Exterior Renovation Project
As of April 1, 2010, work is proceeding on the exterior renovation project at 117 Ash Avenue. Bridge financing provided by several DU brothers has allowed 117 Ash, LLC to contract with Harold Pike Construction for $357,585 to perform the exterior work. Pike has an excellent track record performing quality restoration work on similar ISU and Ames area projects. They just completed a million dollar renovation of the AGR house, and during the past several years completed major renovations of Morrill Hall and the Knoll on the ISU campus.
Our project will replace rotted windows that were installed in the early 1980’s. Windows on the front of the house will be high quality, steel frame, thermal windows designed to replicate the look of the original windows installed in the early 1930’s. They will have a special factory paint color matching the original windows’ terracotta color. Windows on the rear of the house will be of similar design and color, but will be constructed of aluminum in order to reduce cost. The original windows in the Chapter Room, Trophy Room and the cold air dorms, will be removed, rebuilt, painted and then reinstalled. This is being done to preserve the look of the original house and to satisfy the historical preservation requirements established by the National Park Service.
All exterior trim will be replaced, and deteriorating stucco will be repaired, the brick will be cleaned of any paint, and any joints requiring tuck-pointing will be addressed. Although many of us have fond memories of sun bathing and balloon launching from the deck above the cold air dorms, we will be removing the railing from the deck, replacing the roof above the dorms, and installing a locked hollow metal door for access only to the air conditioning condensers that will now occupy the roof.
The original front door of the house will be restored, window wells and walls rebuilt, and the exterior fire escapes reworked to be code compliant. All of the above work will be completed between April and August of 2010.
Historic Preservation Efforts
Talk to almost anyone in Ames or on the Iowa State campus, and they will still tell you that even now the DU house is one of the most beautiful of all the Greek houses. Imagine how fantastic it will look when it is brought back to its original exterior appearance of the 1930’s and later in the 1960’s when the cold air dorms were added.
This is the goal of 117 Ash, LLC. Restore the DU house to its prime condition of more than 50 years ago. To do this properly, we want to follow the renovation guidelines set out by the U.S. National Parks Service. To that end, Colonnades has applied to have 117 Ash Avenue placed on the U.S. Register of Historic Places. We have hired Will Page, a well thought of historic preservation consultant in Iowa, who has prepared the supporting architectural and historical documentation to support our application. Our DU home is rich in historical significance, and we feel confident that by the early summer of 2010 our eligibility will be confirmed by the National Park Service.
Once our eligibility is established the door opens for us to continue our renovation project per the guidelines set out by Park Service. I’m sure that we would want to renovate the house to look as it is had originally no matter the incentives involved. But, it nice to know that the reward for bringing the house back the way we would like to see will most likely allow us to receive significant Iowa and Federal Tax Credits for all renovation costs associated with the project.
The Federal Credits will amount to 20% of the entire project (both interior and exterior) costs, including development costs, architectural/engineering fees, and all construction, except landscaping and exterior utilities. This could amount to more than $250,000 for the investors in 117 Ash, LLC.
The Iowa Tax Credits, if granted, amount to an additional 25% of the project costs! The economic condition of the State of Iowa may limit the 25% to only the first $500,000 of renovation. But, we are hopeful, that funding can be found to allow these credits to be calculated on the entire project. This could amount to an additional $300,000 plus to the LLC investors.
If we are successful in getting 117 Ash Avenue listed on the National Register, our DU home will become only the second Greek house to have attained this designation in the ISU campus area. The former DX fraternity on the corner of Knapp and Hayward was listed several years ago when it was in the process of being renovated to become the Iowa House Bed and Breakfast.
Plans and Timetable for Interior Renovation
Interior renovation is scheduled to take place in two phases. The first phase will start happening in just a month, or so. The accompanying “Tentative Project Schedule” outlines the projected timeline for completing renovations for each of the interior areas.
In order to provide a workable kitchen for the Sig Ep’s to use starting in August of 2010, it will be necessary to rejuvenate our kitchen this summer. Actually, we have one of the nicer kitchen spaces in all of the Greek system. We just need to clean it up, rebuild the cabinetry, revamp the lighting and electrical systems, and improve the ventilation. The dining room will be getting all new windows and an exterior door, so some interior work will also happen yet this summer.
If you were back for Homecoming 2009, you already know that the Living/Chapter Room and the Trophy Room areas need work. It is our intent to “rough in” for air conditioning and fire sprinklers in these areas this summer, while we are upgrading electrical wiring/lighting and replacing the damaged ceilings. We’ll wait until the Sig Ep’s move out in the Spring of 2011 to replace carpet, clean our beautiful woodwork and repair the fireplace area.
You will note that upstairs renovation will not start happening until the Spring of 2011. This is scheduled this way for two reasons. First of all, it will be important that we have raised enough funds, either by equity investment, or by donation to complete this portion of the project. Secondly, during the next six months, we will be deciding on the “Future Use of the Chapter House” (see earlier discussion above). This decision could greatly influence the design layout and use of the 2nd and 3rd floors as well as the cold air dorms and library areas.
Sunday, September 05, 2010 
