Historic Preservation Awards Announced In Ames

Press release from the City of Ames:

April 28, 2021

The recipients of the 2020 and 2021 Historic Preservation Awards were recognized at the April 27 Ames City Council meeting. Mayor John Haila presented the following awards via Zoom:

2020 Award for Historic Rehabilitation: Avec Design+Build, 131 Main St.

This project was selected to receive this award by the Historic Preservation Commission on March 9, 2020. However, because of COVID, public award recognition was delayed.

This award, presented to Avec Holdings LLC, recognizes a project for repairing and/or altering a building or a feature of a building so that the structure has the appearance that such a building would have had 50 or more years ago, based on historic documentation for similar buildings of that time in Ames.

The building, located at 131 Main St., was in a complete state of disrepair deterioration when purchased by Avec Holdings. Changes had occurred to the facade that were inconsistent with its character and history. Because Avec applied for historic tax credits, the rehabilitation had to follow strict standards and guidelines, with the period of significance being 1953. Deteriorated areas were repaired, and windows and doors were returned to their original opening sizes and materials. The original glass block was uncovered, cleaned, and sealed along with the yellow brick. An aluminum awning similar in size to the 1953 version, yet with a touch of the contemporary, was installed at the south and west facades, once again emphasizing the southwest corner entry of the building.

2020 Award for Adaptive Reuse: Cornbred Barbecue, 526 Main St. No. 106

This project was selected to receive this award by the Historic Preservation Commission on March 9, 2020. However, because of COVID, public award recognition was delayed. This award, presented to Ryan and Sonya Newstrom, recognizes a project for retaining the principal features of a building and in a sympathetic way modifying it for modern uses.

The building, located at 526 Main St. No. 106, was built in 1900. The former Chicago & Northwestern Passenger Depot had seen a range of commercial tenants since rail service ceased in the 1960s. In 2018, new tenants, Ryan and Sonya Newstrom, contracted with Dan Nutini, John Lott, and Casee Burgason to combine and convert two separate and distinct tenant spaces into a bustling restaurant and bar space.

The team looked for opportunities to expose original elements in the building, including the double-vaulted waiting room, and original wood and brick that had been covered up. Recognizing the potential of the space, a mezzanine level was created to provide an increased amount of seating while creating a sense of drama around the station’s entrance.

2021 Award for Adaptive Reuse: 319 - 321 Main St.

This award, presented to OEI Ames LLC, recognizes a project for retaining the principal features of a building and in a sympathetic way modifying it for modern uses.

After acquiring the commercial building at 319 - 321 Main St. in 2019, OEI Ames LLC, retrofitted the historic building for modern use. OEI completed a historically appropriate restoration of the Main Street façade including tuckpointing, masonry, and terra cotta tile repairs, and new upper story paired windows replicating historically accurate muntins. Important to the building’s design is the texture provided by the variegated brick color, cast concrete material, brickwork details, and the tile roof. The deteriorated upper-story apartment was remodeled to an open floor plan with updated infrastructure and reinforced rafters, and restoration of original flooring.

2021 Award for Historic Rehabilitation: 802 Burnett Ave.

This award, presented to Angie and Dan Kolz, recognizes a project for repairing and/or altering a building or a feature of a building so that the structure has the appearance that such a building would have had 50 or more years ago, based on historic documentation for similar buildings of that time in Ames.

The single-family home at 802 Burnett Ave. dates back to 1910 and was constructed in the Queen Anne Style. In 2017, new owners Angie and Dan Kolz began hours of investigative research. Historically minded repairs took three years to complete. Every element of this home’s rehabilitation has its own story as to how it was successfully implemented. Particularly significant to the character of the historic district was the rehabilitation of the wraparound porch. The existing porch had become structurally unsound and was no longer accurate to its original style. The entry gable, which was an important historic feature of the home, was able to be structurally supported and repaired while the porch was demolished and new brick piers and skirtings matching the original were added. Painstaking research and implementation has resulted in a successful historic rehabilitation of this 1910 home.

The Ames Historic Preservation Commission presents awards annually to recognize a variety of historic preservation activities, including work on building exteriors, site work, and other notable contributions to preservation in Ames.

The historic resources eligible for an award must be located within the city limits of Ames, have undergone historic rehabilitation, restoration, historic preservation, or adaptive reuse, and be at least 50 years old. The structural work or other notable contributions for which an award is given must have been completed within the last three years before the award year. Projects that are substantially complete may also be recognized if completion is scheduled to occur by May of the award year.

This press release was produced by the City of Ames. The views expressed here are the author’s own.