Former Knights of Columbus Hall in Cedar Rapids coming down

Demolition of the former Knights of Columbus Hall at 716 A Ave. NE has begun in preparation for construction of a new branch of the University of Iowa Community Credit Union.

The credit union purchased the property earlier this year off Interstate 380 between Seventh and Eighth streets. Richard Noble, vice president of UICCU, said a 7,000-square-foot branch office should be completed in the fall of 2014.

“We're hoping to get some site preparation completed yet this fall, depending on the weather,” Noble said.

The building will face A Avenue and be equipped with drive-up lanes and a drive-up ATM. It will be UICCU's fourth location in Linn County.

Hunter Construction of Cedar Rapids is the general contractor and Neumann Monson of Iowa City is the architect for the project.

The Knights of Columbus constructed the existing building in 1955 for $125,000 and dedicated it the following year. The organization purchased the former Jefferson School on the property and occupied it for 15 years before constructing the new building.

Jefferson School was one of the oldest private or public structures in Cedar Rapids when the Independent School District of Cedar Rapids - forerunner of the Cedar Rapids Community School District - voted to sell it in February 1941.

The building housed the district's administrative offices until they were moved in 1940 to the former Grant High School on Second Avenue SW.