Frank Lloyd Wright building survives

An historic building on Iowa’s most-endangered list is being saved. The Park Inn Hotel in Mason City is the only remaining hotel in the world designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Heartland Properties plans to restore the building to its 1911 appearance and set up ten condo-apartments on the second and third floors. Jonathan Lipman, past president of the Frank LloydWright conservancy, told Mason City leaders that renovating the building will help revitalize the downtown. Lipman, who’s an architect, says when the Wright-designed Stockman house was moved in Mason City ten years ago, the New York Times ran a huge story about it. Lipman says once restored,hundreds if not thousands of people who are fans of Wright will come to look at the Park Inn. The Frank Lloyd Wright Conservancy plans to buy thebuilding and re-sell it to Heartland Properties, a subsidiary of Alliant Utilities.