West Des Moines, IA
Home Menu127 Fifth Street
Evaluation:
This is a contributing Fifth Street building within the historic district. It is contributing despite its later date (1951), its concrete block exterior but those factors underlie its historical interest, block being the only readily available building material during the Korean Conflict when it was built. It also represents the later replacement of belatedly removed frame store buildings on this side of Fifth Street.
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District Characteristic |
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Findings/Recommendations |
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Two-story brick with narrow mass |
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Larger, broader massing |
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Other key façade features |
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Architectural style |
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Prominent location |
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Original façade materials |
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Upper fenestration pattern |
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Historic photos would be helpful to gauge fenestration. |
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Sympathetic Storefront Infill |
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Brick corbelled parapet |
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Cornice/coping (not metal) |
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Physical Description:
This is a utilitarian concrete block single story double storefront. The building might be frame construction and as such has a very substantial massing at least vertically and the stepped symmetrical facade provides a boomtown visual obscuring of the simple gable massing. The facade is not ornamented and the twin mirror- image storefronts are subordinated by the high blank front wall. Entrances are to the outside of the rectangular store windows, these being separated in tern by a centered expanse of plain brick wall. The core measures 42 feet by 60 feet.
Documented Alterations:
A permit for a $1,375 addition was issued to Frank Ozimek in 1955 (Express, June 9, 1955).
Commercial History:
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Business |
Owner |
Start |
Stop |
Notes of Interest |
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Your CBD Store |
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2019 |
current |
As 215 Fifth |
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Atomic Garage Memorabilia-Groovy Polyester |
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2001 |
2015 |
Vintage clothing, costume rental |
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AOK Antiques |
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2004 |
2006 |
Sharing space with Atomic Garage |
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Displays Unlimited |
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2000 |
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Keepsakes |
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1997 |
1998 |
Moved here 1997 |
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Long Ago Antiques |
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1995 |
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India Tea |
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1996 |
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Ozimek Machine Shop |
Frank Ozimek |
1956 |
1995 |
Frank Ozimek acquired ownership in mid-1951 and building permit for $20,640 building (Register, December 24, 1956)-often addressed as 129 or 127 ½ Fifth |
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1955 |
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A permit for a $1,375 addition was issued to Frank Ozimek in 1955 (Express, June 9, 1955). |
Assessor’s photo, March 28, 2022
Assessor’s photo
Left, Atomic Garage, models Miranda Simpson and Kanika Mayes, Register, October 18, 2006; Right, photo by Kelly Chamberlain (Register, August 11, 2005)
Assessor’s photo
Assessor’s photo
Assessor’s photo
Vogel Survey, April 1998
1975-note no signage