The Gazette talked with two leaders of the board to check in on what the panel has been up to since it was created: Chair Arthur Kim, 46, a development officer for the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, and Vice Chair Aaron Eddy, 33, a staff attorney for Linn County Advocate Inc.
Neither city of Cedar Rapids nor Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance officials will have a vote in recommending potential changes to downtown’s management structure, seemingly putting to rest disagreement over how much say either entity would have in the decision.
Federal and city of Cedar Rapids officials celebrated the completion of floodgate at 12th Avenue SE as a “milestone” in efforts to fortify the city against rising Cedar River waters as part of its approximately $750 million permanent flood protection system.
Individuals experiencing homelessness in the Cedar Rapids area may more quickly receive vouchers to help them pay for housing costs under a rule change implemented this week by the city of Cedar Rapids, allowing low-income families to better access support as they become unhoused and reducing lengthy waits for assistance.
The city approved nearly $2 million in settlement agreements with city staff without a public vote in 2023.
In Cedar Rapids’ delayed quest to establish “quiet zones” to reduce the number of train horns sounding throughout downtown and NewBo, city staff anticipate the first phase will be complete within approximately the next year. Some City Council members were skeptical of the completion.
Preliminary site plans are taking shape for a mixed-use development at the former Transamerica site on Edgewood Road and 42nd Street NE, where more than two years ago some neighbors organized in opposition of a local developer’s proposal and prompted the property’s sale to another developer.
Also, Iowa Economic Development Authority board awards incentives to Danisco expansion in southwest Cedar Rapids.
Friday was the deadline for candidates to file to appear in the June 4 primary. Here’s who’s running in Linn and Johnson counties.
It’s estimated Iowa needs another 24,617 homes to support a growing population, and a statewide coalition is encouraging state lawmakers to act on six priorities it says would expand affordable housing in the state.
Jes Lang, community violence prevention coordinator for Johnson County program aimed at reducing gun violence, says job is ‘made for her.’ She feels her ‘passion and purpose collided’ when she found this job.
Preliminary findings from an Uptown Marion parking study show ample parking remains in much of the city’s central district during peak hours, but suggests strategies such as parking partnerships with private businesses and improved wayfinding signage.
Internet giant Google was named in documents Thursday as the company behind the potential new $576 million data center in Cedar Rapids’ Big Cedar Industrial Center.
Developer Steve Emerson has submitted a proposal to repurpose the site that once housed the Ambroz Recreation Center into multifamily housing possibly leveraging federal disaster recovery funds. Proposals have to be reviewed, so no decision is final yet.
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