View Full Version : Sorry Jay, Alexis Park Inn Misses Out
Gig 601XL Builder[_2_]
February 7th 08, 08:57 PM
http://www.aopa.org/aircraft/articles/2008/080207hangar.html
Jay Honeck[_2_]
February 7th 08, 10:07 PM
> http://www.aopa.org/aircraft/articles/2008/080207hangar.html
Glad it's been saved.
We're fighting our own hangar battle here, and losing.  The historic 
Boeing/United Hangar -- one of just seven original Boeing air mail hangars 
left in the country -- is slated for demolition as soon as the snow melts.
As anyone steeped in aviation history knows, Iowa City was at the heart of 
the transcontinental airmail line -- the precursor for all commercial 
aviation in America and the world.  This hangar is an irreplaceable piece of 
aviation history, but the FAA has deemed it to be "too close to the runway 
for modern safety standards" -- and it must go.
It's so frustrating.  I live in one of the most left-wing, liberal cities in 
America, where government spending on ANYTHING is routinely approved -- but 
(because it's not a Victorian house) our 78-year old gem isn't even 
considered by our local "Historic Preservation" groups.
-- 
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"
Gig 601XL Builder[_2_]
February 7th 08, 10:24 PM
Jay Honeck wrote:
>> http://www.aopa.org/aircraft/articles/2008/080207hangar.html
> 
> Glad it's been saved.
> 
> We're fighting our own hangar battle here, and losing.  The historic 
> Boeing/United Hangar -- one of just seven original Boeing air mail 
> hangars left in the country -- is slated for demolition as soon as the 
> snow melts.
> 
> As anyone steeped in aviation history knows, Iowa City was at the heart 
> of the transcontinental airmail line -- the precursor for all commercial 
> aviation in America and the world.  This hangar is an irreplaceable 
> piece of aviation history, but the FAA has deemed it to be "too close to 
> the runway for modern safety standards" -- and it must go.
> 
> It's so frustrating.  I live in one of the most left-wing, liberal 
> cities in America, where government spending on ANYTHING is routinely 
> approved -- but (because it's not a Victorian house) our 78-year old gem 
> isn't even considered by our local "Historic Preservation" groups.
I remember you talking about this before. Have you contacted any of the 
historic preservation groups that aren't local?
Jay Honeck[_2_]
February 7th 08, 10:33 PM
> I remember you talking about this before. Have you contacted any of the 
> historic preservation groups that aren't local?
Yep.   We've had people from all over the country come look at the hangar.
They've all decided it's just too danged big to move across the country. 
Locally, no one cares -- not even our airport commissioners.
It's criminal, but it's pretty much a done deal.
What really sucks is that they're using a federal grant to tear it down --  
and applying for a new federal grant to build a new hangar of equal size! 
If they wanted to move the old hangar on the airport, it can be done for as 
little as $30K (not counting site prep and restoration costs, which could, 
admittedly, run several hundred thousand dollars) and they'd have a 
perfectly good -- and historic -- hangar.
Apparently grants are available for new hangar construction, but not old 
hangar restoration.
-- 
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"
Peter Dohm
February 8th 08, 12:14 AM
"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message 
news:gOKqj.20266$9j6.9228@attbi_s22...
>> I remember you talking about this before. Have you contacted any of the 
>> historic preservation groups that aren't local?
>
> Yep.   We've had people from all over the country come look at the hangar.
>
> They've all decided it's just too danged big to move across the country. 
> Locally, no one cares -- not even our airport commissioners.
>
> It's criminal, but it's pretty much a done deal.
>
> What really sucks is that they're using a federal grant to tear it down --  
> and applying for a new federal grant to build a new hangar of equal size! 
> If they wanted to move the old hangar on the airport, it can be done for 
> as little as $30K (not counting site prep and restoration costs, which 
> could, admittedly, run several hundred thousand dollars) and they'd have a 
> perfectly good -- and historic -- hangar.
>
> Apparently grants are available for new hangar construction, but not old 
> hangar restoration.
> -- 
> Jay Honeck
> Iowa City, IA
> Pathfinder N56993
> www.AlexisParkInn.com
> "Your Aviation Destination"
I am not ready to assume much of anything.  A lot of federal grants are 
available for historic buildings of nearly all types and nearly all 
purposes; but it comes out of another "pocket" in the federal 
bureaucracy--other than the airport improvement fund.
Peter
Matt Whiting
February 8th 08, 12:23 AM
Jay Honeck wrote:
>> I remember you talking about this before. Have you contacted any of 
>> the historic preservation groups that aren't local?
> 
> Yep.   We've had people from all over the country come look at the hangar.
> 
> They've all decided it's just too danged big to move across the country. 
> Locally, no one cares -- not even our airport commissioners.
> 
> It's criminal, but it's pretty much a done deal.
> 
> What really sucks is that they're using a federal grant to tear it down 
> --  and applying for a new federal grant to build a new hangar of equal 
> size! If they wanted to move the old hangar on the airport, it can be 
> done for as little as $30K (not counting site prep and restoration 
> costs, which could, admittedly, run several hundred thousand dollars) 
> and they'd have a perfectly good -- and historic -- hangar.
> 
> Apparently grants are available for new hangar construction, but not old 
> hangar restoration.
I'm sure you've done this obvious step, but have you contacted your 
representatives/senators?
Matt
Jon Woellhaf
February 8th 08, 12:30 AM
Jay Honeck wrote about losing an historic hangar.
Jay, are you certain you haven't seen a family of spotted owls living in it?
Larry Dighera
February 8th 08, 01:44 AM
On Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:33:00 GMT, "Jay Honeck"
> wrote in <gOKqj.20266$9j6.9228@attbi_s22>:
>What really sucks is that they're using a federal grant to tear it down --  
>and applying for a new federal grant to build a new hangar of equal size! 
>If they wanted to move the old hangar on the airport, it can be done for as 
>little as $30K (not counting site prep and restoration costs, which could, 
>admittedly, run several hundred thousand dollars) and they'd have a 
>perfectly good -- and historic -- hangar.
>
>Apparently grants are available for new hangar construction, but not old 
>hangar restoration.
Once you get the hangar listed, then all you have to do is write a
grant proposal:
    http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/
    The National Register of Historic Places is the Nation's official
    list of cultural resources worthy of preservation. Authorized
    under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National
    Register is part of a national program to coordinate and support
    public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect our
    historic and archeological resources. Properties listed in the
    Register include districts, sites, buildings, structures, and
    objects that are significant in American history, architecture,
    archeology, engineering, and culture. The National Register is
    administered by the National Park Service, which is part of the
    U.S. Department of the Interior. 
    
