Wednesday, June 30, 2010

It's June 30Th already?


It is hard to believe that we are nearing the halfway point of 2010. Robin Tucker is pictured at a Realtor event in Des Moines.

We have enjoyed the opportunity to visit with a lot of people thus far this year. We look forward to meeting new people in the second half of 2010 and the work we do for our customers and clients throughout the year.


Monday, June 28, 2010

Attended Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids meeting today at Noon, Monday, June 28Th



As a member of the Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids, I attended my weekly meeting on Monday, which featured the 'Passing of the Gavel' between outgoing President Paul Morf and our 98Th incoming President Doug Baird.

Last week at Rotary:

RIPPLES FROM THE RAPIDS
MONDAY, JUNE 21, 2010

Congratulations to our two more Club Appreciation Award recipients today ...

Last week, John M. Smith was named 2010 Community Service Award Recipient and Clint Twedt-Ball received a Club Appreciation Award. Link

Our Rotary Club, the Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids, is the 48Th largest Rotary Club in size and is in its 96Th year of existence. We have 351 members, with 321 active members. A record 41 new members this year.


Looking to know what what district school a house in the Cedar Rapids Community Schools would be?

School District

Here is a link to the Cedar Rapids School District that allows you to easily find which school district a house is in. We have had complaints that agents are putting the wrong schools on listings, which means you might miss a buyer that is looking for a specific school. One tip…make sure you abbreviate the street type (such as St for Street, Ave for Avenue, etc.), otherwise it will not recognize the address.
http://www.cr.k12.ia.us/schools/streetFinder/boundarySearch.html

Monday, June 21, 2010

New Listing: Executive House at 7806 Thorndale Drive NE in Cedar Rapids, Iowa for $2,200 per month!


Tommy Tucker Realty Co. - Facebook
New Listing ... Executive House at 7806 Thorndale Drive NE (map) in Cedar Rapids, Iowa for $2,200 per month! This 4-5 bedroom two story was built in 1997 and has three full baths, one half bath and a three stall garage. A beautiful house for rent in Bowman Woods in the Linn-Mar Community Schools.




Rotary meeting today focused on PCI's Medical Mall concept and closing of part of Second Avenue SE


As a member of the Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids, I attended my weekly meeting, which this week featured PCI and the Medical Mall planned for the 1000 through 1200 block of Second Avenue SE, in Cedar Rapids, which could include the closing of this portion of Second Avenue SE.

There are some concerns about closing Second Avenue SE and it was interesting to listen to the dialogue during the meeting. We were expecting to hear Mike Sundall, PCI Project - The Medical Corridor. but a couple of other doctors from PCI spoke instead. Sundall comments in the past, per the Corridor Business Journal.

Tommy Tucker Realty Co. is located at 613 Second Avenue SE, on the southern edge of the new Medical District in Downtown Cedar Rapids. The closing of Second Avenue would certainly change traffic patterns to and from our business location.


Attended CRAAR Government Affairs meeting this morning


The Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtors® meeting this morning hosted Linn County District 1 Supervisor candidate Dennis Petersen as a speaker for our June Government Affairs meeting. Candidate information on incumbent Lu Barron and Dennis Petersen, who will face off in the November 2, 2010 general election.

Further, we discussed the pending City of Cedar Rapids changes on Chapter 29, which will have a first reading on Tuesday, June 22Nd. Many in the housing community have concerns with some of the language proposed.

A common theme among Realtors: "Now, personally I believe landlords need to take more responsibility for the folks they rent to and a form of this needs to be implemented, but this just goes too far," a fellow Realtor suggested today.

Our company has been using a Crime Free Lease Addendum for eight or nine years now. We recommend it to our clients. We have concerns over the recommended form and mandate by the City of Cedar Rapids, however.

For more information on the Iowa Property Owners Alliance organization, click here.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Do you own Rental or owner-occupied real estate in Cedar Rapids, Iowa?


The City of Cedar Rapids is planning to change Chapter 29 of the municipal code on rental real estate. Of course, all property owners will notice an possible impact to individual property rights, due to this change. On June 22, 2010, the City Council is planning to have a first reading on the proposed changes to Chapter 29 of the municipal code.

A fellow Realtor in Cedar Rapids has sent an objection to the City of Cedar Rapids.

OBJECTS TO PROPOSED CH 29 ORDINANCE CHANGES-CRIME - City of Cedear Rapids PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick View
May 17, 2010 ... I am against the proposed Chapter 29 changes and the mandatory Crime ... for Cedar Rapids tenants which is a valuable asset to growth and ...

The City of Cedar Rapids is changing its web site, so google searches on the subject typically end with a bad link, such as this example. By adding .info, rather than .org, one can get into the City old web site.

More on the subject curtesy of a google search on Chapter 29:

Chapter 29 – Sheryl Jahnel, Member Landlords of Linn County ... - Landlords of Linn County
I have found that there are many difference that set Cedar Rapids Proposed changes over the top. > I am very much opposed to the proposed Chapter 29 ...
Chapter 29 – Dick Rehman‎ - Jun 15, 2010
Chapter 29 Comments: Dick Rehman‎ - May 26, 2010

Chapter 29 of municipal code is a very important public policy issue for the City of Cedar Rapids. Changes can have impacts on affordable housing, housing stock and economic development for our community in the future. The department has been very inefficient throughout the years, including the department's ability to provide data on the customers it serves.

