Controversial Chauncey development on track to open August 2019

When Iowa City officials chose a Moen Group project to develop city-owned land at the corner of Gilbert and College streets back in January 2013, it set off years of legal battles before construction could begin.

The 15-story residential and commercial building is planned to include condominiums, a coffee shop, a movie theater, bowling ally and other commercial spaces. Additionally, Chauncey Swan Park, where the city holds its farmers market, also will be revamped as part of the project.

Attorney and now-council member Rockne Cole and the organization Coalition Against the Shadow took issue with Chauncey's height. After a lengthy legal battle, Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Cady ruled the coalition's appeal over a Chauncey-related rezoning was denied in April 2016.

Developer Marc Moen and others involved in the project, armed with silver shovels inscribed with the word 'finally!,” broke ground on Chauncey in December 2016.

WHAT'S HAPPENED SINCE

Last week, the Moen Group held a celebratory lunch in honor of the final steal beam being place for the building. Moen said crews will now pour some of the floors and install large glass walls.

A completion date is anticipated for August 2019, with the hopes of opening some of the residences early.

Project costs have gone up to about $55 million, last estimated to be about $49 million, thanks to many of the delays before construction began.

'The commercial stuff is really important I think. I mean, the city chose the project largely because of the design of the building but also that we were bringing something different downtown,” Moen said. 'It'll have huge numbers of people that are attracted to downtown because of that building.”

Much of the commercial spaces are planned to be two floors, Moen said, including a 12-lane bowling alley and restaurant and lounge. Film Scene's new movie theaters also will be two levels and have more than 200 seats.

A new local coffee shop, called Fix!, will be on the second floor and overlook the open, main floor.

'In those first two levels, there's a ton of common area around those areas. People can just hang out,” Moen said.

On the third and fourth floors of the building, plans call for about 35,000 to 40,000-sqaure-feet of office space and a rooftop terrace on the fifth floor.

Moen said about 80 percent of his condos have been sold and average in price of about $500 per square foot. with the penthouses costing a bit more.

Additionally, Moen said he's working with Iowa City Parks and Recreation to redesign Chauncey Swan Park. He said the park will reopen around the same time as the building and will hold outdoor movies.

'It'll be beautiful. It's really totally revamped,” Moen said. 'It's very open, a lot of green and then a lot of planting around it.”

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