T-R PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY — The houses at 110 and 112 W. Linn St., which are currently owned by the Friends of the Marshalltown Public Library and located just northwest of the library, may soon be on the move thanks to a proposal from Linn Street Properties to move them to currently vacant city-owned lots a few blocks to the west. The project would allow for the future expansion of the library.

The Marshalltown city council heard a proposal to take an unoccupied home currently located on property owned by the Friends of the Marshalltown Public Library just northwest of the library at 105 W. Boone St. and move it about three blocks west to another lot currently owned by the city once it is sold to a private company during Monday night’s regular meeting.

According to City Clerk Alicia Hunter, moving and construction costs are estimated at $50,000, and a lone bid has been placed on the lot at 411 W. Linn St. for $1,000 by Linn Street Properties. The item was only up for discussion on Monday, and Hunter said the real estate agreement would stipulate that the home be ready for occupancy at its new location within 24 months.

Craig Harabedian, the president of Linn Street Properties, provided some background on the situation and noted that library leadership has been aiming to build on the two lots that are currently owned by the Friends of the Library organization for the last several years. Linn Street Properties purchased the lot at 406 W. Linn St. back in 2022 and plans to move the other house currently owned by the Friends of the Library there as well.

“Expanding the library is one idea, and I know that they wanted to build a garage for the BookMobile (MOBI). And this would be a great location for those. Unfortunately, the houses are in the way, and demolishing the houses would cost upwards of $80,000,” Harabedian said. “This is one way, by moving the houses, that we can remove them from the property, put them somewhere else on a vacant lot in the city, and get them back up on the tax rolls and get a family into these homes.”

Harabedian said the company purchased another nearby property a few years ago, and he hopes to start foundation, excavation and building and get the house moved by fall. Renovations including repairing the plaster that will inevitably crack during the move, replacing parts of the HVAC system and general aesthetic improvements will likely be necessary, he added.

“The idea is (that) it’s a win-win situation for the city, the library and the Friends. The company’s not looking to, or I’m not looking to make a whole lot of money on this. This is something I really want to do to support the community, support the library and just preserve some really neat old homes, these 1920s, I believe, prairie-style homes that normally would just get knocked down,” Harabedian said. “And you can’t build a home like that anymore without some exorbitant amount of money.”

He felt that new construction would cost “a lot of money” and doubted that the properties could be sold to make a profit.

“This is one of the few ways that we can use these vacant lots here in town,” Harabedian said.

Councilor Mike Ladehoff was excited about the project and said it was nice to see a house repurposed as the city has been knocking down dilapidated homes across town.

“It’s kind of nice to be able to save a few that are worth saving, so thank you very much for the project,” he said.

Councilor Gary Thompson asked when the homes would be ready for a homeowner or tenant to move in, and Harabedian said he hoped to have it prepared by next year. In recounting the delays he dealt with on the plans for 406 W. Linn St., Harabedian said it had to do with out-of-town contractors, but he was happy to report he’ll be working with Ciro DiLorio and Ferneau and Sons House Moving on this project.

“The only thing I would suggest is that you get on our agenda to give you an extension on the first one sooner than later so you’re not into that and we take the house from you,” Thompson said.

Mayor/Acting City Administrator Joel Greer joked that if this house moving project goes well, one of the famous mansions on West Main Street could be next.

“I’m trying to do just one thing at a time. Let’s not bite off more than we can chew,” Harabedian said.

Thompson then moved to accept the proposal as presented, and the motion passed by a unanimous vote. On Thursday, Library Director Sarah Rosenblum told the T-R the Friends will cover the costs of removing the basements on the soon-to-be empty lots near the library, and the land will then be deeded over to the city.

“We don’t know for sure what we’re gonna build there, but then fully, this whole block will belong to the city as the library property,” she said. “We are ready for (the houses) to find a new life, and we think that’s wonderful… We’re very excited, and we think this is a win-win.”