Keokuk, IA – The Keokuk City Council gave the community 30 days to come up with a plan for the site of the former Green Tambourine building at 528 Main Street. The building collapsed on July 31, 2010.
A couple of potential restoration designs have surfaced in the last few weeks. One calls for the creation of Tambourine Park, with commercial and retail properties built on the adjacent lots.
Carole Betts started a Facebook page on behalf of "Keokuk's Buried Treasure" and is now a member of the Keokuk Historic Preservation Commission. She says the community needs about $3,200 (plus labor) to put up a 6' tall chain link fence and 3 years to seek potential investors.
Based on that update, the Keokuk City Council has extended the 30-day clean-up delay by another two weeks (Apr. 1) 7th Ward Alderwoman Susan Dunek says she wants to continue to see progress on restoring the site.
Several council members expressed concern about so much future planning without anyone from Keokuk owning the property. The council would like supporters to try to resolve the ownership questions.
The Keokuk City Council could vote on the money for the fence and the 3-year window at its next meeting.