312 Fifth Street

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Evaluation:

District Characteristic	Yes	No	Findings/Recommendations
Two-story brick with narrow mass		X
Larger, broader massing		X
Other key façade features		X
Architectural style		X
Prominent location		X
Original façade materials		X
Upper fenestration pattern		X
Sympathetic Storefront Infill		X
Brick corbelled parapet		X
Cornice/coping (not metal)		X

Physical Description:

This is a two-story frame Classical Revival style residence with a deeply pedimented front gable, a cross-gable roof, each side gable having returned eaves. There is a Palladian-like front attic window set. The house was modified in 1946 with the addition of a permastone Tudor Revival style entry porch with other facade window and door replacements to match. The house exterior is clad with broad siding. A two-story carriage house has a first story concrete wall with a frame second story. An interesting end wall roofing design uses lower and steeper end gablets to form twin shed roof effects, the whole being bracketed in Craftsman style. It postdates 1920 and pre-dates 1937. Its former east side garage openings are now infilled and covered with wood shakes. A stucco/tile carriage house dates to ca.1942 and is contributing. It represents the funeral home conversion.

Documented Alterations:

The Tudor porch replaced a full-width front porch 1946 (Express, August 1, 1946). The basement was rebuilt in 1994 after the 1993 floods. Systems upgrades date to 1968-69, 1979-80, 1985, 1987,repairs 1978, change of bathroom and kitchen, 1978, remodel 1979-80. The enframed recessed panel on the front addition was replaced with a metal bay window after 1979.

Commercial History:

Business	Owner	Start	Stop	Notes of Interest
Coffee Cats	Scott Cutler, Jennifer Schaffer, Pat Kinley	2020	current	First VJ cat café, third location, three years in business
Mayorga Law Office			current
Ramsey Law Office			current	Suite 102
Perry Bridal		2013	2015	From Perry, Iowa
Paris Flea Market		2011
Cottage House Studio		2008		314 Fifth?
Diva	Carla Etherton	2006	2007	Home accessories, clothing consignment, lasted three and a half years, moved in October 2006 from 125 Fifth.
The Wedding Chapel	Todd and Melinda Love	2004	2004
Santa and Friends		1993	2000	312 Fifth
La Marrane’s Boutique and Tea Room	Lavonne Pruitt, Marcella Treanor, Anne Alvestad	1987	1991	Partners were golfing buddies, opened in May 1987, 40-seat tea room at back of store, first floor (from Treanor’s Italian restaurant at 4550 Merle Hay), moved to 134 Fifth, closed July 1993.
Iron Horse Hobbies		1978	1984	Closed July 1984
The Annex		1978	1978	Fine furniture, November-December
McLaren Funeral Home		1946	1978	The Tudorized front was an addition.By 1978 it was termed the company's "Annex."
Residence	F. G. and Ella Young	1906