City of Cedar RapidsCedar Rapids Downtown District Stories

Our downtown was a vibrant business hub and an evolving dining and entertainment district. Restaurants, live performances, concerts and green space along with small and large businesses all went underwater in the floods of 2008. While downtown is slowly coming back, fears still linger and empty store fronts and boarded up businesses still make up a large percentage of available property. Businesses struggle to cover their losses. As we near the one year mark, we pause to take stock of what we’ve been through as a community: the lessons learned and the vision for the future.

The downtown is the heartbeat of our community - an indicator of our general economic health. All eyes are on the downtown as it struggles to not just recover, but to find opportunity in obstacle.

 

RIVERenaissance: A Flood Anniversary

The Downtown District saw a need in commemorating the one-year anniversary and without hesitation, volunteered to serve as the central hub and master calendar of events.

RIVERenaissance is a chance for the Cedar Rapids community to trumpet the significant financial need that still remains while we recover and rebuild, on a local, regional and national level. It’s also an opportunity to appreciate and acknowledge the progress we’ve made thanks
to hard work, collaboration, and our Midwestern resilience.

 

Race to Rebuild

A town of Cedar Rapids’ size generally concentrates on essential revitalization projects of great magnitudes 1 in every 2-3 years; in the aftermath of the flood Cedar Rapids must accelerate this pace at a rate of 3-4 per year with a specific interest in the downtown area. Current projects on the table include:

  • the Cedar Rapids Public library
  • Czech Museum
  • Science Station Paramount Theatre
  • Economic Commerce Center
  • African American Museum
  • Theatre Cedar Rapids
  • US Cellular Center
  • PLAY Project


Cedar Rapids Downtown Contacts