City not using brain for downtown decisions

The downtown is the “heart” of Cedar Rapids, but lately it is not the “brains” of the city's leadership. My concerns include:

The city wants to disrupt the flow of traffic into and out of the downtown area. Why should the needs of a few outweigh the needs of the many?

The city's good library board did a fine job finding a new location for the library. The city changed the location to one that costs more. Why?

The city wants to build a new events center next to the U.S. Cellular Center. Why? There is very inadequate parking downtown to expand anything. Also, why update the center, still too small to handle any large venue shows? More waste of our money.

The city wants to repair the Paramount Theatre. It was a grand old building after the last remodel but it was inadequate for today's needs.

A suggestion: Buy all the flood-damaged properties and more between First Street SW and the interstate, and Second Avenue SW and Diagonal Drive SW. Build an event center large enough to hold large-venue shows and in the same area build a new theater. Perhaps also build a band shell along the river for outdoor concerts. Then use all the rest of the land to build acres of parking that could be used for all events.

Stephen Davis

Cedar Rapids