New riverfront building development proposed for Iowa City

A five-story building with a restaurant, commercial space and residential units overlooking the Iowa River has been proposed for Iowa City's Riverfront Crossings district.

The project, from developers Kevin O'Brien and Hunter Parks working as Iowa River Development LLC, also calls for an addition to the Staples building at 820 S. Riverside Dr. for retail space.

The development would be another boost to Riverfront Crossings, an area south of downtown that city leaders want to see redeveloped into a dense, walkable neighborhood with an urban feel.

“It's very encouraging,” said Jeff Davidson, Iowa City's director of planning and community development. “This was the second big one for the Riverside Drive area.”

The first was a Hampton Inn that opened a year ago.

Other Riverfront Crossings projects that have been discussed or are in progress include an office building paired with a parking ramp/condominium structure, two hotels in one building, a new University of Iowa School of Music, a large city park and a white-water rafting course on the Iowa River.

The Iowa River Development project would be on the west side of the river, at 21 W. Benton St. That's the site of the old Mumm's Saloon and Eatery, which is now vacant.

The developers are asking the city to rezone 2.5 acres to allow for the construction of the building.

In information submitted to the city, they said they plan to have a restaurant on the ground floor with outdoor seating overlooking the river. On the second floor would be 10,000 square feet of commercial space, and 18 residential units would take up the top three floors.

A rooftop garden and a trail along the river would be included. The building would face the river.

The other aspect of the project is a 4,500-square-foot addition to Staples, which is next to the site reserved for the five-story building, to be split into three equal spaces for retail use.

With its location near the intersection of Benton Street and Riverside Drive, the development could be a gateway into Riverfront Crossings, said Mark Seabold, an architect for Shive-Hattery Inc. working on the project.

“The idea is to really tie this into the river,” he said. “It's the first project to really utilize the Iowa River.”

The Iowa City Planning and Zoning Commission will consider the rezoning request at a meeting Nov. 7. The City Council has the final say.

In a memorandum to the commission, Iowa City staffers said the project meets the city's Riverfront Crossings master plan, would increase property values and would spur further redevelopment.

Seabold said the development team has worked closely with the city so far, and assuming it gets the permission it needs, construction could start early next year and be finished in nine to 12 months.

He said it's too early to say what the cost would be or to share the identities of possible restaurant and retail tenants.

City financial assistance, possibly in the form of tax increment financing, could be sought for the project, Seabold and Davidson said.

The site is in the 100-year floodplain, but below-ground parking would be designed to withstand flooding and the ground floor is 2 feet above the 500-year flood level, Seabold said.