Hartley misses out on DNR demo funds
Grant would have covered portion of Capitol Theatre removal
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The city acquired the old Capitol Theatre building in September of 2020 and is planning to demolish it. Removal costs have been estimated at $130,000.
Hartley officials are hoping its better luck next year for a state grant that would help with the removal of a longstanding eyesore on Central Avenue.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources last week announced the recipients of its Derelict Building Grant Program. Though it applied, Hartley wasn't among the nine winners. City officials were hoping to land money for expenses related to the future demolition of the old Capitol Theatre building downtown, which has been deemed a health hazard by O'Brien County Environmental Health.
"The city council will re-evaluate what to do next and we may apply for the grant again next year," said City Administrator Erica Haack. "We believe our scoring put us close to being approved, so it may be worth trying again the next round."
The DNR awarded a total of $400,000 in reimbursement grants under the derelict building program. Wall Lake in Sac County was the biggest winner, landing $121,700 for asbestos abatement, renovation and deconstruction of an old school building. The new site will be transformed into a family recreation center for the Wall Lake community.
Farragut in Fremont County received the smallest grant. The $5,100 award will be used to help stabilize the foundation of a building that the city would like to use for a public works shop. All but one of the grant recipients intends to use the space in question for future development. The Hartley council has not publicly discussed future plans for the old Capitol Theatre, and has instead focused its attention on demolishing the building to eliminate the hazard.
Council members last September agreed to acquire the building from Dwight and Darla Jacobs, of Spirit Lake. The arrangement ended months of legal wrangling, which began in 2019 after the council declared the dilapidated former theater a dangerous building on the advice of O'Brien County Environmental Health Specialist Jonathon Hintz.
With no options for restoration, it will have to be razed. A previous estimate pegged demolition expenses at around $130,000.
According to Hintz's 2019 report, the old theater has a deteriorating roof that has created unsafe interior conditions. Hintz was only able to inspect the ground level of the building two years ago due to fears the upstairs was unsafe.
If the Hartley council decides to re-apply for the DNR grant and is awarded funds, the money could be used on building inspection costs, asbestos abatement and demolition expenses, depending on how the DNR designates the award.
