Cedar Rapids magnet school, housing proposed for Knutson Building

CEDAR RAPIDS — A new downtown Montessori magnet school and downtown housing have been submitted as options for the old Knutson Building on the west side of the Cedar River.

The plans by Steve Emerson of Aspect Design for the magnet elementary school and Mary Ottoson of Hobart Historic Restoration for housing were the only two submissions Monday, the deadline for proposals. The city was seeking proposals for full restoration or a hybrid restoration-remodel for the Knutson site and two adjacent empty parcels.

City officials anticipate making a recommendation to the City Council on July 12. The city owns all three sites.

Both proposals opt for a full restoration of the dilapidated building, which opened in 1887 as a condensed milk factory, and both include an addition.

The council could pick one of the proposals or chose to demolish the structure, which some have lobbied for as city leaders have been discussing the building's future for two years.

Housing proposal

The $7.3 million Hobart plan, which would be built in two phases, seeks $367,000 from the city for emergency stabilization and a full tax break for 10 years.

The first phase would restore Knutson with 12 new market-rate rentals; commercial space including support space for the adjacent McGrath Amphitheatre or U.S. Cellular Center; on-site parking; and green space. The second phase would construct a new building on one of the other parcels with additional housing.

The Kingston Square Association, which represents stakeholders in Kingston Village, unanimously backed the Hobart plan, according to a letter to the city from Fred Timko, a developer and member of the association.

School proposal

The Aspect proposal, in partnership with the Cedar Rapids school district, would locate a Montessori magnet school in a restored Knutson building and expanded wing. It is billed as a $5 million project with $500,000 in assistance from the city.

The Montessori school would emphasize student-directed learning and, as a magnet school, not have a set attendance zone. Students at the school — which would still be public and tuition-free — would be chosen in a random lottery.

In addition to being contingent on the City Council's decision, the project depends on the school district getting a $12 million federal Magnet School Assistance Program grant, which would pay for several new magnets.

A 22,500-square-foot addition and the restored Knutson would support up to 300 students and bring 22 new jobs downtown. The plan calls for the school being ready for the 2019 school year, though Assistant Superintendent Trace Pickering said it could open earlier.

During the school's first year, Pickering said, it would likely have two age-mixed classrooms for 6- to 8-year-olds — students typically in first, second or third grade — and grow annually to accommodate students old enough for fifth grade. The Montessori method calls for students of varying ages to be grouped together.

'Through community processes and research, the district determined that a downtown magnet school is wanted and desirable to the community and this has been a point of discussion for a number of years,' a letter from the district and school board reads.

Another downtown Montessori option for younger children ages 3 to 6 — Cedar Valley Montessori School — opened at 110 Fifth Ave. SE in 1997 and charges tuition. Pickering said the schools would share some resources.

'Montessori tends to be a pretty popular option,' Pickering said. 'And with growth of housing in the downtown area, it would be hard for me to not think we'd have lots of families across the city who would be interested.'

Pickering said the school would be a tenant, giving the district room to gauge community interest without owning a new facility.