Lang
8/7/21
A new high-rise is being proposed for downtown Iowa City.
The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that Chicago-based CA Ventures has applied for a special exemption to the city’s parking rules for a proposed 13-story mixed-use building at the corner of Linn and Washington Streets, on the current site of U.S. Bank and its parking lot.
The project would include retail space on the first floor as well as 229 residential units, including 188 studio or one-bedroom apartments and 41 two-bedroom apartments. Normally, that many units would require 135 parking spots, but the developers are asking to only provide 67. They argue that most of the apartments would be occupied by University of Iowa students, many of whom don’t own cars.
One project supporter is former Iowa City city councilor Karen Kubby, who owns Beadology less than a block from the proposed development. Kubby told The Gazette she normally opposes such high-rise projects downtown, but if the design is set back starting with the fifth floor, as proposed, it would appear smaller from the street. She also told the newspaper she hopes to move her business into the new building once it’s completed.
Because the U.S. Bank lot is also the former site of city hall and a stagecoach stop, city officials are asking developers to include some sort of historic designation.
The proposal goes before the Board of Adjustment on Wednesday.