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Washington Evening Journal
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Washington, IA 52353
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Huffmans breathing life into former Lincoln School
Fairfield couple is renovating building on West Stone into events center
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
FAIRFIELD – JC Huffman Cabinetry hopes to host its popular Whoville festivities at the former Lincoln School this winter.
The Fairfield business purchased the former school building from the district this past summer, and is remodeling it into an events center. To fulfill their vision for the building, Jim and Teresa Huffman have asked the Fairfield City Council to rezone the property, located at 401 W. Stone Ave., from an R2 General Residence District to an MU Mixed Use District.
On Monday, Oct. 14, the council voted 7-0 to advance the rezoning of the former school from the first reading of the ordinance to the second. Though the vote was unanimous, council member Paul Gandy stated just before his vote that he’d like the Huffmans to bring a rendering of their proposed changes to the building and surrounding parking spaces to the council’s next meeting on Oct. 28. He said this would help assuage concerns from neighbors who are worried about traffic congestion.
JC Huffman Cabinetry’s “Ho Ho Ho Wholiday” festivities attracted a large number of people to their shop last November and December, so many in fact that the Huffmans realized their shop on West Burlington Avenue was no longer big enough to host the event. Teresa said the event drew over 7,000 visitors in all, which was held every Friday and Saturday between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
In a letter addressed to the city council, the Huffmans explained that they intend for the former Lincoln School to host birthday parties, family reunions, outdoor movie nights and possibly small weddings. Teresa told the council Monday that they plan to put a steakhouse restaurant in the building, and to lease some of the classrooms as office space.
“The Lincoln School building has been underutilized for years, and this rezoning offers a chance to breathe new life into the space while preserving its historical significance,” the Huffmans wrote. “Rather than letting the building fall into disrepair, repurposing it as a business that hosts occasional events, provides office space, and includes a much-needed restaurant will ensure its continued use and maintain its value as a key asset to the town.”
The Huffmans state in their letter that they intend to build a parking lot, though it wouldn’t be ready this year due to time and funding constraints. However, they wrote that they are working with the school district to provide shuttle service from large parking lots so the neighborhood remains safe and uncongested during events. Jim added that he didn’t believe those shuttles would be necessary since he feels there is enough parking at Lincoln School.
During the meeting, residents from that neighborhood expressed concern about traffic during these major events. Several of the residents said they appreciate what the Huffmans have done for the town, but they didn’t think Lincoln School was the appropriate place for an events center.
Alex Campbell said the streets around Lincoln School have limited parking.
“West Merrill has very little parking, North Fourth has no street parking and West Stone has no street parking either,” Campbell told The Union. “All the parking they’d have for their events would have to be inside the fence.”
Campbell added, “We think the Whoville idea and having a community center, talking about Fairfield being a destination, that’s fantastic. But we don’t know how it fits in this location.”
Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com
