A major residential project on C Avenue NE will combine a senior living community called Hallmar Village with Skogman Homes' first completely new residential development in almost 20 years in Cedar Rapids.
Plans call for 279 residential lots on 145 acres of ag land east of the C Avenue Extension and north and east of Robins Road. The senior living facility will incorporate the buildings and grounds of Echo Hill Presbyterian Church, and be developed by Senior Housing Partners, a collaboration of Minnesota-based Presbyterian Homes and Mercy Medical Center.
Mercy Medical Center, in a statement released to the CBJ, said Hallmar Village, will be "an advanced living community that provides a full range of housing and services that are medically integrated for the rapidly growing population of older adults in the region, including those living with dementia."
The facility will replace the Mercy Hallmar nursing home, which opened in 1960, and will also include independent living apartments and residential apartments for those needing additional assistance with life tasks or personal care, or those living with dementia. Services, facilities and programming will "shape daily life with a personalized approach to uphold each person's values and how they embrace living," said the statement, which did not indicate a project timetable.
Skogman Homes has been working with Presbyterian Homes for over a year to put together the development, company President Kyle Skogman told the Cedar Rapids Planning and Zoning Commission on May 7. He said Prairie Landing will be a "anchor for growth on C Avenue."
The housing portion of the development plans include 80 units of five-unit townhomes at the north end, and transition to single-family lots at the south end. Two streets will provide access off C Avenue.
The planning commission unanimously recommended a future land use map amendment and zoning changes sought for the project, including change from Agricultural to Suburban Residential Flex and from Urban-Low Intensity to Urban-Medium Intensity, along with a variance to allow the senior living facility to have a 105,000-square-foot footprint, exceeding the code maximum of 60,000 square feet.
Concerns discussed by the commission and at the city council's May 12 meeting included the traffic impact on C Avenue and stormwater impacts of the development. At least one member was concerned that the only public green space shown for the residential development was a single pocket park.
Civil engineers indicated three detention basins are planned on the east and south boundaries of the property, and one is planned for the senior living community. The phased buildout of the project will leave time for adjustments such as more park space and traffic flow improvements if needed, according to the developer.
"This likely is a 10-year project, building on 15 or 20 lots per year," Hunter Skogman said, adding that the goal is to "hit the first-time home-buyer, and have some custom and some multifamily."
North Liberty is ranked the state's healthiest housing market in a study released last week by SmartAsset.
The findings are based on factors that include how long it takes to sell homes, the cost of homes relative to income, and the percentage of homes with negative equity.
With a score of 89.78, North Liberty was far ahead of the second-ranked Iowa market, Sioux City, but far behind Kings Mountain, North Carolina, which led the nation with a score of 100.
North Liberty scored particularly well in two categories - homes decreasing in value (8.8%) and average years living in the home (19.5).
Marion was the only other Corridor city to make the top 10 Iowa healthiest housing markets, ranking seventh, with a score of 75.47. All Corridor counties scored well as healthiest housing markets, however.
Washington County stood out among county rankings in the study, at 30th nationally. To see the full study results, click here.
Plans for a 34-acre residential subdivision addition are coming together between Ruffalo Noel Levitz and Transamerica Financial Park in southwest Cedar Rapids.
A total of 136 lots are proposed in the Kirkwood Village 2nd, 3rd and 4th additions at 800 Kirkwood Parkway SW.
A major preliminary plat proposed for the subdivisions calls for access off Kirkwood Parkway and C Avenue SW, with four stormwater detention basins. Consideration of the application from Metro Pavers Inc. received a unanimous recommendation of support from the Cedar Rapids Planning and Zoning Commission on May 7.
The subdivision east of Kirkwood Community College shares a name with the 13-building Kirkwood Village apartment complex, which caters to the college's students.
It's time to vote for the 2020 Best of the Corridor
It has been anything but a normal spring, but the CBJ is ready to spread some summertime joy by celebrating the region's best businesses, organizations and activities as part of our annual Best of the Corridor awards.
Cast your votehere across 50 different categories, from the region's top health care providers and professional services firms to the best places to find that perfect gift or take-out meal.
The winners will be announced this July, but voting ends at 5 p.m. on May 27, so don't delay. Check out a full list of
2019's Best of the Corridor winners.
