116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Urban living open house in downtown Cedar Rapids draws big crowd
Downtown Cedar Rapids could soon see a large influx of downtown living options.
Developers, architects and property managers showed off proposed plans for 250 new units on Tuesday evening at the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance's urban living open house.
About 200 people from young professionals to empty nesters stopped in to look at options, which included owner-occupied condos and market-rate apartments.
Projects were in various stages of completion, with some reading to open, including developer Fred Timko's Kingston Commons.
Ten of the 17 high-end condominiums in the Kingston Village area have been sold, he said, adding he hopes to have units open by the first week of June.
Construction is underway at the former Great Furniture Mart, which developer Joe Ahmann plans to turn into residential units as well as office and commercial space.
Kristina Schoell, project coordinator at Compass Commercial Services, said the company is in talks with a restaurant but no tenants have signed on to lease the first floor retail space.
Mixed-use plans were seen throughout the projects presented on Tuesday night, said Sarika Bhakta, district improvement specialist for the Economic Alliance.
'It helps make the community have that 24/7 vibrancy we want,” Bhakta said.
New to the open house this year was an interactive map, showing existing and proposed housing options. Users can choose the district they are interested in - Downtown, MedQuarter, Kingston Village or Czech Village/NewBo - and whether they are looking for owner-occupied of rental options.
Bob Schaffer is building 10 apartments in the former Diamond Vogel building in Czech Village. Schaffer is adding two floors to the building to house the rental units and plans to have retail on the first floor.
Schaffer hopes to have the units open by the end of the year.
'My heart and soul is in this neighborhood,” said Schaffer, who also is the co-owner of Czech Cottage. 'My whole desire is to see this area improved and built up.”
Comments: (319) 398-8331; chelsea.keenan@sourcemedia.net
Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette Bob Schaffer (right) shows a floor plan of one of the NewBo West Apartments to Paul Fiegen (center) and Chelsea Behrens during an Urban Living in Downtown Cedar Rapids open house Tuesday at the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance. The event drew about 200 people from young professionals to empty nesters.
Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette Chad Pelley (right) business development manager with Ahmann Companies, talks to Alex Rannow (center) of Cedar Rapids and Monique Rosete of Phoenix (soon to be Cedar Rapids) about the Kingston Lofts and a multiuse project in the former Great Furniture Mart building during an Urban Living in Downtown Cedar Rapids open house Tuesday at the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance. The event drew about 200 people from young professionals to empty nesters.
Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette Candy Wong (left), a Realtor from Iowa Realty, talks about The Row Houses on Second development in the NewBo District with Curtis Stochl (center) and Emily Weber (right) during an Urban Living in Downtown Cedar Rapids open house Tuesday at the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance. The event drew about 200 people from young professionals to empty nesters.
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