Corbett speech touches on Cedar Rapids fire station, medical mall, Crowne Plaza plans

Fresh off a week-plus vacation, Mayor Ron Corbett told the Downtown Rotary today where the new Central Fire Station will likely go, that it could cost up to $17 million to renovate the Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Hotel inside and out if the city buys it, and that City Council support for closing Second Avenue SE for a new medical building has lost some initial strength.

Corbett spoke for 30 minutes without pause, and then had time for three questions: One from Tim Boyle about water management in the Cedar River watershed above Cedar Rapids; one from Robin Tucker about government efficiency; and one from Robert Kazimour about the proposed closing of Second Avenue SE to accommodate plans by Physicians' Clinic of Iowa (PCI) to build a new medical building on both sides of Second Avenue SE at 10th Street SE.

On the Second Avenue matter, Corbett said the City Council has told the physicians group that it would have a decision by August.

The PCI plan comes as part of the city's newly created Medical District along 10th Street SE, which will stretch from St. Luke's Hospital to Mercy Medical Center.

Corbett said there is strong support from the council for the medical district and for supporting PCI's plan to build in the district.

However, Corbett said any council support for closing Second Avenue between 10th and 12th streets SE, as PCI has said it prefers, “may not be as strong as it has been.”

Even so, Corbett said after the noon gathering that he likely had five votes on the nine-member council to support closing a portion of Second Avenue SE for the PCI plan.

In May, four of nine council members - Corbett, Chuck Swore, Don Karr and Justin Shields - said they would support the closing.

As for the new Central Fire Station, the mayor said the city's Fire Station Relocation Advisory Committee favors putting the new building on the 600 block of First Avenue NE, now home, in part, to a Taco Bell restaurant.

In May, the committee had listed three possible sites. The two others were the 600 block of First Avenue SE, which now houses The History Center, among other properties, and the 700 block of First Avenue SE, now home, in part, to the former Emerald Knights property.

The City Council will vote on the matter in the weeks ahead, he said.

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