FilmScene has partnered with Resilient Sustainable Future for Iowa City (RSFIC) to purchase the historic Packing & Provisions Building at 118 E. College St., which has housed FilmScene on the Ped Mall since 2013.
The $2.3 million purchase secures the nonprofit cinema’s long-term presence in downtown Iowa City and marks a major step in the organization’s continued growth and stability, a release stated.
“This is a momentous day for our organization and the arts ecosystem in Iowa City,” said FilmScene Executive Director Andrew Sherburne. “In local ownership of an important cultural space and historic property, we’re taking another big step towards building the greatest small city for the arts.”
The announcement comes nearly four months after the building was listed in a GreenState Credit Union foreclosure suit against the building’s former owner, Marc Moen, and three months after FilmScene faced the termination of a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Since its construction in the 1860s, the Packing & Provisions Building has housed various commercial enterprises throughout its history, including a furniture and casket making business, a J.C. Penney store, and Vito’s restaurant – in addition to the Iowa City Packing and Provision Company, which gave the building its name. Mr. Moen led a major renovation of the building in 2013, restoring the building’s historic character while modernizing it for contemporary use.
Since the renovation 12 years ago, the building has been home to FilmScene’s first theater and longtime tenants Velvet Coat and Modus Engineering.
According to the release, purchasing the building will allow the nonprofit cinema to invest long-term in its facilities, including improvements to accessibility and comfort, and continue its “five screen” programming vision as well as its youth summer camps. With support from RSFIC, FilmScene will have two years to raise the $230,000 down payment.
“There is a lot of Iowa City retirement money and foundation money invested in Wall Street. Think of what we could do if we invested it here,” said Michal Eynon-Lynch, president of RSFIC.
RSFIC has previously partnered with sustainable real estate company AstraCommons and has invested in real estate for nonprofit tenants at no cost.
To celebrate the milestone, FilmScene and RSFIC will host a Ped Mall Open House Party on Wednesday, Aug. 14, from 4 to 6 p.m. The event will feature live music from the Dan Padley Trio on the rooftop, complimentary drinks and popcorn, behind-the-scenes tours, a commemorative collective art project and a special shopping event at Velvet Coat, where 15% of proceeds will benefit FilmScene.
FilmScene operates a second Iowa City location in the Chauncey building at 404 E. College St.
About FilmScene
FilmScene is a nonprofit cinema arts organization that seeks to challenge, inspire, educate and entertain through the shared discovery of film. Since opening its first location on the Ped Mall in 2013, the organization has expanded to operate multiple venues, including FilmScene at the Chauncey and FilmScene in the Park. It launched the Refocus Film Festival in 2022 and now serves more than 80,000 patrons annually, offering 450 films per year. Learn more about FilmScene at icfilmscene.org.
About RSFIC
Resilient Sustainable Future for Iowa City (RSFIC) is a nonprofit private foundation established in 2021 to build long-term, systemic resilience in Iowa City. To date, the organization has assisted more than 100 neighborhood groups, and reduced rents for residents and nonprofits by more than $250,000. Learn more at rsfic.org.
