116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
New award will honor Czech Village, NewBo contributors
CEDAR RAPIDS - A new award will honor four contributors to the Czech Village and New Bohemia neighborhoods next week.
The Czech Village New Bohemia/Main Street District will host the first Robert Chadima Visionary Awards Wednesday, April 19. Chadima was a businessman who pushed for the redevelopment of the two Cedar Rapids neighborhoods.
The four honorees include:
' Mel Andringa, co-founder of Legion Arts
' Jon Jelinek, owner of Parlor City Pub and Eatery
' Robert Schaffer, co-owner of the Czech Cottage.
Chadima died in March 2016. In 1976, he purchased the Cherry Building for his welding and industrial supply business.
Chadima later turned the Cherry Building into a space for local artists and entrepreneurs. Following the 2008 flood, he continued to pursue the redevelopment of the neighborhoods.
Jennifer Pruden, Main Street's executive director, said the organization plans to hold the awards annually to recognize 'leaders in the district that are carrying on Robert Chadima's vision of creativity, innovation and entrepreneurism.”
l Comments: (319) 398-8366; matthew.patane@thegazette.com
Bob Chadima stands on the roof of the Cherry Building overlooking the old Farmstead meat packing plant in SE Cedar Rapids holding copies of his petition asking the city council to condemn and demolish the farmstead site on Thursday April 8, 2004. Chadima is the president of Thorland Company which owns the the Cherry Building, a former industrial site that has be renovated into offices and artist studios.
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