Neighborhood group wants Cedar Rapids to postpone A&W demolition

A "neighborhood-based" group is moving ahead with plans to try to save the flood-damaged A&W Family Restaurant at 1132 Ellis Blvd. NW.

The group, which calls itself Northwest A&W Solutions Group, has submitted a proposal to City Hall, asking the city to postpone the planned demolition of the restaurant's 1,500-square-foot building and to seek redevelopment proposals for the building and the site.

The city now owns the building, which it purchased with federal Community Development Block Grant funds as part of the city's program to buy out flood-damaged properties.

In a letter to City Hall, Gary and Sue Wesely of the local group are recommending that the city seek development proposals in September for the site and for a lot next door at 1126 Ellis Blvd. NW, which is a property the city also has purchased through the buyout program.

The group notes that the former drive-up restaurant's building has been cleaned since the 2008 flood and is ready for redevelopment. The group estimates that the building and site can be redeveloped for about $200,000.

City Council member Chuck Swore, who has met with members of the group, said last week that he would like to see the group succeed, but Swore added that there are hurdles to re-establishing the restaurant at its current site. Among those are that the A&W building is located in the 100-year flood plain and so steps would need to be taken to protect it from future flooding, he said. Council member Chuck Wieneke noted the same issue.

Swore said he supports postponing the demolition until the city can see "what and what can't be done," he said.

Linda Seger, president of the North Neighbors Neighborhood Association, said the neighborhood supports the return of the A&W or another business of the same type in the neighborhood.

"Particularly, that type of business that so many people connected with," Seger said. "People even came from across town to the A&W."

In June, the City Council voted to demolish the A&W and 50 other flood-damaged commercial buildings after no one stepped forward with a redevelopment plan for any of the properties. At the time, city staff members noted that some interest had been expressed about the A&W property, but no one had done more than talk at that point.

The A&W site comprises two lots, for which the previous owner, Ellis A&W Inc., received a total of $151,607 from the city as part of the city's buyout program. The buyout program spent another $2,454 in closing costs on the property, according to city figures.

The city's buyout program paid $13,982 for the property next door, at 1126 Ellis Blvd. NW, which is also part of the Northwest A&W Solutions Group's redevelopment proposal. The buyout program also paid $1,095 in closing costs on the property, plus $1,414 to the owner as a premium for having had flood insurance at the time of the 2008 flood and $800 in dislocation assistance, according to city figures.

In their letter to the city, the Weselys say at best the Northwest A&W Solutions Group's effort will succeed and the community will be able to "celebrate a small victory in the face of flood-recovery challenges." At worst, the old A&W will be torn down a little later than had been originally scheduled, they say.