A public hearing was held Monday evening at the start of the Mount Pleasant Community School Board meeting regarding the estimated costs, specifications, and proposed plans for the demolition of the P.E.O. Memorial Building, located on the former Iowa Wesleyan University campus.
Architect Thomas McInerney presented details of the project, explaining that the plan calls for the full demolition of the two-story, reinforced concrete structure built in 1927. The project will include interior “soft stripping,” removal of electrical and mechanical systems, decommissioning of the geothermal system—preserved for potential future use—and complete basement and foundation removal, followed by site restoration.
The demolition also includes careful removal of the building’s cornerstone, which may contain a time capsule believed to have about a 70% chance of being present. McInerney noted that the building’s limestone cornices are deteriorating and pose a safety hazard.
“It’s already starting to have signs of decay,” McInerney said. “Pieces of the cornice are crumbling off, and it’s become a danger.”
The estimated cost of the demolition and restoration is $371,000, with bids due October 27th at 2 p.m. A contractor walkthrough is scheduled for this Thursday, and the work is expected to be completed by December 15th, before winter weather sets in.
District officials explained that no state grant funding is available for this project, unlike previous assistance the district received for the old gymnasium demolition. Superintendent John Henriksen shared that the district currently spends about $13,500 per year on utilities for the unused building and recently incurred an $8,000 repair bill after sewer and drain backups.
The building’s geothermal wells, located on the south lawn, are self-contained and not connected to other campus buildings. Those wells may be placed on standby for future district use.
The district has also worked closely with local and international P.E.O. chapters to allow for the removal and preservation of historical or sentimental items from the building, including plaques, medallions, and the inscription stone. Additionally, smaller items such as doors, doorknobs, and light fixtures will be offered to Preservation Station in Burlington for reuse and historical resale.
Despite the district’s plans, some community members spoke against demolition. One local resident, Tom Tipton, urged the board to consider rehabilitation rather than destruction, citing examples of historic buildings he has successfully restored in Mount Pleasant; The Colonial Apartments, The Union Block, Mt.Pleasant Civic Center and Library, Amtrack Depot and many other smaller projects in The city.
Another speaker, a software engineer from Cedar Rapids, proposed an adaptive reuse of the structure for a business venture specializing in digital media preservation. He noted that the building’s layout would suit his needs without major modification and asked the board to delay demolition to explore potential reuse options.
Henriksen responded that while the district had considered various scenarios when purchasing the central campus property for $1.1 million, the P.E.O. building was not viewed as viable for district use due to its deterioration and significant renovation costs—estimated between $1.5 and $2 million to restore safely and make code-compliant.
“We knew the P.E.O. building came with the purchase,” Henriksen said. “But given its condition and the financial liability it poses, we felt moving forward with demolition was the responsible step.”
No board action was taken on demolition during the hearing itself. Monday’s session was held to authorize the district to move forward with accepting bids, with final approval of a demolition contract expected after bids are opened later this month.