Less asphalt expected in Cedar Rapids' Westdale Mall transformation

The transformation of the 72-acre Westdale Mall site into a mixed-use neighborhood of stores, offices, residential units and a hotel will mean less asphalt, John Frew, the Westdale developer, told a City Council committee on Wednesday.

Frew said the new Westdale development will reduce the number of surface parking spots from the existing 4,309 to 3,326 – that's 983 fewer. But  he said existing leases with anchor stores JCPenney and Younkers and others will prevent him from reducing the number of parking spaces even further to make way for more greenspace.

Frew talked to the council's Development Committee on Wednesday about the design guidelines that he will incorporate into the project, guidelines that the council must approve as part of its development agreement with Frew.

Frew, who is the project manager for the city's convention complex and hotel project that is wrapping up, told council member Monica Vernon that he some of the design ideas for Westdale come from the transformation of a failing mall into the Streets of SouthGlenn in suburban Denver, Colo. Frew, who resides in Denver, said some 100 failing malls across the country are now undergoing a makeover similar to what he is trying to do at Westdale.

Among the idiosyncrasies of Westdale Mall, he said, is that JCPenney's lease requires that no structure on the property be taller than the Penney store. Frew said he is talking to the retailer about that matter and others.

He also said existing leases with Younkers and JCPenney may restrict what he can do architecturally to the existing buildings.

The committee approved Frew's design guidelines and sent them on for a full council vote next week.

Frew again pointed out that most of the mall but for three of four anchor spaces will be demolished, including the fourth anchor spot that once housed Wards. The mall area will become an open courtyard in the $90-million redevelopment project. Demolition is expected to start soon, he has said.

He said eventually a parking ramp may be built on the site to fill a hoped-for need for additional parking.