Medical mall would revitalize nearby areas

I have owned a business in the 1400 block of Second Avenue for many years. Property values have continued to decline. We have had to cut staff. We have seen more vacant commercial buildings, more boarded-up houses, and have heard more residents tell other residents not to live, work, eat, or play in our neighborhood.

Luckily, we have people with many occupations as diverse as engineers, nurses and teachers who have ignored such advice and purchased our services.

I drive First, Second and Third avenues daily and Second and Third appear to be lightly used except at rush hour. I urge our City Council to review the traffic studies, look at alternatives, and look at the consequences. Please do what is best for Cedar Rapids based on the facts and not what is the most popular.

This medical mall may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for major reinvestment that would have a positive ripple effect on three neighborhoods: Downtown, Wellington Heights and Mound View.

I would gladly trade the minor inconvenience and less traffic in front of my business (by closing a section of Second Avenue) for a nearby medical mall that attracts many people and sparks reinvestment in core neighborhoods.

Jeff Frese

The Commonwealth Apartments

Cedar Rapids