglas • 1914 Scottish Rite Masons commissioned this neoclassical revival style building in 1912. Still used for Masonic meetings and events, the public may rent the ballroom and auditorium. 17. First National Bank • 16th & Farnam • 1917 First National Bank’s home from 1917 until 1970, the 14-story, double-tower building of white brick and polished granite now houses 81 luxury apartments, 27 office suites and additional commercial space. 18. Aquila Court • 16th & Howard • 1923 Original developer Raymond Cook insisted that the building of mixed retail and upstairs apartments include an Italian-style courtyard. The courtyard is still there, but the building is now home to a luxury hotel. 19. Riviera Theater • 20th & Farnam • 1926 Chicago architect John Eberson designed dozens of theaters in the “atmospheric” style, including the Riviera, which was built to resemble a Moorish palace. Threatened by demolition when it closed in 1980, the theater was restored through the generosity of Rose Blumkin. 20. Orpheum Theater • 409 S. 16th St. • 1927 Built into the existing City National Bank Building, this ornate theater holds nearly 3,000 people. Several renovations in the past 50 years have kept the theater a mainstay for the performing arts. 21. Paxton Hotel • 14th & Farnam • 1928 The 11-floor art deco hotel replaced two others built at the site. When the hotel closed, the building served as a Job Corps site and a retirement center before its latest evolution into luxury condominiums. 22. Redick Tower • 15th & Harney • 1930 This 12-story art deco construction was the first building in Omaha to include a parking garage. It became the Hotel Deco in 2012. 23. Union Station • 10th & Mason • 1931 This art deco construction served as Union Pacific’s passenger terminal in Omaha for 40 years. In 1975 it became the Western Heritage Museum, now known as The Durham.
24. Joel Cornish Residence • 10th & William • 1886 This distinctive three-story house was built for lawyer and banker Joel Cornish. Grace University owned the house for a time. Arnie Breslow has been restoring the house since buying it about 20 years ago. 25. South 24th Street Commercial District • South 24th between M and O • 1890-1910 The buildings erected along this stretch of South 24th Street once housed theaters, groceries, banks and auto dealerships. Now a variety of shops and restaurants, most with a decidedly Latin flavor, populate the district. 26. Burlington Station • 10th & Pacific • 1898 This passenger
terminal welcomed visitors to the Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition when it opened in 1898. After it closed in 1974, a number of attempts to restore the building fell through until television station KETV made a firm commitment to make the station its headquarters. 27. Prague Hotel • 13th & William • 1898 The Prague Hotel was an important center of Czech activity for nearly half a century. The tavern remains on the first floor, but upper floors have been converted into apartments. 28. St. Philomena Church • 10th & William • 1908 Like St. Cecilia, this Thomas Kimball-designed church incorporates a Spanish Renaissance
Revival style. Its stained-glass windows were originally in the chapel at St. Joseph Hospital. 29. Vinton School • 22nd & Deer Park • 1908 One of six school buildings designed by Frederick Clarke, this Tudor Revival-style school traded its students for apartment dwellers in 1989. 30. Livestock Exchange Building • 29th & O • 1926 This monumental building served a vital role when South Omaha was a major meatpacking center. It now serves the community in a different way— as apartments for middle-income families and as a health center.
