Redevelopment of Higley Mansion as residential substance abuse treatment facility progressing

The redevelopment of the former Higley Mansion in southeast Cedar Rapids to serve as a residential substance abuse treatment facility is moving forward. At its regular meeting Nov. 19, the Cedar Rapids City Council approved a resolution authorizing city incentives for the project. Under the plan, which received approval from the Cedar Rapids Planning Commission in April, the former Higley Mansion at 860 17th St. SE, which was most recently used as a senior living facility before closing a couple of years ago, would be converted into a residential treatment facility for adults dealing with substance addiction issues. The renovation of the new facility – identified as Radix Recovery on renderings provided to the council – is estimated to cost $4.6 million. The project will include remodeling the existing 27,000-square-foot building, adding an extra 3,000 square feet and revamping the property’s landscaping, including removing or replacing dead trees. The council approved a standard development incentive for the project, which provides a 10-year, 100% rebate of increased taxes generated by the project. The project is expected to generate $525,000 in total taxes over a 10-year period, of which $145,000 will be rebated. Jacob Christenson of Cedar Rapids-based Covenant Family Solutions, which would operate the facility, said in April it will include 35 to 45 beds, with about 80% reserved for residential inpatient treatment and the other 20% for intensive outpatient or partial hospitalization programs. “What we’re looking to do is to create an upscale, calming therapeutic environment for individuals to work on substance use disorders, and be able to unlock that potential that they have, to be able to get back to their lives and regain control,” Mr. Christenson said. He also said that while the facility would be a “closed campus,” residents would come to the facility willingly to receive treatment. “That does not mean that they are locked down,” he said. “It simply means that when you’re working on addiction treatments, you’re focused on that, and that is your primary concern. So there is no free time to go walk around the neighborhood … this is a voluntary program. This is not a post-incarceration or any type of transitional living. This is someone that could be a nurse, it could be someone in this room, someone that needs help, and they want to be helped. They’re voluntarily coming to this facility.”

Councilmember Ashley Vanorny said the significance of the new treatment center “can't be understated” as part of an effort to address the national opioid epidemic, which has “devastated every community in the U.S. on every single socioeconomic level. “The reality that we get to take care of Cedar Rapidians close to home and provide them a nice space so that they can figure things out, get the support that they need, and then hopefully get back on with their lives is really significant, and I'm just proud of being able to have this resource in our community.” Councilmember Dale Todd noted that a project like this could generate some controversy, but that he felt comfortable supporting it with city incentives because of the property’s historic significance. “It takes a property that was, historically, for a long time, a blighted property right in the heart of the neighborhood, and based on the historical nature of the project, back when it was initially done, in order to renovate this project, I think it would be cost-prohibitive for anybody to really do it in a way that added value to the neighborhood and to the properties adjacent,” Mr. Todd said. “So in this case, I think it makes sense.” The city considered other uses for the property, including by nonprofits, but those projects wouldn’t generate city taxes, Mr. Todd noted, “and it would be tough for the city to make a financial commitment to a project like that.” “I think it's a win-win for a lot of us,” he added, “and I appreciate the sentiment of compassion of the neighbors after the presentation by the developers, and I appreciate the developers who made that presentation to the neighborhood (so) that there was an understanding there and willingness to work together.” The new facility is expected to create 40 to 50 new jobs, according to council documents. Construction is expected to begin in January 2025 and be completed by August 2025.