Proposed rendering courtesy of Washington Chamber of Commerce.

The Washington Chamber of Commerce seeks to inform the community of its continued interest in saving an unoccupied building located south of downtown.

For over a year the chamber has been raising money to purchase and renovate the former Captain’s Table restaurant building at 321 South Iowa Avenue. They wish to use the property as an information hub for the services provided by the chamber and Main Street Washington. The project is estimated to cost between $1.5 and 2 million, with $740,000 committed so far and the chamber applying for a $750,000 Washington County Riverboat Foundation grant. Chamber Director Michelle Redlinger says this grant will determine whether the project will go forward.

The City of Washington has contributed $500,000 which didn’t result in any increase in city taxes, with $100,000 committed by the chamber, another $100,000 from Dave Stoufer and Rachel Nicola, and $10,000 promised by Joe and Marde McConnell. Main Street Washington is contributing architectural services. Redlinger says saving this house would replace an eyesore with an inviting welcome site to visitors on a highly trafficked area and enable the community to preserve a historic structure. Redlinger says she wants this to be a locally funded project using as many local contractors as possible. Anyone interested in saving the building is welcome to contact Redlinger at michelle@washingtoniowa.org.