First Street Parkade takes another step toward demolition

CEDAR RAPIDS - It really is coming down.

The City Council now has hired engineering firm Howard R. Green of Cedar Rapids to provide design services in connection with the demolition of the aged, flood-damaged First Street Parkade.

The cost of the Green contract is not to exceed $66,860.

The hiring of Green is the next step in the parkade's demise. Back in early May, the City Council gave the go-ahead to proceed with the demolition.

The city had been planning to demolish the structure even before the June 2008 flood, and the City Council and the Cedar Rapids Downtown District are still working to find funds to build a new parkade on Second Street SE between Sixth and Seventh avenues SE.

Mayor Ron Corbett has said that the U.S. General Services Administration may be able to provide some help with funding since the federal agency's new courthouse is going up nearby.

As for the First Street Parkade, Greg Eyerly, the city's flood-recovery director, on Tuesday called it a “tricky” demolition.