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Iowa City panel approves garage-to-unit conversion at 621 North Johnson with material conditions
Summary
The Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission approved a certificate of appropriateness allowing conversion of a small historic garage at 621 North Johnson Street into a single living unit, provided the passage door is wood or fiberglass and all windows and glazing comply with commission guidelines.
The Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission voted to approve a certificate of appropriateness for work at 621 North Johnson Street that will convert a small, historic garage into a one-room living unit.
Staff described the garage as a small, originally historic outbuilding on the property line of a key contributing home in the Brown Street Historic District and said the plan calls for a single living space with laundry, a sink, a toilet and a tub. "It is actually considered a key contributing property in the historic district," the staff member said while reviewing site photos and plans.
The project includes adding a passage door and at least one additional window on the south elevation, making existing small windows operable and installing a mini-split system for climate control. Staff noted code constraints require the outdoor mini-split unit to be placed at least 2 feet from the property line and said any work that changes the visible trim or glazing must match the existing window sash width, size and muntin patterns where feasible.
On materials, staff recommended against a pressed-steel passage door, saying steel "tends to dent and rust" and does not meet the guidelines; the recommended condition was that any new passage door be wood or fiberglass and that all windows and glazing comply with the guidelines. The commission debated the merits of preserving the existing fabric, with several members noting the conversion is a way to add housing while keeping historic features.
Andrew Lewis moved to approve the certificate of appropriateness as presented with the conditions that the passage door be constructed of wood or fiberglass and that all windows and glazing comply with the guidelines; Brown seconded. The motion carried on the voice vote.
The approval allows the property owner to proceed under the stated conditions; staff indicated it will follow up on details of how the existing doors and frames will be modified to accept glazing and on the final mini-split placement.
The commission moved on to the next agenda item after the vote.
