Former Baptist church designated to Most Endangered Properties list

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GRUNDY CENTER – Along with eight other properties from around Iowa, the former First Baptist Church in Grundy Center has recently been named to Preservation Iowa’s Most Endangered Properties of 2016 list.
The Former First Baptist Church, which was built in 1918 after the previous church burned down, is one of the city’s oldest remaining properties, but for many years it has been an eyesore to the people of Grundy Center.
After being privately owned for the last 30 years or so, the city bought the property, which had fallen into disrepair. Some people suggested that the city tear it down, saying that at least they wouldn’t be spending any more money on it.
The old church’s designation to the list doesn’t mean that the city couldn’t still tear the church down, but Mayor Brian Buhrow said that the city would like to see it preserved so they could, in turn, make some money back from their investment.
Buhrow said that the city is hoping to receive the DNR’s Derelict Building Grant, which they will use for asbestos abatement and removal of other hazardous substances from the property. The next step, he said, would be selling the property to a developer, who would then use private dollars to fix up the property.
“We’ve already had several developers show interest in the property,” said City Clerk Kristy Sawyer. “As soon as the list came out, they were contacting Main Street Iowa about the property.”
At the city council meeting last Monday, Main Street Iowa gave the council a presentation on what they believed would be the best route for the future of the property. That best route, according to Main Street Iowa representatives, would be to secure the building to prevent further damage, then empty the space so that a developer could see its potential. They specifically noted that the property had great potential for apartment buildings, which Grundy Center has a lack of.
“Your rental market is a little concerning,” said Main Street Iowa business specialist Jim Thompson in his presentation to the council. Thompson noted that Grundy Center doesn’t have enough apartment offerings for people looking to move to town, and that the city’s growth would eventually stagnate if there was nowhere for newcomers to live.
After a vote, the council decided to apply for the Derelict Building Grant with the intent to not demolish the building at this time, instead, they would look into doing minor repairs before selling the property to a developer.
“Some people suggested we tear it down and put a parking lot there,” Buhrow said. “We would still have to pay to maintain that parking lot, and have the snow removed. Either way, it costs money.”
At least if the city sells it, they will be able to make a little of the money back in return, Buhrow said.
Along with the property in Grundy Center, seven other properties were designated to the Most Endangered list for 2016. The other buildings were located all across the state, from Sioux County to Lee County.
Every year, a call is placed for nominations through Preservation Iowa membership, Main Street communities, and historic preservation commissions across the state. A panel of judges consider four criteria in choosing the final list: geographic distribution, historic significance, nature of the threat, and variety of building type.
The list, which is put out every year, is part of Preservation Iowa’s Most Endangered Property program, which was started in 1995 to educate Iowans about historic sites that are slowly slipping away. In the past 20 years, Preservation Iowa has designated over 140 archeological sites, churches, landscapes and a variety of other buildings.