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31. Mercer Mansion • 40th & Cuming • 1885 Dr. Samuel Mercer, who founded Omaha’s first hospital, built this 23-room Victorian mansion. It was converted to apartments in 1920. 32. The Barnard • Park Ave. & Leavenworth • 1902 This three-story, U-shaped apartment building features a private courtyard. Its recent renovation, along with that of The Unitah, across Leavenworth Street, helped transform the neighborhood. 33. Joslyn Castle • 39th & Davenport • 1903 Architect John McDonald designed this Scottish Baronial home for George Joslyn, then Nebraska’s wealthiest citizen. It is likely the most ornate home ever built in the state. 34. Brandeis/Millard Residence • 38th & Dewey • 1904 Department store magnate Arthur Brandeis built the Jacobethan-style home but lived there just five years. Sen. Joseph Millard next took possession. Restored as an Edwardian manor, it now serves as a private residence and a reception venue. 35. Gottlieb Storz Residence • 37th & Farnam • 1905 Three decades after Gottlieb Storz came to Omaha, the construction of this 27-room mansion was evidence of his brewing success. Purchased in 2007 and undergoing a major interior restoration, the mansion boasts hand-painted murals, stained-glass windows and a massive chandelier. 36. Mary Rogers Kimball Residence • 23rd & St. Mary’s Ave. • 1905 Distinguished by its three stepped gables and arched windows, this home was designed by Thomas Rogers Kimball for his mother. A local family is restoring the interior. 37. St. Cecilia Cathedral • 40th & Burt • 1905 First used in 1916 but
not fully completed until the bells were hung in its twin towers in 1959, the cathedral is the mother church of the Omaha Catholic Archdiocese and one of midtown’s architectural gems. 38. St. John’s Greek Orthodox Church • Park Ave. & St. Mary’s Ave. • 1907 Originally built for Temple Israel, this Byzantine-style synagogue was easily adapted as a church when St. John’s parish purchased it in 1951. 39. Drake Court • 22nd & Jones • 1916 The 14-building apartment complex was designed and constructed between 1916 and 1919 by William Drake. A 2002 renovation brought it back from years of neglect. 40. Blackstone Hotel • 36th & Farnam • 1916 Renowned for its elegance, fine restaurants and legendary cuisine, the Blackstone Hotel featured suites of six to eight rooms. It was converted into office space in the 1980s. 41. First Unitarian Church • 31st & Harney • 1917 A touch of New England in midtown Omaha, this church was designed by father and son architects John and Alan McDonald. 42. St. Regis Apartments • 37th & Jones • 1916 This 38-unit apartment complex built in a U-shaped configuration incorporates a mix of Beaux Arts, Italian Renaissance, and Arts and Crafts elements in its design. 43. Northern Natural Gas Building • 23rd & Dodge • 1951 The original six-story headquarters building was built in 1951. Rapid expansion by the utility necessitated the addition of a 15-story tower in 1957. Local architects Latenser & Sons designed both buildings. In 2012 NuStyle Development converted the building into apartments.
44. Florence (Weber) Mill • 30th & McKinley • 1856 One of the oldest buildings in Omaha, the framework dates back to the Mormons’ time at the site. Linda Meigs bought the building in 1998 and has made major upgrades, converting the mill into a museum and art gallery. 45. Fort Omaha • 30th & Fort • 1868 Most of the buildings at this former Army fort date to the early 20th century, though the General Crook House was built in 1878. A naval post for about 30 years, the site became home to Metropolitan Community College in 1975. 46. Sherman Apartments • 16th & Lake • 1897 Omaha’s first apartment building, the neoclassical design was the work of Frederick Henninger. Realtor G.H. Payne financed the construction. Newspapers report apartment living was soon considered “ultra fashionable.” 47. Sacred Heart Church • 22nd & Binney • 1902 With its 124-foot tower, the Gothic-style Catholic church
makes a prominent landmark in North Omaha. The parish continues a strong outreach in the community. 48. Kierle Home • 30th & Mormon • 1905 When the site was sought for parking, preservationists intervened, and a family purchased the house and began to restore it. The Queen Anne and classical revival home is located across from the Florence town square. 49. Strehlow Terrace • 16th & Yates • 1905 Contractor Robert Strehlow built this apartment complex of six buildings around a central court and decorative fountain. After extensive renovation, it was renamed Ernie Chambers Court in honor of the longtime state senator. 50. Jewell Building • 24th & Grant • 1923 Until the 1960s, this building housed the famed Dreamland Ballroom, where jazz legends played. The Omaha Economic Development Corporation converted the building to office space in 1980; the photographs lining its walls recall its past.
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BUILDING PRESERVATION AWARD
From Buffett and Son Grocery to Dundee Bank BY CAROL BICAK WORLD-HERALD CORRESPONDENT
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he Buffett and Son Grocery building at 5015 Underwood Ave. was built in 1915 by Ernest Buffett, Warren Buffett’s grandfather. In fact, Warren Buffett worked in the store as a boy. The grocery closed in 1969, and the building has since passed through many hands. Over the years, many historical architectural details were lost. The structure became a false-fronted building that no one could admire. The Architectural Offices acquired the building in 2004 and set about restoring its original look to the extent possible. The project is receiving the 2015 Building Preservation Award from Restoration Exchange Omaha. The Architectural Offices worked on the rehabilitation project off and on for about eight years, said project manager Bryan Zimmer. By referring to photographs of the building and digging through layers of history, the original facade was revealed and much of the exterior architectural detail from the 1920s and ’30s was restored. The interior was a different story. Of the original
Buffett and Son Grocery was built in 1915.
