Government Notes: Cedar Rapids Council to consider granting incentives for former Transamerica site development

The Cedar Rapids City Council on Tuesday will consider granting financial incentives to a project that would redevelop the former Transamerica site in northeast Cedar Rapids.

The former Transamerica buildings at the 51-acre site at Edgewood Road and 42nd Street NE sustained damage in the 2020 derecho and were demolished in 2021.

EOP Development LLC in August 2022 purchased the site for $7.02 million, the entity’s principal Kerry Panozzo previously said. He is the Davenport-based franchisee of HomeSmart Residential and Commercial Realty.

Last year, the City Planning Commission approved a preliminary plan to guide redevelopment of the site. At the time, a representative from Hall and Hall Engineers in Hiawatha told commission members the development was planned to be about 60 percent commercial on the eastern portion and 40 percent residential on the western side.

According to council packet documents, the proposed development would be a $70 million capital investment comprised of new construction of commercial lots on the eastern half of the property. It also would include the renovation of the two existing commercial towers on the property.

Documents also state that the developer would construct public streets within the development that would be dedicated to the city once complete.

The project is expected to create 100 new jobs and maintain 40 jobs.

It is expected the project will generate $26 million in total taxes over a 10-year period. Of that, $10 million would be rebated to the company, which is EOP Development LLC, according to the documents.

The phased construction would begin in May this year and be complete by May 2031.

The city council meeting will be Tuesday, Feb. 11 at City Hall, 101 First St. SE. It will begin at noon

Iowa City, Johnson County formalize joint law enforcement exploration

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The Johnson County Board of Supervisors and the Iowa City Council each approved spending $31,900 — for a combined $63,800 — to study the feasibility of a joint law enforcement facility.

Neither entity has committed to work beyond the initial study.

The proposed location for a facility is the intersection of Highway 6 and Riverside Drive, which is land Iowa City owns. No other potential location has been proposed.

But not everyone is in favor of putting a future law enforcement facility at that site.

“I am not for placing a law enforcement facility, at that location site … I really believe that is a great opportunity for the city to showcase something that really highlights our values as land that we own,” Mayor Bruce Teague said at a recent city council meeting.

The study will look at the proposed location, but also provide space and site parameters should the entities look for another piece of land.

The current Johnson County Jail is overcrowded, posing safety concerns for both inmates and staff, and requiring that some inmates be housed at facilities outside Johnson County. Between 2021 and 2023, the county paid an average of $387,000 per year to house inmates out of county, according to county data.

The Iowa City Police Department is in a similar situation. Officials have said the department’s current space, which is housed within city hall, isn’t fit for long term use due to its age and overcrowding concerns.

Both Johnson County and Iowa City completed space needs assessments of their facilities in the past two years. The two architectural firms that completed the studies — OPN architects and Shive-Hattery — are working together on the joint law enforcement feasibility study.

Marion residents invited to comment on comprehensive plan draft

Marion residents are invited to attend an open house event Tuesday that showcases a draft of the city’s comprehensive plan, “Marion 2025: A Plan to Reach New Heights.”

The City of Marion has been working with RDG Planning and Design to draft an updated comprehensive plan. The consultant and city staff will be available to meet with the public during the event, which will be Feb. 11, from 4-6 p.m. in the atrium of Marion City Hall, 1225 Sixth Ave., Marion. The meeting will be a come-and-go format with no formal presentation planned.

Attendees will be asked to react to future land uses, growth and enhancement areas and housing, community services and business areas.

The Comprehensive Plan is a tool that provides community leaders and decision-makers with a road map for growth based on the vision of community stakeholders. It considers current needs and issues within the community and guides future development for the next 15 to 20 years.

Those unable to attend are invited to visit cityofmarion.org/CompPlan to review the draft document and to share comments. Development of the plan is expected to be complete by March 2025.

Questions may be directed to the Planning Division of the Community Development Department at (319) 743-6320.

Area schools recognized through Iowa’s STEM BEST program

Four Eastern Iowa schools have been named among 29 recipients of the 2025-26 STEM BEST Program awards from the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council at the Department of Education.

The awards recognized Iowa BIG, Metro High School, Prairie High School and Xavier High School.

The STEM BEST Program brings schools and businesses together to provide students with real workplace experiences, introduce businesses and career opportunities in Iowa and gain career-ready skills.

Teachers and industry professionals are encouraged to work side-by-side to develop work-based learning models that incorporate STEM subjects like mathematics and science with experiential learning opportunities to emphasize future focused skills for the workplace.

Court Street’s $9.6 million reconstruction project begins this week

Construction is set to the begin Wednesday on Iowa City’s $9.6 million Court Street Reconstruction project.

Court Street, between Muscatine Avenue and Ridgewood Drive, will be fully closed beginning Wednesday.

Due to the construction, the 2-Court Street bus will begin detouring on both outbound and westbound routes. The following stops will not be serviced by 2-Court but will have service on the 9-Towncrest:

Inbound stops:

Outbound stops:

The project will include complete replacement of the street and sidewalks, upgrades to the utility lines in the area, new traffic signals and a new joint utility trench that would move utility lines underground.

Sidewalks will be moved farther from the road and provide ADA access, which project consultants say are not up to standard in the area.

The majority of construction in 2025 will be spent on installing the joint utility trench, which will provide space underground for electricity and communication lines in the area.

North Liberty receives $300K loan for Centennial Center project

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South Slope Communications has received a $300,000 USDA Rural Economic loan and grant that will develop a revolving loan fund to be put toward North Liberty’s Centennial Center project.

North Liberty will pay back the loan at a zero percent interest rate. That money will then be re-granted to other projects that support rural economic development. South Slope Communications also has pledged $30,000 for the project.

“We are proud to support the Centennial Center project and invest in North Liberty’s growth and community development,” Chuck Deisbeck, South Slope CEO, said in a news release. “By funding this venue, we are not only enhancing recreational and business opportunities for our community but also contributing to the overall quality of life in the area.”

The Centennial Center is part of a $16 million four phase construction project to reimagine North Liberty’s Centennial Park. The park project is being funded through a mix of city funds, state and federal grants and donations.

The city partnered with Community Foundations of Johnson County to establish a non-endowed fund to accept grants and gifts. Individuals and business donors have contributed to the fund.

North Liberty has received grants from the state, community organizations and has put American Rescue Plan Act funding toward the project.

The city also has committed $6.5 million to Centennial Park.

Construction on the first phase of the expansion — which will cost $7.27 million — has already begin. It will include a 13,000-square-foot event center, known as Centennial Center, and a 2,700-square-foot amphitheater.

When it’s complete, the four-phase project also will include a splash pad, open air pavilion and honor garden.

The park’s event center will be available for weddings, business receptions and family reunions.

The city is already booking events for Centennial Center throughout 2025-2026.

Government Notes is published Mondays and contains updates from area governmental bodies. The Gazette’s Megan Woolard and Sara Konrad Baranowski contributed.