    
    What are the Listing Criteria?
    
    The National Register's standards for evaluating the significance
    of properties were developed to recognize the accomplishments of
    all peoples who have made a significant contribution to our
    country's history and heritage. The criteria are designed to guide
    State and local governments, Federal agencies, and others in
    evaluating potential entries in the National Register.
    
    
    
    http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/faq.html
    Criteria for Evaluation The quality of significance in American
    history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture is
    present in districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects
    that possess integrity of location, design, setting, materials,
    workmanship, feeling, and association, and:
    
    A. That are associated with events that have made a significant
    contribution to the broad patterns of our history; or 
    
    B. That are associated with the lives of persons significant in
    our past; or 
    
    C. That embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period,
    or method of construction, or that represent the work of a master,
    or that possess high artistic values, or that represent a
    significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack
    individual distinction; or
    
    D. That have yielded or may be likely to yield, information
    important in prehistory or history.
    
    The process varies from State to State depending on State
    workload, planning, and registration priorities, and the schedule
    of the review board. The process takes a minimum of 90 days to
    fulfill all of the review and notification requirements provided
    that a complete and fully documented nomination form has been
    completed for the property. 
    Upon submission to the National Park Service, a decision on
    whether to list the property is made within 45 days. 
    http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/forms.html
    Iowa 
    Mr. Tom Morain  
    State Historic Preservation Officer 
    State Historical Society of Iowa 
    600 East Locust Street 
    Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0290 
    515-281-8837 
     
    http://www.achp.gov/fpolist.html
    Contact Information for Federal Agency Historic Preservation
    Programs and Officers 
    Department of Transportation (DOT)
    Ms. Linda Lawson
    
    Federal Preservation Officer
    Director
    Office of the Secretary 
    Department of Transportation
    1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
    Washington, DC 20590
    Phone: 202.366.4835
    Fax: 202.366.0263
    E-mail: 
    
    
    