Urban Land magazine looks at how to save energy in office buildings during the work-from-home period of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Zillow forecasts home prices will continue rise next year after a COVID-19 drop in 2020.
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Harness the Power of Emotional Intelligence, by Women Lead Change, 8-11 a.m., online. Learn the skills needed to accelerate your emotional intelligence to maximize your performance and potential. Led by speaker and author Anne Grady. Cost: $50. To register, visit bit.ly/2WaN6CB. Registration closes at 5 p.m. today.
May 19
Communication Tips for Reopening Post-COVID, by Marion Chamber of Commerce, 9-10 a.m., online. Kendra Aarhus, from SCORE, will share tips on transitioning your business from closed to open. Free. To register, visit bit.ly/35XjMDY.
May 20
1 Million Cups, by 1MC Iowa City, 9-10 a.m., online. Join this virtual meeting for community connections, free coffee and presentations by entrepreneurs, established companies, experts and more. Free. To join, visit zoom.us/j/818148137.
Preparing Employers for Military Deployments, by Iowa ESGR (Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve), 7:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. These meetings will help employers prepare for the military deployments that are scheduled for Iowa National Guard and Reserve members in 2020 and 2021. Learn deployment schedules and soldier requirements and about USERRA, the federal law that pertains to uniformed service members and their civilian employers. Free. To register for the 7:30 a.m. meeting, visit bit.ly/2y34NvM. To register for the 11:30 a.m. meeting, visit bit.ly/3dEQFIa.
Pivoting Your Digital Marketing in the Wake of the Pandemic, by Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, 10-11:15 a.m., online. Joshua McNary, founder and CEO of McNary Marketing & Design, will lead a discussion on pivot ideas and ways to digitally market, validate and tweak them. Free. To register, visit bit.ly/2W4wL2d
Headlines from KCRG-TV9
These news items are provided by KCRG-TV9
Gov. Kim Reynolds today extended all restrictions currently lifted in the 77 counties to all 99 Iowa counties. This allows restaurants, fitness centers, salons, barber shops and massage therapy locations to reopen statewide, with capacity restrictions and other health measures and guidelines put in place by the Iowa Department of Public Health. Reynolds said this easing of restrictions is possible because over the last two weeks many counties in Iowa have seen a consistent downward trend in virus activity. Other counties have stabilized and are beginning to trend down. Polk and Woodbury, however, saw increased virus activity in the last two weeks. The state is doing more testing in those counties to figure out where the activity is to better track and contain it. Sarah Reisetter, with the Iowa Department of Health, reiterated guidance for businesses that can now reopen across the state.
A man who owns
a gym that is operating beyond the limits outlined in the governor's public health emergency proclamation has been cited for allegedly violating that decree, according to law enforcement officials.
Jason Bailey, 49, the owner of Custom Fitness, was issued a citation by Cedar Rapids Police for a department of health violation on May 12. The citation is a simple misdemeanor. Officers said they observed several people working out inside the gym on Tuesday morning, and that Bailey told them he admitted to ignoring the proclamation from Gov. Kim Reynolds, which limits gym occupancy to one customer, by appointment, in Linn and 21 other counties.
Police said that they received complaints on May 8 about the gym being out of compliance with Reynolds' order. They said they spoke with Bailey and issued a warning at that time. More complaints from other individuals, including owners of other businesses that were in compliance, were made on Saturday to police officers.
Bailey will make a court appearance on June 25. He could be subject to a fine of up to $625.
These news items are provided by KCRG-TV9
Your KCRG-TV9 First Alert Forecast
Clouds increase from the south this afternoon while the breeze blows at 15 to 30 mph. Highs hit the lower 60s but then level off for most of the afternoon as clouds come overhead. Showers and storms develop late, with most happening overnight through early Thursday. Some spots could see heavy rain up to around an inch. Small hail is also possible although the severe threat is low. Most of us ought to see breaks in rain and storms Thursday until the afternoon as a cold front pushes through. Additional showers and storms are possible with that, especially south of Highway 20. These could also produce local downpours. We'll finish off the week with highs in the lower 70s.
Prairie Landing to be 'anchor' for C Avenue NE area
