Johnson County expected to sell property to Crisis Center for $1

Johnson County plans to sell one of its buildings for $1 to serve as a new home for a few area nonprofit organizations that help people in need.

The Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 Thursday in support of a resolution laying out the plans to sell the property at 1105 Gilbert Ct. in Iowa City to the Crisis Center of Johnson County. It also voted to set a public hearing on the proposal for Sept. 13, after which it is expected to vote to sell the property.

The 7,300-square-foot building, on nearly 35,000 square feet of land, is the former home of the county's Public Health Department and is now empty.

The county had sought to sell the property, which was appraised at $550,000 in December 2010. But then earlier this year the Crisis Center expressed interest it, although at a greatly reduced price.

The supervisors have spoken favorably of the plan and are expected to effectively give the land away for the nominal price of $1.

“I know we all have good feelings about what the prospect of this is going to be,” Supervisor Terrence Neuzil said.

The Crisis Center runs a food bank and offers emergency financial assistance and crisis support. It plans to start a social service campus at the site that includes the Domestic Violence Intervention Program, Free Lunch Program of Iowa City and National Alliance on Mental Illness of Johnson County.

The concept is being called the 1105 Project.

Becci Reedus, executive director of the Crisis Center, said the organizations serve a lot of the same people and being under one roof would improve access. She also said transportation can be a problem for some of their clients so being in one spot would be another benefit.

Renovations to the building are estimated at $800,000, she said, and a capital campaign is in its quiet phase.

“We've been really encouraged by the support coming out of the gate,” said Beth Ritter Ruback, the Crisis Center's communications and development director.

The building will not be demolished, but the organizations hope to have a groundbreaking-like ceremony in October to celebrate the renovation work, which is expected to take a few months.