More growth on the Corridor’s horizon in 2015

CRST rises

More than two years after the U.S. District Court building changed the Cedar Rapids downtown skyline, it will undergo another major alteration with construction of the $37 million, 11-story CRST-Bankers Trust tower.

The structure, which will house CRST International's headquarters and the Cedar Rapids offices of Bankers Trust, will occupy the entire block of First Street SE south of the Alliant Tower. Plans call for the riverfront tower to have three floors of parking, which would eliminate flood risk to the building, and eight floors of offices.

An agreement between CRST and the city calls for CRST to incorporate a flood wall into the building's lower-level parking area and to build a stormwater vault in the structure. The city subsequently will lease or purchase the flood-protection elements.

The CRST-Bankers Trust tower is scheduled for completion in late 2016.

Westdale comes back

After years of declining business and structural decay, new buildings will begin to rise in 2015 at Westdale Mall as a $90 million redevelopment initiative kicks into high gear.

A new 'ring road” has been completed and opened for traffic on the east side of Westdale, providing access to 'pad” sites along the Edgewood Road SW side of the property. Two of the seven sites will be owned and developed by Chick-fil-A and U.S. Bank.

'I believe that you will start to see some activity from U.S. Bank in the next 30 days or so,” said Lisa Rowe, Frew Development Group, vice president, retail, and Westdale general manager. 'Chick-fil-A will start construction in the spring. The exact date will be dependent on the weather, but we are eager to get them under construction as soon as possible.”

A major interior and exterior remodeling project will begin in April at the 94,000-square-foot J.C. Penney store. Completion is scheduled for Aug. 1, 2015, in time for back-to-school shopping.

'We will probably do it in sections of 10,000 square feet,” said Barry Donovan, J.C. Penney store manager. 'We really haven't had a complete remodeling since the store was constructed, with the exception of some paint and touch-up work.

'When we're finished, it will basically be a brand new store.”

Berthel Fisher and Northtowne

Motorists using two heavily-traveled Cedar Rapids roads will see a new vista in 2015 with the construction of two significant developments.

A $12 million office building with retail and restaurant space at Edgewood Road and 42nd Street NE will bring financial services firm Berthel Fisher and Co. and about 85 employees to Cedar Rapids from neighboring Marion.

Hunter Companies of Cedar Rapids will construct the building, which will consist of 36,000 square feet of office space for Berthel Fisher and an additional 31,000 square feet of space. The land at the southeast corner of the busy intersection has been vacant for many years.

Hunter Companies also is spending $16 million to demolish the former Nash Finch distribution center at 1201 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE to make way for a commercial development called Northtowne Market.

The demolition of empty warehouse buildings in 2015 is expected to make way for as many as 11 commercial buildings. Nash Finch, which operated the complex since 1962, closed the 358,500-square-foot facility at the end of 2012.

The airport's next phase

Travelers using The Eastern Iowa Airport will see the next phase of a $47 million remodeling of the passenger terminal begin in April. The lobby area will undergo a significant upgrade with the installation of skylights, new seating and finishes.

The outside walkway canopy will be extended to the end of the ground transportation lot. The spring also will see work on the next phase of airport parking lot improvements.

Hancher on track

In Iowa City, construction will continue on the new $176 million Hancher Auditorium at 141 E. Park Rd., just north of the original facility that was devastated in the Iowa River Flood of 2008. Crews have been working extra hours, including 24-hour shifts, to keep the project on track for completion in May 2016.

Other flood-related work still underway on the UI campus includes replacement of the Art Building, slated for a May 2016 completion; replacement of the School of Music building, scheduled for a September 2016 completion; and improvements to the Iowa Memorial Union, which should be done by June 2015,

Children's Hospital moves ahead

Construction also will continue on the new UI Children's Hospital, a $292 million project set for completion in March 2016. The 480,000 square feet of new building and 56,250 square feet of renovated existing space will be funded through bonds, patient revenue, and private gifts.

l Comments: (319) 398-8366; george.ford@thegazette.com