The aroma of bread baking in downtown Waterloo may now be a memory, but a group of preservationists want to keep intact the 84-year-old structure that once housed the Hostess Baking Company. Last month, the building in Waterloo and 32 other bakeries of Hostess Brands, Inc. were shut down after they received bankruptcy court approval to sell off all its assets.
The company still owns the building, which was completed in 1928, but members of the Waterloo Historic Preservation Commission voted last week to encourage preservation of the building no matter who ends up acquiring the property. Waterloo city officials have expressed interest in purchasing the property, due to it being located near several other downtown venues, including the adjacent Waterloo Public Library.
Suggestions have been made to tear the building down for a parking lot or turning it into a parking garage. The building is not listed on the National Register of Historic Places and preservation committee members said they wanted to get the process started on saving the building.
By Scott Fenzloff, KCNZ, Cedar Falls