403-405 Maple Street

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Evaluation:

This is a non-contributing Maple Street building within the historic district. This is the southernmost of two non-contributing buildings within the historic district. Additional research shows that this building survived the 1955 fire but was remodeled and enlarged. While later in date (1954), off of Fifth Street and differing in its historical function (lumber yard), it represents how the downtown met a full range of commercial services. It was included in the district given its potential to be made contributing and to create a unified and contiguous district. The buildings were deemed non-contributing due to the vertical paneling/siding cladding and the probable faux cornice treatment. Otherwise the buildings likely retain a close to original fenestration pattern and the once open lumber storage shed retains the balcony effect that was present in some form when it was a lumber yard. A third lumber yard building, excluded from the district, could be considered for being added, depending upon its age and original appearance. The good news for this property is that the two buildings are already in the district and it is their contributing evaluation that needs to be amended.

District Characteristic	Yes	No	Findings/Recommendations
Two-story brick with narrow mass		X
Larger, broader massing		X
Other key façade features	X
Architectural style			Pseudo-Italianate style cornice is original to the 1955 new design. Lower south windows have been changed slightly.
Prominent location		X
Original façade materials		X	The vertical cladding is the basic alteration that greatly alters the buildings appearance.
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 parapet roofed corner commercial building having former single-story lumber sheds attached on the west side. These are counted as one building.

Documented Alterations:

A fire destroyed the north wood shed (see 402 Fourth) in 1955 and it was rebuilt. This office building was enlarged and the materials included prefinished plywood, knotty pine and various types of insulation tile. The building exterior has been recently re-clad with vertical siding and the south frontages of the additions to the west have been also fenestrated or altered in their fenestration. Added upper level windows mark an apparent apartment addition. Later permits note heating and plumbing work in 1985 in 403-05.

Commercial History:

403 Maple Street

Business	Owner	Start	Stop	Notes of Interest
Freddy Gazzo Salon			current	As 401 Maple
Urban Cyclery	Marty and Theresa Genzel	2005	2005	Opens January 2005
Mayaztca	Luis Morales	2005		Guatemala and Mexico imports
MPI Insurance		2000
		1997	1999	For lease
Italian Trading Company		1996	1997
Say Cheese Cheesecake		1990		Second store at Merle Hay Mall closes
James L. Bennett, lawyer		1993		See 402 Maple Street
Casino Dealers School	Jerry “Pinky” Cooper	1992		February
Real Time Graphics		1987	1990	Computer graphics
Iltis Lumber Company		1955		Iltis Lumber fire of September 8, 1955, the open house was held in June 1956.
				H. A. Bechtel struggled in early 1909 with the Town Council to establish an "independent" lumber yard that could compete with Des Moines yards-an ordinance barred such a fire hazard within 200 feet of residences. He prevailed, built a range of buildings and began to produce concrete block as well. Iltis, a Des Moines chain, curiously replaced his operation a year later and served as the town lumber source well beyond the district period of significance (Express, March 11, 18, April 1, May 13, June 10, 17, 1909, September 8, 1955).