Why is traffic not returning to Downtown after the Flood?

The Gazette on July 25, 2009 has a prominent front page story by Dave DeWitte titled : "Ground Zero: Vacant storefronts are a sore spot downtown as rest of area recovers." The story was headlined by the above picture. Link

The story starts out talking about window dressing, but it will be challenging to see the Downtown recover quickly, when one of the major drivers in the Downtown is missing. One of the missing drivers in the Downtown, "Ground Zero" is government.

One can just walk through US Bank during the week in Downtown Cedar Rapids to see the absence of many of the patrons of the Witwer Building, which Linn County has not moved back into. Many of the former Witwer Building patrons aren't close enough anymore.

The City of Cedar Rapids has a temporary branch of the Library back into the Armstrong Center, but other than that both City of Cedar Rapids and Linn County governments have headed outside the core of the City, "Ground Zero."

There is good news for the Downtown. The challenge is many of those projects are a few years away. The new Federal Courthouse will be an outstanding addition to the south edge of the expanded Downtown District.

"The Cedar Rapids Downtown District, which hung many of the ground-floor
window coverings, estimates that 60 percent of the ground-floor spaces in
downtown Cedar Rapids have been reoccupied since the flood. About 82
percent of the downtown businesses." - The Gazette

The number of businesses back may not tell the whole story. What is the percentage of square footage back in business on the ground-floor? What about the civic and governmental organizations not back?

"Many vacant civic and government buildings, from the public library to City
Hall, add to the solemn street-level view." - The Gazette

The Gazette story visiting with various people in the Downtown.

“It bothers me to hear them say most of the businesses are back, when
clearly they’re not.” - Dave Dennis , a longtime employee of United
Fire & Casualty

There may be reasons why Dennis is skeptical that 60 percent of the ground-floor businesses have returned. The impact of civic and government organizations, who have not returned yet. Some government operations may not return at all the City Center. The impact of government moved to Westdale and Aegon play a major role in the flow of traffic right now in "Ground Zero."

There is good news as commercial real estate broker and former mayor candidate Scott Olson pointed out.

"Olson ticks off a long list of buildings that have been fully renovated —
the U.S. Bank building, the Principal building, the Armstrong Centre, the United
Fire & Casualty building, the Wells Fargo Bank buildings and the American
building." - The Gazette

By the way, we often utilize the U.S. Bank building for bank services and for Emil's Deli in the basement, which has returned, if you haven't taken the opportunity to check it out. We appreciate the investment U.S. Bank has made in our community.

The government certainly can do more to help create momentum for "Ground Zero." Both Linn County government and the City of Cedar Rapids can play a role in rebuilding momentum Downtown by returning service centers. Further, elected officials need to realize and prioritize the impact government services play on traffic to the Downtown businesses.

The delivery of government services plays an important role in the traffic Downtown, as the empty buildings today point out. Many businesses returned out of pride or just economic survival. It is important the government returns, as well. They have an impact on people traffic.

Robin Tucker