Des Moines school district leaders’ plans to transform a deteriorating elementary school into an arts academy could be stalled — or denied — as city leaders say the building is ripe for historic landmark status.
Des Moines Public Schools officials and supporters rejoiced in November when school district voters decisively passed the $265 million bond to fund a multi-year overhaul of the district, updating its buildings, technology and programs.
School district leaders intend to demolish the century-old Moulton Elementary School, 1541 Eighth St., as part of the plan. In its place, Moulton, which has long focused on the arts, including student plays, a new building would become the Moulton Arts Academy, a performing and visual arts school.
Principal Eddie McCulley previously told the Des Moines Register that beautification efforts on the school have been like “putting lipstick on a pig.” Paint alone cannot fix the building’s many problems, including a leaking roof and windows, McCulley said, adding the school’s overhaul would allow “us to really stretch and really become even more creative, even more colorful, even more powerful.”
But the school district’s efforts could be halted by Des Moines city leaders, who say the school’s building, with its local historic value and distinct architecture, could qualify for landmark designation.
It’s up to the Des Moines City Council to decide whether to refer the district’s request to demolish Moulton to the city’s Historic Preservation Commission or allow the district to knock the building down as planned. The commission, made up of 12 members, makes recommendations on the city’s historic properties, including whether to list a historic district or site in the National Register of Historic Places.
Buildings with a local landmark designation are subject to local design review and demolition restrictions under the historic preservation plan, Reflect DSM.
City Council members are set to take up the decision at their meeting Monday, Jan. 26.
The Reimagining Education, Reinvigorating Schools team, including architects, are aware of the city’s process, including considering whether the building should be preserved, Des Moines Public Schools spokesperson Phil Roeder said in an email.
“We will await their official decision, of course, and whatever that is we remain confident that Moulton will be one of the signature projects of our Reimagining Education initiative,” Roeder wrote.
Moulton meets historic landmark criteria, Des Moines says
The school building meets several of Des Moines’ landmark designation criteria, according to a council memo.
The school was built in 1914 as North High School, until the current North High, 501 Holcomb Ave, was constructed in the 1950s.
Moulton reflects a simplified century revival architecture with elements of Tudor Revival, which are similar to styles of other Des Moines schools built at the time, including Lincoln and Roosevelt high schools, according to the council memo. The school was eventually renamed in honor of Emma Case Moulton, a retired teacher who taught there when it was North High.
Moulton also has undergone multiple renovations over the decades, the memo states, which includes a more recent 2000 addition.
What could happen next?
Should council members approve the building’s demolition, the school district would have to document and photograph inside and outside and provide the record to the city, the memo states. The district also would have to salvage as many fixtures and materials as possible.
If council members decide to send the proposal to the Historic Preservation Commission, the group would meet within 90 days to consider the building’s landmark designation and work with the district on next steps.
According to the memo, the commission could consider alternatives to demolition, including:
How to participate in the Des Moines City Council meeting
Des Moines City Council meetings are held at Des Moines City Hall, 400 Robert D. Ray Drive, at 5 p.m., with proclamations starting at 4:45 p.m.
Meetings can be streamed on the City of Des Moines’ YouTube page at youtube.com/user/CityOfDesMoinesIowa.
The public can request to speak in person at a City Council meeting by filling out an online form at desmoines.rja.revize.com/forms/401. A request to speak must be submitted by 5 p.m. the day before the meeting.
Des Moines Register reporter Samantha Hernandez contributed to this story.
Virginia Barreda is the Des Moines city government reporter for the Register. She can be reached at vbarreda@dmreg.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Can DMPS demolish Moulton for its revamp? It may not be that easy.
Reporting by Virginia Barreda, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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