A New Year to Get Things Moving

Four potential sites for a new Cedar Rapids Public Library will be cut down to two this week. Think of it as the semifinals of the LCS, the Library Championship Series.

The library's board of trustees meets Thursday to pick a top two from the remaining possibilities, including the True North site on the south side of Greene Square Park, the Banjo Refrigeration block to the southeast of the park, The Gazette site on the park's northeast corner and the Emerald Knight site between Seventh Street SE and Eighth Street SE along First Avenue.

I honestly don't have a favorite. All four would be good choices, with advantages outweighing downsides. The fact that my workplace is on the list was a surprise, but as long as The Gazette leaves me a forwarding address, I'm not complaining.

Parking is apparently a very big deal to the public, and likely will be a major factor in the board's decision. Please quench our thirst for knowledge, but first, give us nearby parking.

Building near Greene Square, which also borders the city's art museum, is an appealing possibility, and would keep the library in the downtown core. The Emerald Knight site is outside that core, but has high visibility, freeway access and could include commercial development that would actually generate property tax revenue.

True North and Banjo are in the 2008 flood zone, but in both cases a new library could be built above flood level. There are sure to be complications with site acquisition, etc., but there are always detail devils. The board faces a tough decision, but in the end, a project I believe could be an enduring symbol of this community's recovery and vitality is on track.

Maybe I'm in an optimistic mood because I get the feeling this will be a new year when we'll see things really start moving. I sense a determination on the part of our new mayor, the City Council and local leaders to get off the dime. We considered and planned and gathered input until we saw open house placards in our sleep. Now the train is moving.

We're moving on from the library. Mayor Corbett says he'd like a decision soon on the possible return of some city functions to the Veterans Memorial Building. Maybe FEMA will make a final call on the fate of the Central Fire Station soon. The Paramount Theatre's restoration is on the horizon. Animal control, public works and other facilities are on the clock.

Sure, there are going to be plenty of bumps and arguments and controversies and disappointments. But I'd much rather be arguing over big decisions than fighting about long delays.

Comments: (319) 398-8452 or todd.dorman@gazcomm.com