Linn County Supervisors give money to Marion alley art project

CEDAR RAPIDS - Linn County's supervisors are spreading around the $500,000 from the sale of the historic Mott Building across the Cedar River from Cedar Rapids' downtown.

On Monday, the supervisors agreed to contribute $75,000 of the total to Marion's ImaginArt in the Alleys project.

Earlier this year, the supervisors agreed to spend $250,000 of the Mott Building proceeds for a world-class sculpture as part of the $2 million transformation of Greene Square Park into Greene Square in downtown Cedar Rapids.

The supervisors also have agreed to provide $100,000 from the Mott Building sale to the Arc of East Central Iowa, which serves those with intellectual and related disabilities.

Supervisor Linda Langston on Monday said the county's contribution to the Marion art project will help pay for infrastructure improvements at the project site, which is the alley between Seventh and Eighth avenues and 10th and 11th streets.

The county's $75,000 grant will be added to a $350,000 ArtPlace America grant and a $315,000 contribution from the city of Marion.

Brent Oleson, whose supervisor district includes Marion, said he was pleased to see that much of the funding for the Marion art project was coming from a non-public source, ArtPlace America, which is a consortium of national foundations and financial institutions.

Karen Hoyt, art director for the Marion project, said the alley site currently 'looks like a rat's nest” with overhead wires and Dumpsters among its principal features.

She said the wires will be moved underground, new pavement bricks will be added and parking and Dumpsters now behind the businesses that back up to the alley will be removed.

The result will be an urban park with public art that will be both family friendly and will add to a 'vibrant night life,” Hoyt said.

The project will be complete by December 2016, she said.

Langston said the county still is waiting to close on the sale of the Mott Building with developer Hobart Historic Restoration of Cedar Rapids, though it anticipates doing so in the weeks ahead.

Last November, the supervisors selected Hobart from among four bidders because of Hobart's plans for the building and Hobart's ability to deliver on them. Hobart also offered the highest purchase price, $500,000.

Hobart plans to preserve the building's original wood beams and wood floors while adding higher-end finishes, lighting and other amenities. The top two floors will become apartments while the first floor will be used for office and retail space.

Also on Monday, the supervisors decided how they will spend $200,000 of property-tax revenue for community economic development projects in the budget year that began July 1.

The recipients and grant amounts are the Linn County Fair, $28,750; Habitat for Humanity, $25,000; Marion amphitheater (four-year commitment), $18,750; Lisbon, $16,000; Neighborhood Transit Service, $15,000; Center Point Library (three-year commitment), $15,000; Marion Main Street, $14,000; Czech Village/New Bo Main Street, $12,500; Alburnett, $10,000; Ascent women's business startup, $10,000; United Way's 211 program, $10,000; Blue Zones & Healthways, $10,000; Central City Main Street, $7,500; Trees Forever, $5,000; and Mount Vernon Main Street, $2,500.