Cedar Rapids Landlords Protest Proposed Fees - KCRG-TV9
Apr 20, 2010 ... CEDAR RAPIDS – Proposed new rules and regulations for Cedar ... The city council is still debating whether to approve all these changes, ...

Right now, the city can't provide a list of problem landlords or even tell
you how many landlords rent property in Cedar Rapids. City staff
admit their record-keeping system needs work and they're trying to replace it. -
KCRG-TV9
Currently, the City of Cedar Rapids has no citizen housing boards or commissions. Communities, like Iowa City, have used citizen boards and commissions to help formulate public policy on housing issued. Despite the City Charter makes recommendations for boards and commissions, but, the police department and housing officials are addressing the ordinance work for our community, rather than elected officials and/or the public.


PREAMBLE
We, the people of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, under the constitution and the
laws of the state of Iowa, in
order to secure the benefits of local
self-government and to provide for the peace, prosperity and security of our
citizens, do hereby adopt this charter. By this charter, we achieve the benefits
of home rule and affirm the values of representative democracy, professional
management, strong political leadership, and citizen participation by
recognizing that our quality of life is based on community and regional
cooperation, innovation, and greater opportunities for all our citizens.
- City of Cedar Rapids

June Real Estate Today Show will recognize 33 local scholarship winners

I will present a scholarship to one of the 33 local students receiving an Association scholarship ...

CRAAR June Real Estate Today Show - Where it's all about you!
Agenda: Positive Attitude - If you want it, you can get it!
Learn how to identify stressful situations in the business and deal with the situations objectively in order to assist customers and clients.
Featured Speaker: Ralph Palmer

Date: Wednesday, June 16th
Time: Lunch: 11:30 a.m./Meeting: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Location: A Touch of Class (5977 Mt Vernon Road SE)
1 Continuing Education Elective Hour

Monday, June 14, 2010

Happy Flag Day and Rotary Club news: June 14, 2010

Happy Flag Day everyone: June 14, 2010 ...

USFlag.org: A website dedicated to the Flag of the United States ...
The History Of Flag Day. The Fourth of July was traditionally celebrated as America's birthday, but the idea of an annual day specifically ...

The Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids meeting ...





Realtor® Robin Tucker and Realtor® Emeritus Tommy Tucker are members of
Rotary International and are each Paul Harris Fellows ...



Celebrate Rotary's 105 years of service by contributing to The Rotary Foundation

Robin Tucker is planning to attend his Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids meeting.

Monday, June 14, 2010

Crowne Plaza Hotel at Noon

Today's Program:
Elwynn Taylor, Professor of Climatology
Iowa State University

Upcoming programs and events for our Club:
  • June 21, 2010 - Mike Sundall, PCI Project
  • June 28, 2010 - Passing the Gavel

Friday, June 11, 2010

Chamber Reports: Highway 100 Project Added to IDOT Five-Year Plan

The June 10, 2010 Chamber newsletter reporting the following:

Highway 100 Project Added to IDOT Five-Year Plan
The Cedar Rapids
Area Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the Iowa Transportation Commission
for their understanding and thoughtfulness in including the Highway 100
extension in the state’s five-year plan approved on Tuesday, June 8 at their
meeting in Fort Madison.



Watch a video showing an aerial flyover of the
Highway 100 Extension Project.



Highway 100 Extension Gets $4.3 Million in State's New Highway Plan‎ - KCRG
Getting Highway 100 back in the plan was a major goal of Cedar Rapids and Linn ... The project was left out of the plan after opposition by the Linn County ...

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Residents in Iowa can Vote today in either the Democrat or Republican Primaries


We want to remind all State of Iowa residents, who are eligible to vote to get out and vote today. Click the link below to find your polling location. http://sos.state.ia.us/elections/VoterReg/PollingPlace/search.aspx

If you are a resident in the State of Iowa, but are not registered, you can still vote, by registering at your polling place. You will need proof of identity and proof of residence.

Monday, June 7, 2010

It Must Be Monday: Rotary is back on the schedule for June!



The Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids meeting ...






Realtor® Robin Tucker and Realtor® Emeritus Tommy Tucker are members of
Rotary International and are each Paul Harris Fellows ...


Celebrate Rotary's 105 years of service by contributing to The Rotary Foundation

Robin Tucker is planning to attend his Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids meeting.

Monday, June 7, 2010

Crowne Plaza Hotel at Noon


Today's Program:
John Bloomhall
President, Diamond V Mills

Upcoming programs and events for our Club:
  • June 14, 2010 - Elwynn Taylor, Professor of Climatology, Iowa State University
  • June 21, 2010 - Mike Sundall, PCI Project
  • June 28, 2010 - Passing the Gavel

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

June 2010 arrives to Summer weather and plenty of Sunshine ...


We hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend.

Wow, we are a month away from the half way point of the year. We are a week away from Primary Election Day in Iowa on June 8Th. Are you registered to vote in Iowa?

Calendar of Events fueled by Cultural Corridor.org.

What's up with the City of Cedar Rapids this month ...

What's up with the
City of Marion
this month ...