Omaha Forums

Proposals included:

Avalon Partners, a group led by Cedar Rapids developer Fred Timko, $33 million, 14 stories.

Aspect architecture:design, a group lead by Cedar Rapids developer Steve Emerson, $33 million, 11 stories.

1 Park Place, LLC, a group lead by Iowa City developer Jesse Allen, $103 million, 28 stories.

Cedar Rapids put out a request for proposals for a mixed-use development with housing, retail and office space of at least five stories on Feb. 23. The proposal deadline was April 29. The City Council is slated to select a developer on May 24 and consider tax breaks on July 26

The proposals for three city-owned parcels at the north corner of First Street SE and Third Avenue SE vary in function and could change the feel of downtown, too, with grocery stores, a medical clinic, a rooftop restaurant, hotel and housing.

iamjacobm wrote:http://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/ ... s-20160502

The proposals for three city-owned parcels at the north corner of First Street SE and Third Avenue SE vary in function and could change the feel of downtown, too, with grocery stores, a medical clinic, a rooftop restaurant, hotel and housing.

Looks like right next to the Alliant Tower.

Linkin5 wrote:Cedar Rapids now getting better proposals than Omha, depressing.

nebugeater wrote:What is the address of the Development location? I lived in CR for ten years.

MTO wrote:

Linkin5 wrote:Cedar Rapids now getting better proposals than Omha, depressing.

It's getting kinda sad at this point, we should be ashamed.

MTO wrote:Although the civic site is a pretty safe bet it's only 16 floors and the old UP site at 30is is pretty much a pipe dream. And what's the point of all these 100 some odd million dollar projects if our skyline doesn't change.

MTO wrote:Although the civic site is a pretty safe bet it's only 16 floors and the old UP site at 30is is pretty much a pipe dream. And what's the point of all these 100 some odd million dollar projects if our skyline doesn't change.

Garrett wrote:

MTO wrote:Although the civic site is a pretty safe bet it's only 16 floors and the old UP site at 30is is pretty much a pipe dream. And what's the point of all these 100 some odd million dollar projects if our skyline doesn't change.

Perhaps hundreds of new people living downtown contributing to an active streetlife and new businesses? Nahhhh. Let's just build a giant |expletive| phallus.

MTO wrote:

Garrett wrote:

MTO wrote:Although the civic site is a pretty safe bet it's only 16 floors and the old UP site at 30is is pretty much a pipe dream. And what's the point of all these 100 some odd million dollar projects if our skyline doesn't change.

Perhaps hundreds of new people living downtown contributing to an active streetlife and new businesses? Nahhhh. Let's just build a giant |expletive| phallus.

Exactly! Because more people can live or work in 28 or 32 floors than 5 floors.

iamjacobm wrote:Project not going to happen as proposed. Developer said hotel pulled out.

The corner high rise on city-owned land at First Street and Third Avenue SE would be Steve Emerson’s 47th building downtown and at 300 feet tall would be the tallest building downtown. That’s 15 feet taller than the Alliant Tower, immediately north.

“We are basically trying to figure out what the most severe needs are downtown,” Emerson said Tuesday. “Obviously a grocer is one of the first things needed downtown. It’s a food desert. Parking is a huge need, and there’s a large housing component needed.”

The city is in its second attempt to find a developer for the site since 2016. A previous project — One Park Place, which also would have been the tallest building downtown — fizzled over financing problems and missed deadlines.

A review panel will consider Emerson’s proposal in the next couple of weeks, and the City Council will vote whether to move forward, likely at the Aug. 28 council meeting. Additional approvals would be needed before the city transfers the property over the next several months.

Emerson’s unnamed project would include a ground level, full-service grocery store, a 17th-floor restaurant with patio, 100 to 120 condominiums, 21 apartments, office space, possibly a medical clinic, balconies and about 700 parking spaces. Green design is a focus with rooftop gardens, electric vehicle charging stations, bike storage and solar panels.