‘State of The District’ highlights 15 years, looks to future

It may seem like a distant memory now, but after the flood of 2008, the Czech Village and New Bohemia neighborhoods in Cedar Rapids were on the ropes, and the future seemed uncertain. Since The District: Czech Village & New Bohemia was founded in 2009, however, the two neighborhoods have collectively seen $146 million of private investment, and the city of Cedar Rapids has contributed another $115 million in flood protection, pavement, streetscaping and other infrastructure improvements. That success over the past 15 years was celebrated April 23 as an estimated 160 supporters gathered for the fifth annual State of the DIstrict luncheon at The Olympic South Side Theater, one of the many establishments that emerged in the post-flood landscape. “There’s a lot of people that have dreams,” District board president Jeff Morrow said during his remarks at the event. “Anybody can have a dream. But you people actually did it. That's unusual, because most people don’t.” The 2008 flood destroyed or damaged nearly every building in The District, Mr. Morrow noted. “If you looked at this place in 2008 or 2008, we didn’t know what was going to happen. It was a disaster, literally. But people had an idea that this could be something better, that it could come back, and look at us today. That's the power of collective action, public and private (sectors) coming together to build a strong community.” Carol Lilly, downtown development specialist for the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Main Street Iowa program, noted that when she reviewed the Czech Village and New Bohemia application for Main Street Iowa designation, flood recovery was listed as a short-term goal. “What that did show us was the real commitment from the people here in this room and in this community to get things done,” Ms. Lilly said. She lauded The District’s success in implementing Main Street Iowa’s four-point framework – design, organization, economic vitality and promotional events – and noted that The District has had five Main Street Iowa challenge grant winners and four finalists in the Open for Business competition in the past 15 years. “Percentage wise, you are ahead of the game for many (Main Street Iowa) communities that have been around even longer,” Ms. Lilly said. Other key performance metrics shared at the luncheon indicate that from 2009 to 2023, The District has seen:

• 164 businesses started or expanded, resulting in a net gain of 670 jobs;
• 108 building projects have been completed;
• 49 buildings or businesses have transferred ownership; and
• 33,217 volunteer hours contributed, equating to $933,000 of donated time in today’s dollars.

Leaders also highlighted some of the district’s flagship developments in recent years, including the remodeling of the African American Museum of Iowa, the NewBo City Market and the NewBo Lofts housing project. Monica Vernon, administrator of The District’s Self-Supporting Municipal Improvement District (SSMID), also outlined some of the projects planned for this summer, including the unveiling of two murals on the Fulton Lofts building on Third Street in New Bohemia and the completion of the Novak Plaza, a central gathering space in the heart of Czech Village.

Ann Poe, The District’s program manager, then recognized Anne Armitage, co-owner of Moss Plant Shop in Czech Village, as Volunteer of the Year for her efforts to advance the planting of 26 trees in the two neighborhoods. The Robert Chadima Visionary Awards were presented to Ellen Kleckner, executive director of the Iowa Ceramics Center and Glass Studio, and LaNisha Cassell, executive director of the African American Museum of Iowa.

Ms. Poe also shared memories of Mary Kay McGrath, a longtime supporter and developer of Village businesses such as Cafe Saint Pio and the Sweet Mercantile Exchange, who passed away Feb. 23. “Everywhere you look, Mary Kay’s influence can be seen as a harbinger of a past heritage of Czech immigrants coming back to life in the buildings, the businesses, the artwork and the people of Czech Village she touched,” Ms. Poe said. “Rest in peace, angel of the Village. You've earned your wings.”