Developments in downtown living continue for Cedar Rapids with the ground breaking of the metropolitan.
“We are starting to reflect the national trend of a desire of millenniums and empty nester’s to be a part of the downtown scene,” says Cedar Rapids City Councilman, Scott Olson.
The building was initially supposed to break ground in December of 2015 but title issues for one parcel of land with the City lead to months of delay.
Now that work has started, developer Hobart Historic Restoration says the new building will keep residents close to the action.
“Walk across the river in a matter of minutes you can be at a farmers market or any downtown entertainment, downtown bars, downtown restaurants and everything,” says owner Josh Hobart. “Especially now we’re coming up on summer time I think it’s going to really appeal to a lot of people.”
The 6 story mixed use building will include 3 floors of condos, 2 floors of rented apartments and 10,000 feet of commercial space on the ground level.
“It’s got the three elements that we like to see in projects of this type,” says Olson. “It will be a good reflection of the future for types of buildings in the downtown.”
Hobart is one of many developers that see the downtown opportunities.
“Of the projects to date, the day they are completed they’re full,” says Olson. “We’re starting to see that trend continue and that’s why we hope that projects are sort of phased in so there’s not too many under construction at the same time so that every project is successful.”
Even before is built the metropolitan is already seeing success, according to Hobart they had condos sold even before they broke ground on Wednesday.
When is all said and done the project is expected to cost about $11.2 million.
Hobart says they hope to have it move in ready by January 2017.