Geneva Tower After The Flood

Geneva Tower, the 12-story HUD project built in downtown Cedar Rapids in 1971, has always fascinated me. That's why I enjoyed touring it with administrator Bob Hagarty as my guide for today's Ramblin' column in The Gazette for a report a year after the Flood of 2008.

Virtually a city unto itself, it has 183 efficiency and one-bedroom apartments, lounging areas, laundry, small grocery store and the two elevators taking residents up to their apartments. The tower was evacuated during the June 11-13 flood only because the main floor took on water, rendering the heating, air conditioning, plumbing and electrical systems useless. If people didn't have family to stay with they went elsewhere, which included temporary shelters, other apartments and motel rooms.

After spending about $3.5 million to upgrade the building before the flood, another nearly $1 million had to be spent repairing flood damage. When that was done by November, 137 of the 173 or 174 residents returned to their apartments. Those who didn't return either found other housing or had died in the interim.

Upon their return, the residents found that cleanup had already taken place. Bob told me that he and staff went through each apartment to empty and clean each refrigerator. While they were at it, they also cleaned each stove.

"You could not believe the stench," Bob said. "It was horrible."

Also bad were the bugs, including cockroaches. Without  human occupants in their way, the roaches took over. A special fumigation of the ceiling was used to get rid of them, but residents were instructed to wash their bed sheets, towels and clothings before using them. They also were told they might want to get rid of anything that might have contained food residue such as toasters and microwave ovens.

Now that people are back, most of the bugs are gone and life has returned, at least somewhat, to normal. You'll find the morning coffee group meeting each Tuesday, Thursday and Satuday. Residents say "hello" as they run into each other in the elevators. They held their first potluck since the flood on Memorial Day weekend. The store is up and running again to provide goods the residents would have to drive somewhere to pick up.

Now that I've met some very nice people here, I plan to return to Geneva Tower, too. I already know many of them have some pretty interesting tales about their life experiences. Look for them in future Ramblin' columns in The Gazette and on this blog.