Answers: Smulekoff’s building

WHAT DO YOU THINK SHOULD BE DONE WITH THE FORMER SMULEKOFF'S BUILDING?

FROM OUR INBOX

I'm really torn by this one. Downtown had always had a 'blah” feeling about it in my opinion. Even in the ‘60s with Armstrong's and Killian's active it was a seasonal destination for shoppers. No more than that. So a totally commercial space, unless properly chosen, might not succeed as well as we'd hope. My preference for Smulekoff's future would be town homes, small shops, open green space and a new ambience along the Cedar. Give Cedar Rapidians a place of pride to point to, on our comeback from 2008. In fact I'd support revitalizing the whole city center that was devastated that way. Those parts who have not been changed already anyway.

Michael J.

Cedar Rapids

It's beginning to seem that with every proposal for redevelopment, ‘affordable apartments' are included in the mix. We lost affordable single family housing with the 2008 flood, yet we've witnessed numerous multifamily affordable housing projects being constructed with federal dollars (our tax dollars). The developers of these projects stand to be the big winners, since the more the project costs, the better return. Let's work more diligently to encourage higher paying businesses, as well as retail and commercial to locate specifically to the Smulekoff's building, and in general, to Cedar Rapids.

Laurie S.

Cedar Rapids

I feel like they should use the building to be apartments people can actually afford!

Annalee B.

Cedar Rapids

The building should be a BUSINESS! SMULEKOFF'S! The city had no business in buying the property. The city is not into real estate!

Matt S.

Marion

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l Ron S.: First I thought the building was going to be useless because of the flood wall. Now it's prime real estate!

l Sean W.: Condos on top and retail/restaurants on bottom.

l Rhoda B.: Lease it to antique and collectible dealers.

l Hamilton A: Cabelas or Bass Pro.

l Chad C.: It would be the perfect location for a hip bowling alley, arcade and restaurant for young professionals working in and around downtown. Behind the lanes would be floor-to-ceiling windows with a view of the river and downtown buildings. It would be something unique for CR and would look 'big city.”

l Rick B.: I feel making it into a technology incubation center, like the one in the Oakdale Reseach area of Coralville, would be great!

l Cory W.: How about tearing it down, using the remaining bricks and material to build a giant sofa and recliner as a memorial to Smulekoff's. It would be an art project, not likely to cost more than millions of dollars.

l Angela M.: It should be a big homeless shelter! Then it would be the only one we'd need. A kitchen could be inside.

l Halane C.: Sell it to someone at a big profit and fix the streets.

l Christopher O.: How about bottom level parking garage so if it floods there's nothing to ruin and then use the rest of the building for affordable downtown housing such as apartments.

l Abigail H.: Whatever happens to this building I really hope local preservationists are a part of the discussion. Architectural history should be celebrated not forgotten and replaced by parking. Enough of that has already happened downtown.

l Gary W.: This building should be bulldozed and the area converted into green space. While preserving our history is important, preserving historical mistakes is not!

l Adam K.: Casino.

l Bill N.: Since it was bought out with tax money for flood prevention, shouldn't it be removed for that purpose? Anything else was a waste of other peoples' money.

l Danielle P.: IKEA or a fun center. Like bowling, arcade, etc.

l Theresa D-M.: Something family oriented for a change.

l Chuck W.: Whatever the taxpayers don't have to give incentives for!

l Autum G.: Indoor water park.

l Cassy S.: Put something up for young adults, a science station again, or some sort of attraction for older kids and teens. What else do young adults have to do? Not much in this town!

l Judy B.: how about part of it for the homeless - don't they deserve a place to live and then have them do odd jobs to help pay for their rent.

l Bryan B. Why is city government buying realty with tax payer dollars anyway?

l Jayce B.: Year-round haunted attraction and hotel. If you are going to waste our tax dollars, at least waste them on something fun.