The "Gather Iowa" re-envisions Coralville's southeastern district. CREDIT RAEL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
A resolution approving amendments to the preliminary plat and PUD-A site plan for Gather Iowa, a proposed mixed-use development eyed for Coralville, passed unanimously during the city’s council meeting Jan. 28. The latest proposal closely mirrors the original vision, with a slight reduction in size – now two acres smaller. Additionally, a future phase originally […]
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A resolution approving amendments to the preliminary plat and PUD-A site plan for Gather Iowa, a proposed mixed-use development eyed for Coralville, passed unanimously during the city's council meeting Jan. 28.
The latest proposal closely mirrors the original vision, with a slight reduction in size – now two acres smaller. Additionally, a future phase originally planned for a mixed-use building has been designated for a future hotel user.
First proposed in 2022, Gather Iowa is set to transform a 10-acre site near the southwest corner of the First Avenue and Second Street intersection into a hub of retail, dining and residential space, with a focus on “inclusive and walkable living,” according to council documents.
Gather Iowa is a 10-acre redevelopment of the southeast commercial district subarea. CREDIT CITY OF CORALVILLE
The proposed site is located in Coralville’s southeast commercial district subarea, a key entry point to the city from the University of Iowa. The city’s community plan characterizes the area as “auto dependent,” citing “dated strip malls, poor site design, and an overabundance of curb cuts and surface parking.”
The memorandum in Tuesday’s meeting agenda emphasized that redevelopment will require “expansive, coordinated planning and design” to enhance connectivity to the university and the broader region. The plan also identifies subareas as challenge sites and “highly visible areas identified for potential growth which would provide important economic, esthetic and regional benefits if improved upon or redeveloped.”
Relocation programs proposed for displaced businesses
Several city council members vocally opposed the project in 2022, fearing it could displace residents in affordable housing and disrupt underrepresented small business owners.
“We do understand that there are concerns about displacing existing businesses in the area, and Greater IC has discussed potential relocation programs with city staff and the developer and our organization would be happy to support these efforts through program design and implementation, should they be financially supported by the city or the developer,” said Mackenzie DeRoo, senior director of advocacy for Greater Iowa City Inc., an economic development agency covering Johnson County.
Noting that the area falls in Greater Iowa City’s strategic investment district along Fifth Avenue, Ms. DeRoo said it has the potential to be a “catalyst for revitalization and inclusive economic development.”
“We are excited about the positive impact it could have, not only in our designated strategic investment district, but for the entire city of Coralville,” she said.
Mix of retail, residence
Dallas, Texas-based Rael Corporation plans to construct two one-story multi-tenant buildings designated for retail and restaurant use. One of the larger components of the project will be a 5 ½ -story parking garage wrapped by a six-story multifamily building, with the residential portion offering 295 units along with amenities, including a pool and courtyard in the interior.
Another lot will house a multifamily building with 34 dwelling units, designated as affordable housing, while a future phase is reserved for a potential hotel development, though it was not included in Tuesday’s approval request. The site was incorporated into the master plan to assess parking demand and feasibility, council documents stated.
The project includes 730 parking stalls, exceeding the 669 spaces the developer anticipates needing based on similar projects. However, the plan does not fully comply with city code parking requirements, which mandates significantly more spaces. Strict adherence to the code would create a 249-stall deficit, including 133 spaces designated solely for guest parking.
“In order to create vibrant, dense, walkable, pedestrian oriented neighborhoods and developments, especially the southeast commercial district, parking should not be the principal design consideration,” council documents stated. “This is not to say parking is not important; rather, it needs to take into consideration urban design and mixture of uses, market requirements, and desired district outcomes in order to support better design and land use.”
The resolution to approve the amendments passed 5-0. Moving forward, the developer will provide detailed landscape and architectural plans for further city review.