Passion and persistence help New Bohemia neighborhood to thrive

We Create Here was an initiative within the Gazette Company to develop evolving narratives and authentic conversations throughout Iowa's Creative Corridor. read more

Editor's note: This is one in a series of occasional articles highlighting collaborative efforts and innovative approaches to addressing shared needs in the Corridor.

By Katie Mills Giorgio, correspondent

Third Street SE in the heart of the New Bohemia neighborhood is a place to see and be seen.

A place to browse locally owned shops for vintage furniture or high-end fashion or books. To meet over a cup of coffee, a beer or a meal. To experience artists' installations or shop your way through the NewBo City Market - the latest jewel adding to the neighborhood's vibrancy, novelty and diversity.

It is a place that few would have envisioned some 30 years ago.

Back then, the neighborhood, bordered by Third Street SE between Eighth and 14th Avenues in Cedar Rapids, had been virtually deserted - some might call it “sketchy” - after a meatpacking plant and other businesses closed.

“People had the perception it was dangerous and were actually afraid to come down here at night,” said David Chadima, neighborhood advocate whose family owns the Cherry Building in the heart of NewBo. “It was a classic brownfield neighborhood, most businesses had left historic buildings in a state of disrepair. My dad's business was one of the few trying to expand.”

NEWBO PAST

The Chadima family has been “here” in NewBo for decades. David's father, Bob Chadima, bought the Cherry Building back in 1976 to house his welding and industrial supply business.

When he sold the business in the 90s, Chadima still had the building on his hands. So he began renting it out, initially as storage space, until a draftsman requested studio space.

“Slowly, other artists took an interest,” recalls Chadima. “The secret was to get a tenant and then let them do what they wanted with the space. My dad was the original pioneer that offered an attractive studio environment for artists in the Cherry Building.”

Around the time the Cherry Building was becoming known as a haven for artists and an incubator for creative businesses, F. John Herbert and Mel Andringa - considered longtime NewBo champions and artistic pioneers in their own right - moved to the neighborhood and started Legion Arts. The progressive arts organization highlights the work of local, national and international performing and visual artists in the CSPS building.

“We wanted New Bohemia to be a place where artists were central to the activity,” Andringa said. “We never thought of ourselves as an arts organization. We were always an artists' organization.”

Over the years others like the Chadima family and Andringa started making small investments in the culturally and historically rich neighborhood. Collectively - sometimes as part of an organized effort; other times in a looser, more organic way - the grass roots growth in NewBo started to gain attention in the larger community.

“I think that is one of the main reasons New Bohemia has been successful,” says Chadima. “Neighborhood stakeholders have been willing to invest a considerable amount of time and money in these collaborative efforts to guide the development of the neighborhood.”

Even the name “New Bohemia” was debated and formally agreed upon in one early neighborhood meeting, Chadima recalled. Organizations like the New Bohemia Group, the 15 in Five Arts and Entertainment District Committee and, later, the New Bohemia / Czech Village Main Street District and the South Side Investment Board are just some of the stakeholders who have collaborated to propel the neighborhood forward.

NEWBO PRESENT

Today, plenty of visitors are discovering the gem of a neighborhood and are grateful for past efforts. With the launch of the NewBo City Market last year - which Chadima considers a prime example of the neighborhood's power to help people's visions become a reality - the neighborhood has seen an explosion of activity.

“There are always people out and about no matter the time of the day,” Chadima said. “The NewBo City Market is like our town square and there is infill of different businesses. That is what makes the whole neighborhood.”

Jennifer Pruden, executive director of the Czech Village/New Bohemia Main Street District, feels people are drawn to the sense of community, variety of arts and cultural experiences, and the neighborhood's vibrancy.

People such as Cheryl Sheeley, who relocated her shop, Garden Wren, to the Cherry Building just over two years ago.

“I've always been attracted to the artistic vibe in that building,” she said. She says she hasn't been disappointed.

“It's been perfect,” she said. “Wonderful. I love it.”

Sheeley said the shared space creates a sort of synergy among artistic entrepreneurs such as herself, evidenced by tenants' support of each other and by the visitors that are drawn there.

“They're appreciative of what we're offering,” she said.

In terms of continued revival, NewBo is not resting on its successes. New initiatives and projects continue the forward momentum.

With the help of some 500 stakeholders, the Main Street District recently developed a strategic revitalization plan that outlines a number of priority projects for the next 15 to 20 years.

The plan includes “things like better identifying the key gateways into the district, improving wayfinding through the use of artful signage that embodies the character of the district, better access to parking facilities and increased pedestrian amenities,” Pruden said.

Efforts in NewBo are creating an environment that is attracting young entrepreneurs.

“Iowa struggles to retain our intellectual talent with many young professionals leaving for larger cities after graduation,” Pruden said. “We are starting to see this generation choose to stay in Cedar Rapids with many hoping to live in the Main Street District.

