Coralville esports development gets first rezoning approval

CORALVILLE — The Coralville City Council this week gave its first approval for a rezoning that will allow for construction a 15-acre mixed use development that includes an esports arena.

The development, near the Lowe’s store on Highway 6, will include two 11,375 square-foot buildings that are half retail and half restaurants, a 2,000 square-foot storage building, and another 8,750 square-foot building that’s half retail and half restaurant building.

It will be anchored by a 40,000 square-foot esports arena and convention center on the west. The development also will have 467 parking spots to comply with city regulations. The property has gone unused for more than two decades.

Esports are video games where teams or individuals compete against each other. The competitions are growing in popularity and attract thousands of spectators abroad. A number of high schools and colleges in Iowa have created esports programs and teams.

“This is not a development ready project. … This is a master plan which establishes the foundation for what are typically longer, multi phase projects,” Dave Johnson, Community Development Director, said at the Tuesday city council meeting. “Through this process, we are figuring out a lot of things, utilities, grading, stormwater, parking, any number of issues to make sure that as this project develops … according to plan, in a responsible manner consistent with our city codes.”

The developer will need to return to the city for a final site plan before any construction work can begin. The city council also will need to approve two additional readings of the rezoning.

Some grading and public infrastructure work on the property is set to begin later this spring.

The development is planned to be completed in two phases. The first phase encompasses the eastern part of the development, which includes the retail/restaurant buildings. The second phase includes the storage building and esports arena.

A full timeline for development has yet to be finalized.

Tax abatement for esports arena

The Coralville City Council in 2024 approved a 15-year, 100 percent tax abatement for the esports arena. The tax abatement applies solely to the arena and no other parts of the development.

Comments: megan.woolard@thegazette.com

Get a weekly roundup of Johnson County news by signing up for my Johnson County Update newsletter.