Preserve history while building medical mall

Why must Cedar Rapids destroy its history to allow a medical complex to run roughshod over what remains of the city's once-proud Mansion Hill?

My husband and I toured the 1925 Ausadie Apartment building several years ago during an open house and found the renovated interior spaces to be exquisite gems and the carefully designed and tended garden areas in the outdoor courtyard the building surrounds to be beautiful retreats from the busy First Avenue traffic. The Averill House (1885) and the former Turner Funeral Home (1897 Sinclair Douglas residence) are both sturdy and stately. Their names are also those of important people in Cedar Rapids history. And having the former Turner home next to the Grant Wood Studio gives historical context to Grant Wood's years next to his patron.

Surely destroying these properties is not the only way to build a medical complex, especially if the land under these structures would be used for surface parking. If a multilevel parking ramp is in the design, why not build it a few floors higher and save these historic properties?

Why do we want to displace small thriving businesses to create speculative “shops, restaurants, and hotels” that may or may not materialize or succeed?

We don't want to regret this decision like the one to demolish Union Station in 1961.

Carolyn Schmidt

Cedar Rapids