Give credit to city for development plans

Last week the city of Cedar Rapids received good news, much needed.

First, the Urban Land Institute concluded in its report that downtown development plans are on target. The ULI, a land use and development research firm with credentials in post-natural and man-made disaster communities, has released a report from its June visit to Cedar Rapids. It cited several development strategies for reinventing a portion of downtown Cedar Rapids for economic growth and improved quality of life. The report's authors acknowledged that the 2007 Vision Cedar Rapids plan, the 2008 River Corridor Redevelopment Plan and the 2009 Neighborhood Reinvestment Action plans laid much of the groundwork for its recommendations.

Second, the American Planning Association gave Cedar Rapids a planning achievement award.

To the current city council, thank you for your courage and leadership over these difficult months. The results of your reasoned, patient work are paying off. And thank you to Jim Prosser, the development staff and other city staff whose work and persistence in developing plans have allowed this recognition, and that yet to come.

To those who said we were “off track” before the elections, I hope you will give credit where credit is due here.

Jo Ann McNiel

Cedar Rapids