Parking ramp comes down in Cedar Rapids

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CEDAR RAPIDS- The face of downtown Cedar Rapids just got another makeover.  The First Avenue Parkade between the U.S. Cellular Center and the Roosevelt Apartments has been reduced to rubble.

“I picked up my son and here we are,” said spectator Bob Heusing.

As anticipation mounted, more and more spectators took their seats to watch downtown Cedar Rapids take another step in renovations.

"There's just so many things that changed here.  I just noticed the other parking garage. Every time I come done here, something's different,” said Heusing.

After decades in downtown, the parkade now stands in the way of progress.  But that came to an end Saturday morning.

"There was a bit of nervousness in my fingers as I pressed that button,” said Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett.

And with that, the parkade came tumbling down.  A pile of dust spilled into downtown giving the crowds what they'd been waiting for and crews worked so hard to make happen.

"We're glad it's over and went real, real well,” said DW Zinser's David Zinser.

The parkade was wedged between the U.S. Cellular Center and the Roosevelt Apartments.  Residents were not evacuated before the blast.

"There's no damage to the Roosevelt.  The vibration went right through the threshold, we're good,” said Zinser.

As the dust settles, many take time to look back and also forward towards a future with a new $75 million convention center complex.

"This is going to make way for a whole new development in our city and I hope our town is as excited about it as I am,” said Corbett.