Neighborhood Reinvestment
Action Plans Overview

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Arts and Cultural Opportunities

9 Items 0 : Anticipated 5 : In Progress 0 : Delayed 4 : Completed

Highlight/Milestone:

  • The Downtown District applied to the State for designation of the Grant Wood Cultural District
  • The City adopted a standard review period for buildings schedule to be demolished
  • The Czech Village and New Bohemia were approved for the 1st State Urban Main Street Project
  • The City hosted the Urban Land Institute and received recommendations on reinvesting in the US Cellular Center

Barriers:

  • Limited City Funds
  • Unified voice for arts and culture needs

Business Reinvestment

16 Items 6 : Anticipated 10 : In Progress 0 : Delayed 0 : Completed

Highlight/Milestone:

  • International Downtown Association gave the Downtown District and City the Pinnacle Award for the River Corridor Redevelopment Plan and the Neighborhood Planning Process
  • Establishment of the Cedar Rapids Medical District

Barriers:

  • Future location of the flood protection system
  • Speed of State Funding

Community Services

20 Items 0 : Anticipated 16 : In Progress 1 : Delayed 3 : Completed

Highlight/Milestone:

  • Completed the Facilities Master Plan public participation process
  • Established first Police Sub-Station
  • Violent and property crimes are down 20% through the City

Barriers:

  • Identification of funding sources for improvements beyond FEMA repairs
  • Limited city funds
  • State’s 10% budget cuts

Housing & Neighborhood Character

17 Items 0 : Anticipated 15 : In Progress 1 : Delayed 1 : Completed

Highlight/Milestone:

  • Discussion of Urban Design Principles starts tonight
  • City partnered in building 23 new homes in the Oak Hill Neighborhood, with 7 under construction
  • City partnered with three experienced developers to create 342 high quality replacement rental units
  • Habitat for Humanity constructed 20 new single family homes
  • City worked with Iowa Department of Economic Development to obtain funding for construction of 184 owner occupied units and 61 rental units
  • Excavation of contaminated soil at Iowa Iron and Iowa Steel completed
  • Established sustainability criteria for business/housing development seeking public funds.

Barriers:

  • Lengthy process for voluntary property acquisitions
  • Limited state/federal funding for infrastructure

OPEN SPACE & RECREATION

28 Items 1 : Anticipated 18 : In Progress 0 : Delayed 9 : Completed

Highlight/Milestone:

  • Ellis Pool repaired will open in Spring
  • Re-opened Tait Cummins Park
  • Re-opened Time Check Park
  • Re-opened Ellis ball diamond
  • Re-opened Jones Golf Course

Barriers:

  • City Funding
  • State Funding
  • Weather

Preferred Flood Management Strategy

13 Items 8 : Anticipated 3 : In Progress 0 : Delayed 2 : Completed

Highlight/Milestone:

  • River Corridor Redevelopment Plan completed within 4 months after the flood
  • Levee along A Street Repaired

Barriers:

  • Federal Funding
  • Plan Design and Review

Transportation & Connectivity

55 Items 28 : Anticipated 24 : In Progress 0 : Delayed 3 : Completed

Highlight/Milestone:

  • Bike racks on buses
  • Edgewood Rd bridge substructure repaired
  • 3rd Street streetscape planning complete

Barriers:

  • State funds
  • Staff resources

Action Plans Summary

158 Items 43 Anticipated (27%) 91 In Progress (58%) 2 Delayed (1%) 22 Completed (14%)

Common Highlight/Milestone:

  • International Downtown Association gave the Downtown District and City the Pinnacle Award for the River Corridor Redevelopment Plan and the Neighborhood Planning Process
  • Iowa Chapter of the American Planning Association gave the City of Cedar Rapids their “Hard Won Victory” award for community planning after the flood
  • Most action items are in process or completed
  • River Corridor Redevelopment Plan and Neighborhood Plan Process have provided consistent and clear direction for new recovery initiatives

Common Barriers:

  • Limited City funds
  • Limited outside funding sources
  • State and Federal regulations
  • Maintaining the momentum and level of public engagement generated through the Neighborhood Planning Process