“With employers like EcoLips and Geonetric, and startup assistance available through the highly anticipated Vault accelerator program, entrepreneurs can pursue a fulfilling career, live, and play all in the same neighborhood.”

NEWBO FUTURE

Neighborhood leaders say an important part of New Bo's future relies on being true to its roots.

“If a national franchise tried to come in here, I think everyone would be pretty upset,” Chadima said.

Andringa agrees. “There are people making commitments to the area because they get it,” he said. “They're new to New Bohemia, but they've adapted quickly to its values.

“I have a very good sense that they won't desert the character of the community.”

Pruden says the goal for the Main Street District is to show people that the efforts to develop and enhance the neighborhood are completely compatible with recognizing the importance of its unique history and character.

“Many historic property owners have rehabilitated their buildings and adapted them for today's needs,” she said. Pruden noted CSPS Hall, Bottleworks, Water Tower Place, the Cherry Building and Parlor City are buildings that demonstrate how the character of a historic structure is part of creating a neighborhood's sense of place.

“That sense of place is not just providing people with buildings and sidewalks but with a feeling,” says Nick Benson, program coordinator for the Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities at the University of Iowa.

“This is the kind of neighborhood the public is looking for to live, work and play. It's a great neighborhood that is a source of pride for the whole city.

“And organizers are ensuring it comes from the cultural history, and that the businesses that have been there help drive continued renewal.”

“So much more can be achieved when there is a shared vision and everyone works together to make it successful,” Pruden said. “Collaboration is key.”

New partners are being brought in to help further the renaissance.

Katie Gieszler is one of five second-year graduate students seeking master's degrees in urban and regional planning through the University of Iowa and working on projects through the Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities. They are working to assist the Czech Village / New Bohemia Main Street District to advance local economic development goals.

One of those goals is working with area business owners to implement a self-supported municipal improvement district (SSMID), which allows property owners to tax themselves at a higher rate to fund improvements and services contained within the district. Next semester, the students will identify financing alternatives for the Main Street District, in addition to analyzing and creating further development proposals.

Gieszler said she and her team are excited about being part of continued neighborhood enhancement.

“It has a new energy that isn't found in other areas of the city,” she said.

“It is evident that property and business owners in the district are motivated and willing to raise private funds to provide improvements to the area. They are willing to go the extra mile, and that's what it takes to make things happen.”

MOMENTUM

While the neighborhood has come a long way since the Flood of 2008, it cannot escape the fact that floodwaters brought the biggest tide of change.

The recovery efforts in 2008 really jump-started the revitalization of the neighborhood, including major renovations and restorations to the Cherry Building and CSPS.

“After the Flood of 2008 we saw so many business and property owners come together and help each other rebuild,” Pruden said. “Because of that collaboration, we were able to come back rather quickly and even stronger than before.”

Even small victories were celebrated.

“Tireless performers like myself learned the script and kept repeating the message, putting a mostly positive spin on even small signs of progress,” Andringa said of the NewBo revitalization message. Good, bad or otherwise, leaders in the neighborhood - whether longtime neighborhood champions or newly acquired advocates - are proud of NewBo's past and present, and love the neighborhood fiercely.

They want residents and visitors alike to know they dreamed big and made those dreams a reality.

“Remember the 15 in 5 Committee a few years ago,” Chadima said. “The community recognized the opportunity for this area to become an arts and culture district and the ideas from that project all came to fruition, noting the ideas were once thought of only as sky-high dreams.”

That is why the dreams of today for years down the road hold so much excitement for Chadima and other NewBo advocates. Today, new interest in the neighborhood abounds and not just from visitors.

People are looking to live and work in the historic neighborhood and there is an ever-expanding vision for the future. Chadima said he is excited to see both sides of the river working together.

Pruden couldn't agree more.

“As the Main Street District continues to mature, we hope to position the district, including both the Czech Village and New Bohemia neighborhoods, as one destination with a multitude of different opportunities for both residents and visitors,” she said.

“Through collaboration on events and cross-promotion among businesses we will begin to see the Cedar River as an opportunity to bridge the two neighborhoods rather than as a dividing line.”

While they hope they can inspire other neighborhoods and communities, they are quick to remind admirers that the NewBo revolution didn't happen overnight.

“The key is having the vision and the persistence,” Chadima said. “My dad has been working on developing this area since 1976, my wife and I since 1999. You just have to have a vision and stick to it.”

“You can't completely revitalize a district overnight,” Pruden said, “but with small, focused, achievable steps, within just a few short years you will begin to see a major difference.”

The proof is in a walk down Third Street any time of day.

For a look at the full Strategic Revitalization Plan for Czech Village/New Bohemia Main Street District visit www.crmainstreet.org.

What other successful collaborations should we spotlight? Send your ideas to engage@wecreatehere.net