Iowa City Restaurant Faces Demolition

By George Ford, Reporter

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By Eric Stidman

Story Created: Jan 4, 2012 at 5:31 PM CDT

Story Updated: Jan 4, 2012 at 6:36 PM CDT

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Unless Dave Burt and his fellow owners of The Red Avocado can find a new location within the next three weeks, the organic vegetarian restaurant likely will be history.

Burt was served a 30-day notice on Dec. 30 that the new owner of his building at 521 E. Washington St. plans to demolish the structure on Jan. 29. A spokesman for the Iowa City Building Department confirmed that an application has been filed for a permit to demolish the building that has housed the eatery since 1999.

“With the holiday, this really was a 25-day notice,” Burt said Wednesday. “We didn’t have time to call the bank, much less find another location. If we can’t get some additional time and find another location, we will be out of business by the end of the month.”

Burt said he was aware that the building had been sold, but “thought things were looking up recently.” He said the new owners had not communicated their intentions since the sale was completed.

The owner of a nearby business, The Haunted Bookshop, has started a petition seeking 3,000 signatures to delay or cancel the demolition. The petition takes issue with the short notice given to Burt as well as plans to demolish three additional buildings to make way for a mixed-use building offering apartments and retail.

A spokesman for the Iowa City Building Department said no plans have been filed for the new building, but the developers have communicated their intentions to the city.

The petition is available for signing click here .

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