Above is a quick mapping diagram I made for a group case study project a few weeks ago. It describes the relative size and location of our case, the University of Iowa Athletic Facilities Complex to the rest of campus and within the larger municipality. I find representation and diagramming of spatial relationships and place very interesting. By simplifying and abstracting existing space, certain qualities may be presented more clearly than if presented so literally.
The third CR Transit Study open house was held this week on Tuesday, Nov. 24. I attended the earlier session from 1-3pm at the African American Museum. Both consultants Joseph Kern and Bob Bourne were there, as well as Sushil Nepal from Community Development / Corridor MPO. It was good to finally meet Bob, who was the director of CyRide for 25 years and made it what it is today. About 20 members of the public were in attendance, including a handful of concerned teachers and students from Prairie. Mayor Kay Halloran also made an appearance.
I was pleased to see recommendations for system improvements as well as route changes. Many of these recommendations echo changes I have suggested in previous posts to make the system more legible and user-friendly. Regarding marketing, operations, and fleet, a few recommendations include: a new system map, real-time bus tracking, getting on Twitter, and displaying a route number, route name, and destination on all buses.
Read my entire review of route changes over at the Cedar Rapids Bus Party blog.
The Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce intends to break ground this spring on a new three-story Regional Economic Commerce Center in downtown Cedar Rapids, with completion expected in early 2011. The modern, glass building will replacing the current bland, one-story Chamber of Commerce office at the corner of First Ave and 5th Street NE.
The new economic center was first proposed back in March as a 60,000 square foot, six-story building to house the chamber, convention and visitors bureau, and a number of other commerce-related organizations under one roof. Instead it will be built as a 30,000 square-foot, three-story building. The overall design appears to stay the same, simply reduced to three stories.
Despite the downsize, this is still a positive change for downtown. With the proposed convention center development and upgrades to the US Cellular Center, along with renovations currently underway at Theatre Cedar Rapids, this area along First Avenue through downtown should be seeing some major improvements over the next few years.
I took this photo on my cellphone a couple weeks ago at the endpoint of Red West. This stop is in front of Ames Middle School, across the street from apartment complexes that house hundreds of college students. For certainly one of the busier bus stops in Ames, you’d think there would be a sidewalk.
Tomorrow citizens of Cedar Rapids will choose our next mayor and three council seats. I am supporting Brian Fagan for mayor, because he has the leadership, understanding, and passion Cedar Rapids needs.
Brian has exhibited strong leadership as an at-large council member the past four years. He stepped up during the flood, taking charge as the voice for Cedar Rapids, and has represented our city positively and professionally to visitors, national media, and dignitaries. As exhibited in his positive, articulate campaign, he stands by his decisions and has results to back them up.
Brian Fagan is the only candidate who has demonstrated to me a real understanding of the complexities at hand with the flood recovery and current city operations. This should be expected as he’s the only candidate currently on the council who has been involved with the city’s post-flood operations and decisions for moving forward. He understands the importance of quality of life (arts, culture, recreation, etc.) to job growth and retention. Brian has given a sensible, honest response to every contested issue brought to him by citizens and his opponents Ron Corbett and P.T. Larson.
One major issue of contention has been the city’s substantial use of “out-of-town consultants” since the flood. The firms with the largest pay out from the city have been New York-based Adjusters International, and Watertown, MA-based Sasaki Associates. (Gazette 9/20/09) Additionally, locally-based OPN Architects is now playing a major role in future city facilities planning.
Adjusters International was hired to assist the city with maximizing financial recovery from insurance claims and FEMA grants. So far an additional $75 million has been secured for rebuilding of city facilities. Sasaki Associates was actually hired one month before the flood to design a riverfront redevelopment plan for the city. Their task quickly changed to developing a redevelopment and reinvestment plan for flood-ravished areas, through an extensive public participation process. We now have a comprehensive action plan for redevelopment and community improvements over the next ten to fifteen years.
Finally Cedar Rapids, more than ever before, needs a leader who loves this city – one who’s engaged in its history and passionate for its future. Brian Fagan is that candidate. He is forward-thinking, enthusiastic, and “committed to building one great Cedar Rapids.” Please support Brian Fagan for mayor on November 3, for the future of Cedar Rapids.