The building at 5015 Underwood Ave. was restored by The Architectural Offices and is the Building Preservation Award winner. Dundee Bank currently occupies the building. architectural details, only the pressed metal ceiling and the skylights remained. The project incorporated those features and used them in the contemporary design of the workspaces. At first, the building was divided between the Architectural Offices and Dundee Bank.
But soon the bank needed more space. Zimmer said AO moved out and gave the bank the entire space. AO moved its office to another restoration project, a building on Dodge Street. “It’s nice to be recognized,” Zimmer said of the award. “It’s fulfilling to see your hard
HOME PRESERVATION AWARD
Brothers restore Gifford Park home BY CAROL BICAK
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WORLD-HERALD CORRESPONDENT
or the past decade, three brothers have been making a difference in the Gifford Park Neighborhood with restoration projects. Now Martin, John and Rob Janousek are being recognized with Restoration Exchange Omaha’s Home Preservation Award for their work on the home at 3201 California St. The two-story home, built in the early 1900s, was a derelict when the Janouseks purchased it. It had been treated badly by many tenants, then sat empty for a year. The brothers bought the house when it went into foreclosure. “We had noticed it a few years ago,” said Martin Janousek, an architect. “It was a nice house on a corner. Corner houses are so important. They set the tone for the area.” Though the brothers have completed a variety of projects, the fact that they all hold down regular jobs means the work on the houses must be done on weekends or in the evenings. The house on California Street took them over a year and a half to finish, Martin said. Though the brothers do most of the work, they have contractors help with some of the jobs. This project required stabilizing the porch and replacing steps; installing a new roof, gutters and downspouts; repairing or replacing eaves and siding; painting the exterior; restoring the windows; putting in an all-new kitchen and bathroom (except for a restored claw-foot bathtub); refinishing floors; stripping and refinishing baseboards and trim; adding insulation; installing new front and back doors; and putting in new landscaping. Martin Janousek compares these projects to children — you take care of them and eventually have to let
The Janousek brothers — John, Martin and Rob — restored this home at 3201 California St. them go. In the case of this house, they found a dependable renter. Though the brothers tackle different types of restoration projects, working on old houses is both challenging and rewarding, he said. “It’s really about giving back to the neighborhood,” he said, adding that it’s important to create positive change. There is a ripple effect. One project by them leads to other projects by the neighbors. Pretty soon the entire neighborhood has a different vibe. This is the first time their work has been given an award. “It’s exciting,” Martin Janousek said. “It’s an honor.”
work appreciated.” He said his company has been involved in the Dundee area for many years. The grocery project has been called an impetus to restoration of other buildings in the 50th Street and Underwood Avenue area. AO also worked on many of those restorations and renovations. “There’s still room for improvement,” Zimmer said. “Benson has the good building stock Dundee wishes it had. The stock (buildings to work with) is thin, so every building in Dundee is critical.” Working with Zimmer on the Buffett Grocery project were Randy Palandri, Bill Stott, Joe Saniuk, Keith Herrman and Nicole Malone.
Home Preservation Awards of Merit: Judges’ comments CHUDOMELKA HOUSE, 1039 S. 30TH AVE. The owners of this home clearly recognize their role as stewards. We as homeowners have a duty — a duty to ensure that our homes are better for the future owner and generations beyond when we took ownership. Mike Chudomelka has done the research to understand his home’s history and over the last 12 years has painstakingly rehabilitated the home. Beyond the blood, sweat and tears, Mike even confronted his own fear of heights to ensure that the necessary repairs were made.
MINNE LUSA HOUSE, 2737 MARY ST. It’s not every day that people decide to invest in a home not for themselves but for the community at large. The folks behind the Minne Lusa House have taken a liability for the neighborhood, and against all odds created a resource and an asset. Previous renovations to the home had done damage but the owners found ways to install appropriate new pieces mixed with reusing what remained — an important balance that we can all seek to emulate.
AIA OMAHA PRESERVATION AWARD
New life for Hughes-Irons Motor Co.
