DUBUQUE, Iowa — A rehabilitated Dubuque apartment building that began life as three rowhouses in 1896 is among eight historic properties across Iowa selected for state preservation tax credits announced on November 2, 2026.

The Iowa Economic Development Authority announced more than $18.5 million in awards through the State Historic Preservation Tax Credit program. The Dubuque project is the James M. Sullivan Block, which started as three multistory rowhouses in 1896 and was later converted into 18 studio and one-bedroom apartments. Before the rehabilitation, most of those units had sat vacant for years and were no longer in rentable condition.

Work on the Sullivan Block was completed in August 2026. The project restored the building’s original porches, removed later additions and repaired its masonry. The building now holds nine apartments, preserving the character of its historic district while adding back housing the neighborhood can use.

The tax credit program offers a state income tax credit to encourage the rehabilitation of historic buildings while keeping the architectural features that make them significant. All work must meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.

The latest application round opened in July 2026 and drew 16 applications requesting almost $51 million in credits. Projects were evaluated on readiness, financing and local support and participation. The director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority and the Iowa Finance Authority, Debi Durham, said the round showed how older buildings can keep serving their neighborhoods, whether by creating homes, opening space for small businesses or bringing activity back to downtown areas.

Other projects selected in the round are in Burlington, Des Moines, Iowa City, Ottumwa and Waterloo. They include a former Burlington high school being converted into 45 affordable apartments for residents age 55 and older, a 1901 Des Moines warehouse being rehabilitated into office space and an 1862 Iowa City bakery building gaining renovated storefronts and 12 apartments.

The announcement did not break out an individual credit amount for the Sullivan Block project; that detail is pending in the full awards list. The next application round for the program opens in January 2027, with applications due in March 2027.

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