FEMA rules

By The Gazette Editorial Board

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Two news items this week involving the city of Cedar Rapids and the Federal Emergency Management Agency left us shaking our heads.

FEMA gave the city permission to tear down its flood-damaged First Street Parkade, as part of the downtown convention center/hotel project. But there's a catch. The city must create a new historic district on Second Avenue SE called Automobile Row. Why? State and federal historic preservation officials say because of the parkade's “unique spiral exit ramp” and its major visual impact. The new historic district is to mitigate loss of the parkade.

Meanwhile, demolition plans were delayed four months. For an exit ramp.

Then there's the preferred site for the city's new Central Fire Station, another flood project. Owners of the block known as the Emerald Knights put up a for-sale sign because no one, including the city, has made an offer yet. Mayor Ron Corbett says that's because FEMA hasn't OK'd the site yet. FEMA said the owners demolished buildings on the site before mandatory environmental and historical reviews were conducted. Corbett said the owners decided to on demolition well before the City Council chose the site. The owners confirmed and said local experts decided the structures were not historic.

Sheesh.