By Zach Weigel
Construction broke ground last month in the Riverfront Crossings District, and some locals are looking forward to an addition that’s been a long time coming.
At the intersection of Court and Linn Streets, workers began construction July 19 on a mixed-use development featuring a 14-story hotel and a 15-story apartment building.
“There’s never enough housing in Iowa City,” said Iowa City economic-development coordinator Wendy Ford.
With the new development, however, she believes that problem can be addressed.
Ford said ever since a tornado ripped through Iowa City in 2006 and forced St. Patrick’s Church to relocate, the city has looked for someone to build on the vacant lot.
“Initially, we had a specific purpose of parking in mind when we bought the land, [but] now that a parking ramp is being built at the corner of Harrison and Clinton Streets, we sent out a request for a second round of proposals and got a lot more interest,” Ford said.
When asked why the city decided to award CA Ventures of Chicago the development contract, Ford said she thinks the “proposal paid particular attention to the dynamics of the location and the architecture will be a good use for the site.”
CA Ventures could not be reached for comment.
This is not the first foray into student living for the company. It has numerous other properties similar to the RISE development in other college towns, although this is one of its bigger projects.
To boot, the company recently made a $1 million donation to the Affordable Housing Fund of Iowa City.
“We’ve been with CA since its infancy, and it’s a great firm to work with,” said architect Tom Pope of Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture. “The two towers are definitely separate buildings, but they flow together nicely.” The student-housing tower will be U-shaped for more outdoor space, and the hotel tower will be L-shaped.
There will also be two levels of parking included.
Pope said some of the specific features of the site will consist of a gracious amenities space on one floor of the student-housing building and some apartments will have outdoor, terraced space.
“Overall, it will be an interesting, active space,” he said, noting there will also be public seating in open areas of the plaza and numerous connection points that make the architecture aesthetically appealing.
“Honestly, I don’t see how there is a downside,” University of Iowa student Ryan Lee said. “I think the development will be a great use of an empty space and can bring economic growth to the area.
According to a report obtained from Chicago-based public-relations firm Taylor Johnson, once completed in the summer of 2018, the development will offer 332 furnished apartments, 151 hotel rooms, 25,000 square feet of office space, and 6,000 square feet for retail lease on the ground level.
The report also said the apartment complex will have secure package delivery, a doorman, and an HD video-surveillance system, a fitness center, rooftop deck with a spa, Jumbotron, and grilling stations in addition to numerous lounges for business, billiards, and studying.
Lee said he thinks this will be an advantage to the area.
“The convenience factor will be huge,” he said. “Housing downtown is at a premium, and this sounds like it will help dissipate a strained housing market.”