Note: The property at 302 E. Bloomington St., will be a discussion item at the Oct. 12, 2023, Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission meeting at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall. The public is invited to address the commission during the meeting.
By Cindy Hadish/Homegrown Iowan
IOWA CITY, Iowa — A sales listing of the building that has housed Pagliai’s Pizza for the last half-century has raised red flags about a potential demolition.
Built in 1875 and used as a grocery store before the popular restaurant opened there in the 1970s, the brick building, including 16 apartments and neighboring laundromat, at 302 E. Bloomington St., have hit the market for a cool $5 million.
“NOT listed on Historic Register,” the Zillow listing notes. “PERFECT site for future development.”
That characterization of the property has raised concern among preservation advocates, who worry the buildings could be demolished to make way for a housing development.
Ornate corbels and dentil moulding are among original features on the 1875 brick building that houses Pagliai’s Pizza. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
RELATED: 90-year-old Pagliai’s Pizza founder reminisces about restaurant
Owned by Gary Skarda, the property has an assessed value of $1.5 million. Skarda could not be reached for comment.
The Pagliai family noted that they have a long-term lease and the restaurant will not be closing. The laundromat also leases its building and will remain open.
Sixteen apartments are included in the Zillow sales listing of the property at 302 E. Bloomington St., in Iowa City, Iowa . (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Still, if the nearly half-acre property is sold, there are currently no protections to prevent the buildings from being demolished.
“Why is this NOT on the historic registry!!?? Come on Iowa City !! Buyer can tear down and put in condos!” one person on an Iowa City Facebook page commented.
“Future development = demolition,” another wrote.
Jordan Sellergren, chairwoman of the Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission, said the property will be discussed during the group’s Oct. 12 meeting, at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.
Sellergren noted that the laundromat building was the original stables on the property. The building housing Pagliai’s Pizza was originally a grocery store, with a hotel behind it.
The issue will likely be formally on the commission’s Nov. 9 meeting as a potential local landmark, she said.
Local landmarks, which offer protection from demolition, are allowed in Iowa City without the owner’s consent, but the process requires a super-majority of the City Council for approval, or six of seven members.
MORE: See final photos of The Mill in Iowa City.
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It is my hope that you give the Paglia’s Pizza building a deserved Historic designation. I worked at the Clinton location while I was in college at Iowa and helped Armond Sr. with the move to the Bloomington St. address. Worked there for a couple years before moving to Champaign- Urbana to start another Pagliai’s, then to Bloomington, IN to start another one.
I still stop in Iowa City at Pagliai’s on my to see relatives in Newton and Grinnell.
In my 75 years of traveling around I have have seen many times when a historical designation has been miss applied but this would not. If you do you might as well knock down everything on the U of I Pentecrest. It’s just history.
What a great connection, Phil! Thank you for sharing your memories and thoughts on the future of this building.
Having worked for and with Armond Sr. at both locations for around 4 years I would hate to see them replaced by condos.
This was the pizza place to go for my Aunt and Uncle and for their kids who still live there. I still stop there anytime I am in the area.
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