Iowa City seeks historic landmark designation for Pagliai building

Two historic buildings on E. Bloomington St. in Iowa City are the targets for historic landmark designation in an effort to preserve the city’s history, although the owner says doing so will make them difficult to market. On Thursday, Feb. 8, approximately 40 people filled the Iowa City city hall to weigh in on the historic landmark designation proposal for 302 E. Bloomington St., popularly known as the “Pagliai’s Pizza building,” and adjoining 316 E. Bloomington St., the Laundromania laundromat. Both buildings are owned by Gary Skarda, who said they have been in his family for five generations.

The Slezak-Holub-Skarda building was built in 1878, according to Re/Max’s website, and is listed at $5 million. The price includes the adjacent laundromat, and has been on the market for 140 days. At the meeting, Mr. Skarda said the historic designation would reduce its marketability, given the limited type of remodeling the potential new owner could accomplish. “It’s privately owned, and I don’t think it’s fair for the City to tell me (what to do),” he said. “I’m going to make an offer to the City. If you’d like to keep it the way it is, they can buy it from me and they’ll have their landmark…but it does take a lot of maintenance. I’d like to see whoever would buy the building to keep it the way it is,” he said, mentioning that he had spoken to a couple developers who said developing the block was “doable.” The Historic Preservation Commission, a department of the city of Iowa City, met with Mr. Skarda sometime after Oct. 2023 to discuss the process of historic landmark designation, and what it would mean for the owner of the property. Following that meeting, the Friends of Historic Preservation hired local historian, Jennifer Price, to complete the site inventory form that documents the history, integrity and significance of the property.

Italianate architecture is the defining characteristic of the Slezak-Holub-Skarta building, and the building was a significant place of business and social gatherings for Bohemian immigrants. These, along with many other aspects, were a determining factor in ultimately approving the building for historic landmark designation status. Public comment time saw a number of passionate people who expressed their strong desire to see the building preserved for history, bemoaning the recent developments of “sterile” high-rise buildings that have cropped up around Iowa City in recent years. At the same time, they expressed compassion and appreciation for Mr. Skarda and his years of dedication to the building. “This building represents more aspects of our local history than any other single building in Iowa City,” said Ginalie Swaim, member of the Historic Friends Society.

“To tear it down I believe would diminish the beauty and historic character of the entire block,” said commentator Phil Beck. Historic Preservation Commission board member Jordan Sellergren thanked community members for showing up to the meeting. “I joined the commission because I want to do one thing, and that is to prevent developers from removing our history. And I think that's very important. I think that designating the space as a landmark will not reduce its value – I think it will increase its value, and I think it increases the value of our town and our community,” she said. The motion to recommend the local landmark proposal to the Planning and Zoning Commission passed unanimously. The proposal will eventually move on to the City Council, which will take the recommendation of both the Planning and Zoning and Historic Preservation Commissions’ opinions into consideration, followed by multiple readings and public input. In an Oct. 2023 article by the CBJ, Anthony Fontanini, owner of Pagliai’s, said they plan on staying put and if the sale displaces them, the restaurant will move to a different location in the area and continue to operate as before – whether that’s in Iowa City, Coralville or North Liberty.