OPTIONS FOR REBUILDING CITY FACILITIES
- Return to existing buildings as they were at the time of the flood, with required flood mitigation and building code updates.
- Return to existing buildings as they were at the time of the flood, with sustainability and functional improvements.
- Consider new buildings, alternative locations and the possibility of co-locating various programs together.
- Reoccupy another existing building.
Six city facilities under review are the Veteran’s Memorial Building, Public Works Building, Fleet Maintenance Facility, Animal Care & Control Center, Central Fire Station and Main Public Library plus four potential city facility concepts: Community Safety Center, Neighborhood Centers, Intermodal Transportation Facility and the former United States Courthouse.
Thies presented extensive social, economic and environmental evaluation criteria that have been developed to determine which of the four options is best for each of the six facilities and the potential facilities.
Under social criteria, does the option promote better service and strengthen the vibrancy of the community and does it provide an environment that allows employees to do their best work? Economically, what will the initial cost be to the community and the ongoing cost to operate the building for the next 50 years, what programs could be used to help pay for the facility and what will the impact of the building be on the surrounding area. Environmentally, is the site a contaminated, rehabilitated or new site? How energy efficient is the facility and does the location provide multiple transportation options?
The Veterans’ Memorial Building which housed the City Council and several departments before the flood presents a number of problems if it is to be used again to house administration and departments that deliver city services. The building has a total of 121,880 square feet. Only 36,864 square feet (30.3%) is usable space unaffected by the Flood of 2008. An additional 31,162 square feet (25.5%) is occupied by the building auditorium and an additional 53,834 (44.2%) square feet is usable for non-critical functions but was flooded in 2008. Existing programs will not fit back into “non-flooded” space.
There are a number of things that must be considered including the initial cost of reconstruction, capital costs, operational costs, flood insurance requirements, potential savings from co-location of programs/services, city personnel needs and public parking needs. The cost of renovation could be approximately $39 million with most of that amount funded by FEMA, but over the next 50 years when ongoing costs and flood insurance are added, the total cost may not differ materially from an all New City Hall.
This week’s open houses are intended to prompt input from citizens and show the complexity of the variables that are part of making decisions about the city’s flood-damaged buildings. They will feature options for rebuilding City facilities and grouping City services and programs.
Our Next Meeting's Program will be:
MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2009
CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL
JIM PROSSER, LOIS BUNTZ & PEGGY WHITWORTH
CEDAR RAPIDS RECOVERY & REINVESTMENT COORDINATING TEAM
UPCOMING RCofCR PROGRAMS & EVENTS:
August 31, 2009 - Dennis Henderson, HH Ventures.
September 7, 2009 - NO ROTARY IN OBSERVANCE OF THE LABOR DAY WEEKEND.
September 14, 2009 - Erikka Benhart - Summit Schools.
September 21, 2009 - Greg Eyerly, Cedar Rapids Flood Czar.
September 28, 2009 - Panel on Status of the Paramount Theatre & Five Seasons Center.
October 5, 2009 - Chamber/Priority One/Economic Development.
October 12, 2009 - Breakouts at Member Businesses (carrying on the tradition of the early history of Rotary International).
October 19, 2009 - District Governor Gerald Retzloff.
October 26, 2009 - Cedar Rapids Candidate Forum.
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