“I'm talking about units that are truly affordable, and I hope that we can, as we look at other sections of the development, come up with some concrete solutions for how we can preserve some of that.”įoster said the city will need to get creative. “I'm not talking about condos that are $200,000 or $180,000,” Foster said. “If there were more residents than that, I may have a concern.”įoster, who doesn’t get a vote as mayor, said she can’t support a development that doesn’t preserve “true affordability” in the area.
“Thirty-four residents, I believe, could easily be accommodated through affordable opportunities elsewhere in the community,” Johnson said. Johnson said he couldn’t speak to the demographics and income level in the area, but there are currently 34 rental permits held by one property holder.
Concerns about affordability, displacementĬoncerns have been raised during the last two council meetings about affordability and that the redevelopment may displace minority-owned businesses and residents living in affordable housing. That and other details would be reviewed by city council at a later time when a follow-up site plan is submitted for the project. There are no building elevations at this time, Johnson said. “We tried to design something that is eclectic, meaning different building heights, building types, mix of retail (and) restaurant.” “What we really aim to do is create a destination - a neighborhood within a neighborhood,” Rael said. Graeme Rael, president and CEO of Rael Development Corporation, told the council in late July the proposal intends to build a place where people can “visit and stay a while.” The buildings would be located one foot above the base flood elevation, Johnson said. There are 905 parking stalls proposed, with 568 of those in a parking structure. Dallas-based Rael Development Corporation is working on the plan with Chicago-based BKV Group and local firm Shive-Hattery.Ī landscape concept vision by BKV Group highlights various amenities, including a fire lounge, outdoor dining, entertainment zone, pools, outdoor kitchen, spa and more. The mixed-use development called Gather Iowa includes multifamily residential, retail and restaurant space. “It's going to take months and months to continue to address each of the individual pieces to this puzzle.” Gather Iowa proposal “It's not something that's going to happen overnight,” Hayworth said. Wholesale redevelopment - rather than parcel by parcel - is what’s needed in the area, Johnson added. “Redevelopment of this area will require expansive coordinated planning and design in order to strengthen those connections to the University of Iowa, as well as the region,” Johnson said. A 2014 community plan described the area as auto dependent with dated strip malls and an overabundance of curb cuts. The area is currently commercial with some residential and industrial uses, said Dave Johnson, the city’s community development director. According to the city’s 2017 master plan, the site “possesses rare and distinctive attributes in relation to location, prominence, and an international cultural heritage and presence.” The 12 acres of land are part of a larger 17-acre site called the southeast commercial area. You will begin to receive our Daily On Iowa Politics updates.
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