Downtown redevelopment and the new proposed Medical District for Cedar Rapids

We attended Tuesday night's Medical District meeting at the Museum of Art. It was very well attended event. It was nice to see those concerned about the closing of Second Avenue SE for two blocks, those concerned about Historical buildings and those interested in our community planning process and what will make up the proposed district.

The Downtown Framework plan and the plans of PCI expanding operations into one campus are exciting for Cedar Rapids. However, much is misunderstooded at times. Information in the media has been wrong at times. Hindsight being 20/20 likely would say the process should have been handled differently.

Medical mall parking concerns council members - The Gazette CEDAR RAPIDS — The City Council could re-examine parking requirements in the proposed medical district, including plans for a medical mall that call for demolishing a nearly century-old church. A standing-room-only crowd of more than 150 people filled the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art auditorium last night to voice their opinions on the forthcoming medical [...]

[PDF] CEDAR RAPIDS File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick View 18 cedar Rapids Framework Plan create a vibrant cohesive downtown character that diversifies the urban fabric, reconnects east and west, and accommodates ...www.cedar-rapids.org/.../floodrecoveryplanning/.../REPORT.11.01.09%20framework%

An early plan was released in May 2007. But, the revision above came in December 2008, after the historic flood of 2008 in Downtown Cedar Rapids. Ironically, the talk now is all about the Medical District. But, the original framework plan was about more than one more self-sustaining taxing district for the core of Cedar Rapids.

• Taxing Districts


• Destination Districts for Downtown Cedar Rapids and surrounding areas

The City should consider looking at it in two parts, rather than 50 blocks that will make up the new proposed Medical SSMID. The consumer side should be seeing multiple destination districts, within the two SSMID districts that make up Downtown Cedar Rapids.

What is a SSMID?

[PDF] SSMID Frequently Asked Questions What is a SSMID? A “self ... File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick View

Several communities in Iowa, including Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Cedar Falls, Davenport, Des .... the new SSMID Downtown District organization. ...

Cedar Rapids Medical District MedQuarter: New Name For "The Cedar Rapids Medical SSMID". Streetscape. December 3, 2010: Cedar Rapids, IA – A new name has been adopted for the emerging ...

The original plan in 2007 called for multiple districts. But, we appears to be focusing solely on the taxing districts, rather the broader community discussion that should be about the multiple districts (i.e. Destination Districts) that fall within both SMMID districts, the proposed and our current Downtown SMMID.

The proposed districts from page 6 the May 2007 framework plan were as following:

• Cultural District


• Medical District


• Industrial District


• Commercial District


• Collegiate District


• Municipal District


• Warehouse District

While the December 2008 framework plan expands on the original framework plan, brought out by the City's response to the aftermath of the Flood of 2008. Not incorporating the subcategories found in the two SSMID groups is something we hope the community may relook at the above language used in the original framework plan. After all, as Reatlors we want as we take from part of our [PDF] Preamble ...

Under all is the land. Upon its wise utilization and widely allocated ownership depend the survival and growth of free institutions and of our civilization. REALTORS® should recognize that the interests of the nation and its citizens require the highest and best use of the land and the widest distribution of land ownership. They require the creation of adequate housing, the building of functioning cities, the development of productive industries and farms, and the preservation of a healthful environment...

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