Hunter
10/25/25
A building believed to be one of Iowa City’s oldest residences will be saved after a deal was struck between the city and the Iowa Board of Regents.
The Gazette reports the future of the Sanxay-Gilmore house, constructed in the 1840’s, has been up in the air since the University of Iowa bought the Market Street property in 2018. Plans to either totally renovate the property or physically move the house did not come to fruition.
The statewide historical preservation group Preservation Iowa listed the Sanxay-Gilmore house among its most endangered properties.
Typically, state owned properties are not subject to Iowa City’s city code, which includes protections for local historic landmarks and districts.
However, in 2003 the university agreed to voluntarily subject the Cannon-Gay house located near Boyd Law Building to the city’s historic preservation standards. The university is no longer using the property due to safety concerns with the foundation.
A deal has been struck between the Regents and the City in which the city will remove the local historic preservation requirements on the Cannon-Gay house and in return the university will ensure the Sanxay-Gilmore house’s long term preservation.