Restoration Exchange upcoming events
BY CAROL BICAK WORLD-HERALD CORRESPONDENT
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ot too long ago, the Hughes-Irons Motor Co. building at 141 West Broadway in Council Bluffs was one of several buildings near downtown that faced demolition. It is actually two buildings that housed automobile sales and service. One building was built in the 1880s, the other in 1917. An addition was built in 1923. The project to rehabilitate the site — not initially greeted with great enthusiasm, but now a showplace — was backed by the Pottawattamie County Development Corp. under the direction of Andrea Kathol. Then Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture was brought in. The successful repurposing of the building is being recognized by Restoration Exchange Omaha with the AIA Omaha Preservation Award. The building now includes a restaurant and art venue, Dixie Quicks Public House and RNG Gallery; the Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce office; a Scooters Coffeehouse; and 17 market-rate loft apartments. Interior work required altering existing features so they would perform better for the building’s new use, such as cutting a drive-thru opening in the load-bearing masonry center wall at the rear indoor parking area. A mosaic tile floor in the former showroom was retained in the first floor office space. The original wood floor of the maintenance garage was repaired and refinished, while allowing layers of grease and paint to show through and add character. The garage
OMAHA GIVES! RESTORATION TOUR The former Hughes-Irons Motor Co. building at 141 West Broadway in Council Bluffs was rehabilitated and now is home to Dixie Quicks, the Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce office, a Scooters Coffeehouse and 17 loft apartments. doors became art on the second floor. Exterior work included putting in new windows that matched the historic details of the older windows and restoring the prism glass transoms. The garage doors were replaced with aluminum-framed systems that retained the look of the doors. Missing masonry and bell curves were rebuilt with new material to match the appearance of the old. “It’s modern, but we tried to save historical elements,” Kathol said. The project was completed in two-anda-half to three years for $8.5 million to $9 million, she said. It had multiple goals that went beyond historic preservation. “Revitalizing the block on West Broadway was one of the major goals,” said Bob
AIA Omaha Preservation Award of Merit, The Architectural Offices: Judges’ comments
We’ve all looked at projects in our smaller communities and questioned the feasibility and willingness for preservation. The Security State Bank is an impressive melding of taking a building in need of significant rehabilitation and finding a way to give it new life and add value for the entire community. The owners made a conscious decision to find a solution that would allow for retention of the original use as well as bringing the second floor back to life — not only was this a challenging question but an expensive one. Ultimately, a sensitive addition was added onto the building allowing for necessary egress; it would have been easier to mothball the second floor and revitalize the first floor. But now, the Security State Bank has community space upstairs and the building is clearly a major asset to Ansley.
Ongoing through October For dates visit www.restorationexchange.org/educate
Awards Sponsor JURY CHAIR Will O’Keefe Minnesota Preservation Alliance
HANSCOM PARK NEIGHBORHOOD TOUR Sunday, Oct. 4 Noon to 5 p.m.
AWARDS COMMITTEE Matt DeBoer, AIA George Haecker, AIA Larry Jacobsen, AIA Ross Miller, Assoc. AIA Lynn Meyer Mike Peter Robert Peters
AWARDS CHAIR Joe Saniuk, AIA
NORTH 24TH, SOUTH 24TH AND VINTON STREET WALKING TOURS
SECURITY NATIONAL BANK, ANSLEY, NEBRASKA
THANK YOU! AIA Omaha
Mundt, President/CEO of the Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce. “This would be a catalyst for the block’s development and the area around it.” Other goals included creating something that would draw people to downtown Council Bluffs. That’s where the restaurant and housing components of the project came in. “The mixed-use theme we’re trying to promote downtown is bringing people back to the center,” Mundt said. The architecture, historical research and design work were completed by a team that included Albert Macchietto, Jennifer Honebrink, Martin Kluck, Jenny Zimmer Brennan, Jean Vacha, Katrina Stoffel, Erin Trofholz and Dennis Nelsen.
Flatiron Building 1722 St. Mary’s Ave. Wednesday, May 20, 5-8 p.m. Restoration work is in full swing. Check out the progress plus enjoy free food and drink with Restoration Exchange.
Jenni Shukert Brian Spencer, AIA Trina Westman
Help us Create Communities that Show their Age Proudly!
Click. Give. Preserve!
DONATE $10 to RESTORATION EXCHANGE OMAHA Now through May 20 www.omahagives24.org
IT’S NOT ABOUT THE BUILDINGS. IT’S ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM.
The Blackstone Hotel, 1915
When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone. Let it be such work as our descendants will thank us for; and let us think, as we lay stone on stone, that a time is to come when those stones will be held sacred because our hands have touched them, and that men will say, “See! This our father did for us.”
J o h n R u s k i n ( 1819 ~ 19 0 0 )
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