City awards proposals for infill housing on Ellis Boulevard and 2nd Avenue SW; development agreements to follow

The Cedar Rapids City Council accepted proposals July 22 for redevelopment of city-owned infill lots on Ellis Boulevard Northwest and on 20 Second Avenue Southwest, directing staff to negotiate development agreements with the recommended proposers.

Jeff Rosencraft, Community Development, said the citys RFPs covered multiple city-owned lots that were acquired after the 2008 flood and are located in the 100-year floodplain, meaning developers must meet the citys floodplain requirements on redevelopment. For parcels along Ellis Boulevard and Sixth Street NW, a review panel unanimously recommended Timecheck LLC for a 36-unit townhome project featuring one- and two-bedroom market-rate units and a plan to conserve established trees where feasible. The council approved a resolution to award the parcel and authorized staff to negotiate a development agreement.

For a separate small infill site at 20 Second Avenue SW (near Czech Village and Mount Trashmore), the city received a single complete proposal from Homeward Bound LLC for 12 townhome units with a mix of rental and ownership units. The review group recommended the proposal and the council authorized staff to negotiate a development agreement and eventual property transfer.

Both awards were conditional on future negotiation of development agreements that will come back to the council for final approval; staff said agreements will include floodplain compliance, alley improvements and standards that match the Urban Village/Urban Form zoning preferences in the RFP.

Why it matters: the projects are part of a longstanding rebuild and infill strategy for post-flood properties, aim to add housing variety and density in targeted neighborhoods, and rely on private developers to meet zoning, floodplain and alley-improvement conditions before property transfers.