Gateway Redevelopment Group, Davenport, IA


Friends of Jipp Initial Plan The Gateway Redevelopment Group was formed from the old Hamburg Historic District Homeowners Association by a group of neighbors with the desire to save the abandoned historic structures in the Hamburg District. Our first challenge is the Jipp home and grocery at the corner of 8th and Gaines. The Vision We believe by saving this landmark building from becoming another green space in our neighborhood, we will have a model to help save other abandoned homes. We foresee using the structure to collect, preserve and restore architectural items from other vintage houses being renovated or demolished in the Quad Cities. We can also recycle or sell these items and use the profits to help restore this and other houses in the neighborhood. The Challenge Of course, any building can be saved..given enough money!! Our goal to is restore these structures with minimal funds using maximum volunteer help. By using volunteer labor and the skill set of our group, plus recycled and donated materials these historic structures can be saved at a reasonable cost. The removal of the rear portion is a good example of this. An estimated $5,000 job, which we were told needed a large (and expensive) backhoe to remove, was done safely with a simple chain and hand crank come along, 2 very large dumpsters (one donated by United Neighbors) and about 400 man hours. 730/732 Gaines Jipp Home and Grocery The grocery was built by Christian Jipp in 1868 and was one of the first businesses in this neighborhood. He lived in the back of the store until the house was added in 1878 and ran the grocery until 1906. It continued as a private home and grocery until 1958 when it was converted to a Laundromat and rental house. In the early 1980s it closed and has been vacant ever since. Since its closing the structure has fallen on hard times and is now on the city’s demolition list. The House. The wooden addition and dormer added in the early 1900s has been totally destroyed by termites. This along with the digging of a basement for a furnace, also about that time, has caused the original foundation of the house to wash out and collapse the rear brick wall. The front wall is also endanger of collapsing unless the foundation is repaired soon. The Store The store has fared a little better. The structure appears to be sound with the exception of the loading dock added when the house was built and the collapse of the store floor. The store front was also altered in the early 1900s. The Plan Phase 1 1. Remove the rear addition This is Completed! 2. Build a new foundation for the house. Bid $9,400 minus $2,400 using GRG Labor. 3. Frame rear half 1st and second floor, rear wall roof.. Estimate $2,500 material cost plus GRG labor. 4. Repair loading dock. Estimate $500 material cost plus GRG labor. With this completed the structure should be totally enclosed and stable. Phase 2 5. Side and roof rear of house. Estimate 6. Rebuild store floor. Estimate 7. Electrical, plumbing and heating. Estimate 8. Open For BUSINESS Funding We will first look for pledges from neighbors who are interested in saving this building. Then we will look to the City, State, Palmer College, St. Ambrose, German American Heritage Center, RDA and any other organization who has funding available to save historic or neighborhood structures.

Gateway Redevelopment Group, Davenport, Iowa