Cedar Rapids City Council OKs NewBo street extension

CEDAR RAPIDS - The Cedar Rapids City Council on Tuesday took steps to continue the revitalization of the New Bohemia District, including backing financial incentives for a mixed use building and a street extension, which should open up more development opportunities and improve traffic flow for vehicles, bikes and pedestrians.

Elected officials unanimously approved forming a contract for the long discussed street extension of 16th Avenue SE.

'There's been a lot of people waiting for this road project for a lot of years,” Council member Justin Shields said.

The $1.5 million project will be paid for through Paving for Progress. It is one of two street extensions specifically identified as part of the local-option sales tax, which voters approved in 2013 to pay for the street repair program, Doug Wilson, Paving for Progress project manager, told the City Council.

Work includes extending 16th Avenue SE from its current end at Fourth Street SE through a vacant parcel to Fifth Street SE, in front of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church. A roundabout is called for at the intersection with Fifth Street SE in front of St. Wenceslaus. Fifth Street SE would be realigned slightly to the west.

The project is seen as a connection point in the pedestrian and bike trail system in Cedar Rapids, with sidewalks eventually tying into trails extending north to 12th Avenue SE and south to the planned Sleeping Giant pedestrian bridge over the Cedar River. Sanitary sewers and water mains would also be upgraded.

According to city documents, the utility work is expected to be completed by the end of 2017, while the pavement and sidewalk work will be completed in 2018.

Future phases of the project include reconstruction of 16th Avenue SE between Second and Fourth streets SE, and reconstruction of Fourth Street SE between 12th and 16th avenues SE. Additionally, a median is slated to be constructed on 12th Avenue SE to allow the rail crossing to become part of a 'quiet zone” in downtown Cedar Rapids, according to the documents.

329 Building rezoning

Also at the meeting, the City Council approved the first reading of a rezoning request by 2025 Development Group. The request is backed by local developer Joe Ahmann, according to city staff.

The rezoning will require two more votes of approval at the April 25 meeting before it is passed.

The firm plans to build a $5.9 million, four-story mixed use building called the 329 Building across from NewBo City Market. The 38,400-square-foot building would have four condominiums, 18 apartments and up to four retail spaces on the ground level at 329 12th Ave. SE, and several adjoining parcels along Fourth Street SE.

About half the land is now used for parking for the National building and NewBo City Market while the rest is undeveloped grass and gravel patch.

Concerns about the loss of parking prompted a request for examining development expectations and parking needs in NewBo over the next three to five years.

The city has agreed to provide a resolution of support for workforce housing tax credits, in which the city agrees to provide the local match for the tax credits. According to city documents, based on current city rules and project specifications, the 329 Building would be eligible for $840,000 in taxes exempted over 10 years.

The City Council will need to establish an urban renewal district, potentially on May 23, which allows the city to exempt the taxes. The project is tentatively scheduled for final approval on June 13.

Flood Berm Removal

Also, six flood berms constructed to protect against the September 2016 flooding event are slated to be removed.

The largest segment is on the Cedar River Trail from 12th to 22nd avenues SW. The $500,000 removal project is planned to be completed by the fall.

City staff weighed leaving the berms in place in case there's a spring flooding event but recommended removing the berm to remain eligible for reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said Nate Kampman, city engineer.

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