    
    Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
    Ms. Michon Washington
    Federal Preservation Officer
    Office of Environment and Energy, AEE-200
    Federal Aviation Administration 
    800 Independence Avenue, SW
    Room 902
    Washington, DC 20591
    Phone: 202.267.9548
    Fax: 202.267.5594
    E-mail: 
Blueskies
February 8th 08, 02:18 AM
"Gig 601XL Builder" > wrote in message ...
>
> http://www.aopa.org/aircraft/articles/2008/080207hangar.html
Pretty much everything seems to be only a façade anymore. Maybe Jay can save the from of the old Boeing hangar...
Jay Honeck[_2_]
February 8th 08, 05:00 AM
> Once you get the hangar listed, then all you have to do is write a
> grant proposal:
Thanks for the ideas, Larry -- but no one wants the hangar put on the 
historic register and have it declared immovable.   If this were to happen, 
our newly extended runway would be far less usable, because the new approach 
minimums will be set based on obstructions in the clear zone.
Since the old hangar is right, smack in the new clear zone, right next to 
the runway, this would be catastrophic for the airport.  We've waited since 
WWII for this new runway extension, and I'm not going to be part of anything 
that would jeopardize it.
Now we can argue all day about the FAA's logic of declaring lower clear 
zones due to the removal of a hangar that has been sitting next to the 
runway for over 77 years -- but I think we both know that's a losing battle. 
Rules are rules.
No, the only solution is to move it -- and no one wants to move it. 
Therefore, it's going to come down.
What's truly sad is that we've got two major events in Iowa City this summer 
that would greatly benefit from the old airmail hangar.   The "American 
Barnstormers Tour" is kicking off their summer tour in Iowa City in June, 
and the "Antique Aircraft Association" is going to be celebrating the 80th 
anniversary of airmail flights in America by reenacting the airmail flights 
that came through Iowa City -- in the authentic aircraft that did it 
originally!
Both of these organizations have appealed to our airport commission, in 
hopes of using the original Boeing/United hangar during their visits -- to 
no avail.  If the plans go forward, the hangar will be long gone before 
either of these events...
:-(
-- 
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"
Tom[_1_]
February 8th 08, 05:04 PM
Jay,
 if it has to come down, perhaps you could at least get some photos to
document its existence. Maybe some interior and exterior photos that
you could use in your inn to preserve the memory.
Tom
AJ
February 8th 08, 05:21 PM
On Feb 8, 11:04 am, Tom > wrote:
> Jay,
>
>  if it has to come down, perhaps you could at least get some photos to
> document its existence. Maybe some interior and exterior photos that
> you could use in your inn to preserve the memory.
>
> Tom
Now there's a good idea!
Larry Dighera
February 8th 08, 05:51 PM
On Fri, 08 Feb 2008 04:00:27 GMT, "Jay Honeck"
> wrote in <vtQqj.20526$yE1.1558@attbi_s21>:
>Thanks for the ideas, Larry -- but no one wants the hangar put on the 
>historic register and have it declared immovable.  
What leads you to believe that it would be so declared?
Steve Foley
February 8th 08, 09:28 PM
"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
news:pqKqj.20241$9j6.4529@attbi_s22...
> It's so frustrating.  I live in one of the most left-wing, liberal cities
in
> America, where government spending on ANYTHING is routinely approved -- 
but
> (because it's not a Victorian house) our 78-year old gem isn't even
> considered by our local "Historic Preservation" groups.
Didn't Charles Lindbergh live there for a while?
(I'm making this up, but I bet he slept there at least once)
C J Campbell[_1_]
February 8th 08, 10:14 PM
On 2008-02-07 13:07:33 -0800, "Jay Honeck" > said:
>> http://www.aopa.org/aircraft/articles/2008/080207hangar.html
> 
> Glad it's been saved.
> 
> We're fighting our own hangar battle here, and losing.  The historic 
> Boeing/United Hangar -- one of just seven original Boeing air mail 
> hangars left in the country -- is slated for demolition as soon as the 
> snow melts.
> 
> As anyone steeped in aviation history knows, Iowa City was at the heart 
> of the transcontinental airmail line -- the precursor for all 
> commercial aviation in America and the world.  This hangar is an 
> irreplaceable piece of aviation history, but the FAA has deemed it to 
> be "too close to the runway for modern safety standards" -- and it must 
> go.
> 
> It's so frustrating.  I live in one of the most left-wing, liberal 
> cities in America, where government spending on ANYTHING is routinely 
> approved -- but (because it's not a Victorian house) our 78-year old 
> gem isn't even considered by our local "Historic Preservation" groups.
It cannot be moved, or torn down and re-built somewhere else?
-- 
Waddling Eagle
World Famous Flight Instructor
February 9th 08, 06:13 AM
On Feb 8, 9:21 am, AJ > wrote:
> On Feb 8, 11:04 am, Tom > wrote:
>
> > Jay,
>
> >  if it has to come down, perhaps you could at least get some photos to
> > document its existence. Maybe some interior and exterior photos that
> > you could use in your inn to preserve the memory.
>
> > Tom
>
> Now there's a good idea!
Perhaps there are some interesting building parts that can be used.
There's quite a market for "aged" barnwood to be used in homes and
businesses, by those with MUCH more design style than I'll ever
know.
("Nice shower door!"   "Yep.  Used to be a hangar door")
Jay Honeck[_2_]
February 9th 08, 02:34 PM
> It cannot be moved, or torn down and re-built somewhere else?
Of course it can.  But people in power must *want* to save it.
Barring that -- and we've been trying to convince the airport commission for 
years of the hangar's historical worth -- the cause is lost.
-- 
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"
Jay Honeck[_2_]
February 9th 08, 02:39 PM
> Didn't Charles Lindbergh live there for a while?
Actually, as an early airmail pilot, Lindbergh probably did fly through Iowa 
City.
But the Boeing/United Hangar was built in 1929-30 -- after "Lucky Lindy" 
became world-renowned.    I can find no record of him coming here after his 
flight to Paris.
If you're really interested in the illustrious history of the Iowa City 
airport, see: http://www.alexisparkinn.com/the_iowa_city_airport.htm
I just added Chapter XIV., which is a .pdf version of a 43-page booklet that 
was just published, outlining the history of the airport from 1918 to 2007. 
It's quite well done, and was (ironically) funded by the same grant that is 
paying to tear down the old hangar.
-- 
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"
William Hung[_2_]
February 9th 08, 05:16 PM
On Feb 7, 4:33*pm, "Jay Honeck" > wrote:
> > I remember you talking about this before. Have you contacted any of the
> > historic preservation groups that aren't local?
>
> Yep. * We've had people from all over the country come look at the hangar.
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