Cedar Falls Parking Ramp Debate To Reignite Monday

CEDAR FALLS — The City Council will again discuss the possibility of building a parking ramp downtown.

That conversation is scheduled during a meeting of the finance and business operations committee around 5:45 p.m. Monday at the community center, 528 Main St.

The hope is that the city council will decide whether to give the green light to the pursuit of a structure with the “understanding of a total paid parking system” that would be implemented to finance the future cost of operation, according to the documents from the city.

If given the go-ahead, council staff will bring proposals detailing potential locations and funding options for the ramp to council at a future session for further discussion.

At times, people took issue with the structure while discussing the parking requirements outlined in the new downtown zoning code.

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But the last time the topic was formally proposed, councilors reached a consensus during a November goal-setting session to “explore all options to build a parking structure downtown, along with a feasibility study and ongoing re-evaluation of paid parking options.”

In 2020, Eagle View Partners CEO Mark Kittrell, the visionary behind the “River Place” development, which includes high-end apartments, retail and office space, proposed a “public-private partnership” as possible solution , and a square.

The pit bull allegedly attacked a Yorkie that its owner was walking along W. 8th Street in the area of Lincoln Elementary School.

He proposed building a ramp with 90-100 spaces at the corner of State and Third streets for an estimated $5.6 million.

Additionally, 6,000 square feet of retail had been part of the preliminary design.

They discussed the expansion of the development agreement involving River Place and the tax breaks the company would receive for the increased property valuation. But there was no more accountability for taxpayers.

What exactly happened to this proposal and why it did not go ahead is unclear.

In March, a city spokesman said “the developer indicated about a year ago that he was not interested in a partnership at that time.”

When asked if the partnership is still a possibility, Kittrell, however, told The Courier, “I think it is, at least from my perspective.”

“I really like the project,” he added.

Kittrell said the people involved in the early talks were not entirely on board with it and he “didn’t have the legs to go forward”. He did not go into further detail.

He said pending decisions on the new zoning code and the upcoming municipal election were other reasons the project appeared to be on hold at the time.

Administrator Ron Gaines and Mayor Rob Green have suggested officials were hesitant to start a paid parking system.

Green also said he thought “market changes” played a role in why Kittrell decided not to move forward.

“Instead of just agreeing to help if a private developer comes along, the council is now interested in the city taking the lead in these discussions to consider a parking ramp for downtown,” Green said in an interview in March. “This is a big change because before we were really beholden to a private developer to come up with ideas.”

The council schedule on Monday starts at 5:20 p.m. and also includes other committee meetings.

One will focus on the results of the ban on setting off fireworks for three days – July 3, 4 and 5 – during certain hours, and possible changes to the policy.

The other two will address potential safety improvements along Sixth Street from Main to State Street, and a “clarification” to a reference the council made to staff about shared parking requirements in the newly adopted downtown zoning code .

Finalists could be announced in early October, and a second round of interviews would follow in mid-October, according to the city.

The regular business session will begin at 7:00 p.m. The Council will consider a number of points for approval:

Job classification and description for a new horticulturist position, previously estimated to cost the city $87,000. A $31,819 agreement with Lehman Trucking and Excavating to demolish six structures and clear trees at 4919 Hudson Road before the end of the year, now that the future widening of Ashworth Road from Hudson Road to Kara Way can move forward after the litigation delayed the problem.

A preliminary and final plat to accommodate a 19-duplex expansion of the Western Housing Communities on the north and south sides of Wild Rye Way between Prairie Parkway and Bluebell Road.