By Karen Kubby, Iowa City
Fifteen years ago, there were public health initiatives that launched the current era of downtown Iowa City. Downtown had an overabundance of bars. Our city had a reputation of being built around a culture of alcohol. Iowa City was rated as one of the top party schools. The University of Iowa was working on a variety of programming and advocacy to reduce harm to undergraduates caused by alcohol consumption. The city implemented a zoning ordinance to regulate the number of bars within the “University Impact Zone.” These rules manage the distance between liquor license holders that can have occupancy between midnight and 2 a.m. This means a new liquor license holder cannot have occupancy past midnight if there is another license holder that stays open until 2 a.m. within 500 feet of them. Soon, the 21 only ordinance came along, with the hopes of reducing underage drinking.
The business community had an opportunity to activate the downtown more fully, to have a healthier balance of day life and night life. With these dynamics in place, downtown is now activated from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m., with a balance of retail, office, restaurant and bar uses.
Recently Tracy Barkalow, a local property owner, landlord, and now again a bar owner, is attempting to erode this healthy landscape by opening two bars that historically have operated until 2 a.m. while within 500 feet of another liquor license holder that has occupancy until 2 a.m. The Fieldhouse, which is housed in the former Active Endeavors building, and the Union, which will soon operate in the former Cactus 3 location, will both be in violation of the 500-foot rule if they have patrons in their establishments after midnight.
There is much drama here, for local government nerds, downtown enthusiasts, and followers of the escapades and negative antics of Tracy Barkalow. Barkalow has promoted the idea that downtown needs more nightlife. This goes against the concerted efforts of the Iowa City Downtown District, the City of Iowa City, and the University of Iowa’s Harm Reduction efforts.
Fieldhouse is open. The posted hours are “6:00PM – Close.” Legally, their close time under the zoning ordinance is midnight. If they are open after midnight, the city is likely to cite them for a zoning violation and allow them time to rectify their behavior. At some point, there is likely a fine that will be imposed, or a forced close time of midnight. I don’t know how this affects their liquor license. Barkalow will likely go to court to try to dismantle the 500-foot rule. Fieldhouse, I believe, is knowingly violating our zoning laws that are rooted in a public health initiative. Not only is this illegal, it is unethical and unfair to other business establishments who follow our laws.
What can we do? We can stand outside of establishments that have illegal occupancy with signs informing potential patrons that it is not legal for the bar to be open (or serving) past midnight. We can support the city going through its process to rectify the violation and hope they move swiftly to ensure that this or any other entity in violation comes into compliance. You can choose not to be a patron of Fieldhouse, as not only is Tracy Barkalow the landlord, he owns all or part of Fieldhouse.
Maybe Tracy Barkalow and Fieldhouse could become a dry bar and take up the slack left by the closing of Unimpaired Dry Bar. That would allow legal occupancy after midnight, provide a non-alcoholic alternative downtown, help the city, downtown district, and UI to accomplish many of their public health goals. What a great contribution that could be for a local property owner.
Karen Kubby is the co-owner of a business near downtown and was briefly a commercial tenant of Tracy Barkalow. She was one of many co-founders of the Iowa City Downtown District.
