March closure planned for Third Street NE

CEDAR RAPIDS - The demise of Third Street NE is coming before the end of Second Avenue SE between 10th and 12th streets SE.

The City Council is slated to give the goahead today to allow the vacation of the one-blocklong Third Street NE, between First and A avenues NE, on March 7.

The council vote, the first of three required, will follow a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. at the council's temporary home at Hiawatha City Hall.

Third Street NE runs under The Ballroom connected to the Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Hotel and the U.S. Cellular Center arena.

The ballroom is slated for demolition to make way for the construction of the new convention center next to the hotel and arena.

April 1 has already been set as the date to permanently close and vacate Second Avenue SE between 10th and 12th streets SE to make way for the Physicians' Clinic of Iowa's new medical building.