Brown Street Historic District
Most of the popular architectural styles from late 19th and into the 20th century are found here. The most popular house form is the American Four-Square. Other popular styles include Queen Anne, Italianate, and the Greek Revival. The houses are both one and two stories in height, and wood-frame construction is prominent with rubble stone foundations. Some exteriors are clad in brick. Four houses have been individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places: Charles Berryhill House (c. 1850–1865), Vogt House (1890), Bohumil Shimek House (c. 1890), and the Arthur Hillyer Ford House (1909).
Brown Street Historic District is also home to Happy Hollow park, a 3.3 acre park that was acquired by the City in 1945. The hollow is the result of inhabitants removing clay from the area to make bricks that were used in nearby homes. In 2018, the park received a new park shelter and restroom, with an estimated cost of $182,250. Happy Hollow Park has been the subject of ongoing coverage over the decision to replace the baseball infield with turf and reclassifying the park.
Beginning in 2022, the Brown Street Historic District was the site of a project to increase affordable housing in Iowa City. The city sold a vacant lot at 724 Ronalds Street to a nonprofit who has worked with the Iowa City Community School District to build affordable rental housing and provide students with on-the-job vocational training.
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ Marlys Svendsen. "Brown Street Historic District (boundary increase)". National Park Service. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
- ^ Marlys Svendsen. "Brown Street Historic District". National Park Service. Retrieved June 5, 2017. with photos
- ^ "Happy Hollow Park". icgov.org. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
- ^ Husar, Emma (June 22, 2017). "Construction coming to two Iowa City parks". Little Village. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
- ^ Davis, Riley. "Happy Hollow Park's "skinned" infield converted to turfgrass". The Daily Iowan. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
- ^ Wagner, Archie. "Decision to restore Iowa City Happy Hollows Park's 'skinned' infield tabled". The Daily Iowan. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
- ^ "Update: The Housing Fellowship agrees to vacant lot price for Student Built House". Corridor Business Journal. July 15, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2024.