The City of Fort Dodge is working to acquire the property situated between 904 and 920 Central Avenue, locally known as the Trolley Center.
Last December, the City of Fort Dodge filed a petition in district court in regards to the property under Iowa’s abandoned or unsafe buildings law. Under that law, a property is considered abandoned if it is in violation of housing or building code, and is vacant or only occupied by trespassers.
The petition states there are currently no utilities being provided to the property, and the building is unoccupied. The petition also outlines that building does not meet the city’s housing or building code for human habitation or occupancy. It is further noted there has been a presence of vermin, and rubbish, garbage, debris, and homeless encampments that have been removed at City expense several times in 2025.
The City began to note property maintenance code violations beginning in 2022. In January of 2024, the issues culminated with the false activation of fire suppression sprinklers, causing flooding inside the building. It was reported the water was shut off to the building, and never restored, forcing last tenants to vacate.
After official notices have gone unanswered for over 60 days, the City formally requested a hearing on the matter. That hearing will take place later this Spring. If the Court determines the structure is in fact abandoned and conveys the title to the property, a huge hurdle would be jumped for future abatement and redevelopment.
The Northeast corner of 9th Street and Central Avenue is rich in Fort Dodge history. The site was home to the Fort Dodge Post Office from 1896 to 1907. The Post Office outgrew that location and the site was then replaced by a Federal Building in 1908. That lasted until 1964, when it was demolished due the construction of a larger, second Federal Building at 2nd Avenue South and South 8th Street. The Current structure was constructed in 1964, with an addition built in 1978.
