Richland Will Say Goodbye to a Landmark

RICHLAND – The City of Richland, Iowa is the oldest city in Keokuk County having been platted in 1840. One of the City’s oldest buildings is being slated for demolition. “The original building was built in 1923”, stated Richland Mayor Tom Hoekstra, referring to the three-story brick and steel reinforced concrete, former school building located at 103 S. Walnut Street, one block off the Richland square. “In 1957 a one-story addition to the building was constructed on the south side”, added Mayor Hoekstra. He concluded by stating that the “property is now in a state of disrepair.”

Before the Richland and Pekin school districts consolidated, the Pekin School District owned the building. It housed K-8 classrooms from 1962-1971 and then K-5 until 1978. In 1978 the Richland and Pekin school districts were consolidated, and the City of Richland purchased the old school building. It was subsequently sold at auction for $15,500. Mayor Hoekstra further explained that “In 2005 or 2006, the newly formed Richland Area Development Group purchased the building with the intent to demolish it and rebuild.”

The Richland Area Development Group sought project and grant funding assistance through Vision Iowa and other resources. As with many government programs, the restrictions and requirements were prohibitive, and funding was not obtained. That type of funding “requires you to jump through a lot of hoops”, explained the Mayor. 

Former Richland resident and philanthropist, Jerry B. Robinson, currently of Englewood, Colo., was interested in funding the demolition and building a civic center as a memorial to his family. When the members of the Richland Area Development Group simply could not agree on demolition and rebuilding, the project “just stopped”.

Over the following years numerous businesses have opened and closed their doors in the building. The one-story addition has been the location of many different business enterprises including a daycare center. The building currently houses the non-profit Richland 24/7 Fitness center. The demolition of the connected three-story school building is being designed to leave the one story building intact.

After years of decline, Mayor Hoekstra and then City Clerk LaNelle Kopsieker, worked together to try and find a way to deal with the situation. They even attended seminars with the DNR and Iowa League of Cities to learn how to get rid of blighted buildings. Mayor Hoekstra knew that the building “needed to be renovated or come down.”

It was clear that no one had the funds to restore or renovate the massive building. Due to the construction of the building (brick and reinforced concrete), the demolition costs would be extensive. Mayor Hoekstra then approached Mr. Robinson again. Mayor Hoekstra explained the situation to Mr. Robinson and was grateful when Mr. Robinson agreed to provide $100,000 exclusively for the demolition of the old school building. The funds are currently being held in trust at an attorney’s office.

The City has paid for an asbestos study and the resulting asbestos removal, allowing them to move forward with plans to demolish. Mayor Hoekstra said “Requests for bids have been sent out and we are close to identifying a contractor. We have until June 30, 2021 to complete the demolition.”

This is not the first time the City has demolished blighted buildings in Richland. As reported in the Aug. 3, 2020 edition of the Southeast Iowa Union in a quote attributable to Mayor Hoekstra, the City made a $60,000 investment to “acquire and knock down three propertiesin town. Multiple houses and a set of condos were built on that land, raising the property values $650,000.” At this time, no plans have been made for the use of the land once the school has been demolished.