Fundraising under way for new Czech Village roundhouse

The Czech Village Association is beginning a fundraising drive to reconstruct the Riverside Roundhouse.

The estimated cost to rebuild the structure is a hefty one: more than $2 million.

Alex Andersen, who is leading efforts to save the roundhouse, said the primary expense will be concrete needed for a new 14,400-square-foot parking area.

“It's still going to be a roundhouse, but now it's on top of a parkade,” he said.

A drawing by Ament Inc. of Cedar Rapids, shows a balcony for outdoor seating encircling the structure, with parking for 24 vehicles underneath the building.

Installing an elevator to make the roundhouse handicapped accessible will cost $250,000.

The building, used for farmers markets in Czech Village from the time it was built in 1962 until 2007, had sat unused since being flooded in June 2008.

To make it flood-proof, the roundhouse will be raised 12 to 16 feet above ground level.

Andersen, owner of Ernie's Avenue Tavern, 69 16th Ave. SW, and a small group of volunteer union members dismantled the roundhouse in March.

That site, 1350 A St. SW, will be used for the relocated National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library and its new addition.

The Czech Village Association hopes to rebuild the roundhouse by 2012 at 17th Avenue and B Street SW, where flood-damaged homes are slated for demolition.

Andersen said the building will be used for Czech Village events.

For any fundraising efforts, the group will be on its own.

Cedar Rapids City Council members have discussed redirecting Federal Emergency Management Agency funding from the roundhouse to a new year-round farmers market across the Cedar River in New Bohemia.

Andersen said the association is seeking grants and selling t-shirts and $10 prints of Ament's roundhouse design as fundraisers.

The items can be found in most Czech Village businesses. All proceeds go to roundhouse reconstruction.

“It's a large project,” Andersen said. “We knew it was quite an undertaking when we got into it, but we thought it was worthy.”