Saving 822 Gaines or “Stone Soup”   

   While our success with the restoration of The Jipp and the opening of our Architectural Rescue Shop in October continues, we must also continue our efforts to help save other abandoned homes in our neighborhood. The work we have done on the Jipp showed the community what our group’s determination and skills can accomplish. Our next project, the saving of 822 Gaines, will give us a working model that can be replicated to save other abandoned homes.

  The house is a wooden frame Greek Revival structure built in the 1870s with a 1900 Victorian style addition on the front and rear. This is one of the last remaining examples of this style home in our neighborhood and prominently stands tall at the top of Gaines just one block north of the Jipp. The property has been abandoned for over 15 years. The roof is open to the elements; the interior has been gutted and overall is in poor condition. On the plus side, the foundation is rock solid and most of the framing and siding is still intact.

   In March 2005 the city requested approval from the Historic Preservation Commission for the demolition of 822 Gaines. The commission heard our appeal and tabled their decision for 6 months while, the county issued a Right of Redemption notice to clear the title and abate taxes and assessments.

Our Plan

  The exterior will be returned to its 1870s original form by removing the collapsed rear addition and crumbling Victorian facade. The interior will become a roomy 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath, 2200 sq. ft. single family home.

  We estimate that we can do the whole restoration for $100,000 and have a home that would sell for a minimum of $70,000.

  To help achieve this goal we look to the fable "Stone Soup.”  Please take a moment to reacquaint yourself with this wonderful fable… While we don’t have a famine, we do have the blight of Davenport’s numerous abandoned houses. And while Gateway Redevelopment Group (GRG) can’t save all these abandoned homes it can surely become the Magic Stone to help save 822 Gaines.

 “By working together, with everyone contributing what they can, a greater good is achieved.”

2009 Iowa Preservation at its Best

  Time Line Click here

822 costs Click here

Gateway Redevelopment Group, Davenport, Iowa