Lure4.2017

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Discovering the lure of the citY BY RUTH PAARMANN PHOTOS BY BEN KAPLAN
Area residents reflect on life in the heart of the Corridor’s cities PAGE 6 The Petersens enjoy relaxed loft living in the Bottleworks Loft Condominiums. PAGE 7 Since fall of last year, Shannon Beck and her son Willem have embraced the simplicity and perks of living near downtown Cedar Rapids. eady or not, the world is becoming more urban — and it seems the Corridor is ready. According to the World Health Organization’s Global Health Observatory data, the global urban population is expected to grow approximately 1.84 percent per year from 2015-2020. Across the Corridor, the residents reflect diverse populations. Retired people, young professionals, empty nesters and single parents all cite various reasons for moving to — and loving — the urban lifestyle. Shannon Beck, a single mom and life coach, moved from the home where she grew up on Cedar Rapids’ northeast side to a unit in Village Lofts last fall. With an office in the Cherry Building, her eyes were open to all that downtown had to offer. “I always wanted to experience loft-style living. With a busy life, I love that I don’t have to take care of the lawn or snow,” she said. “And we love being near downtown.” She and her son, Willem, enjoy riding their scooters around town, and Ms. Beck likes being close to lunch meeting options and the gym. “I like the views of the river and the vintage Quaker Oats sign. And who doesn’t love stone counters and stainless appliances?” she noted of the amenities in her unit. Another plus: heated indoor parking. While she now drives Willem to school every day, they truly enjoy their commute together. Historic haven Across the Cedar River in the Bottleworks Loft Condominiums, Cathy and Tom Petersen gave in to their lifelong interest in having a cool, historic urban space. Having lived near Omaha, they were intrigued by the warehouse conversions there. In 2015, as their kids left the nest, they moved out of their Crescent Street home in southeast Cedar Rapids and into two condos they combined into one customized living space. “We’ve been downtown people for years,” said Mr. Petersen, who has worked at various downtown companies. “We go out to eat, go to the theater, CSPS, the farmers’ market — we have always come downtown for everything,” said Ms. Petersen, who owns Wit’s End in Marion. The couple appreciates their home’s history. “It’s on the National Register and there was a bakery on this floor,” said Mr. Petersen, who serves on the condominium’s homeowner’s association board. The couple considered buying an acreage, but found the scale of maintenance daunting. They don’t miss snow removal or lawn care, plus they use less gas, as Tom walks to work when he can. When remodeling the units, they ensured that their college-aged kids would have awesome rooms. Plus, they added loft seating and office areas. > LUREOF THE CITY 7
Page 1 and 2: LUREOF THE CITY Inside: Featured Fa
Page 3 and 4: The Landing II COMING SPRING 2018 R
Page 5: CONTENTS 6 Discovering the Lure of
Page 9 and 10: Just like you, we chose the Corrido
Page 11 and 12: The Metropolitan 450 First St. SW,
Page 13 and 14: Pre-approve your mortgage FASTER wi
Page 15 and 16: Sabin Townhomes 509 S. Dubuque St.,
Page 17 and 18: O T After 87 years of serving thous
Page 19 and 20: When the Row Houses on Second were
Page 21 and 22: REASON TO LIVE DOWNTOWN #34: CLOSE
Page 23 and 24: the electric fireplace in the livin
Page 25 and 26: David and Kathy Gimer.
Page 27 and 28: “In 2013, we talked about investi
Page 29 and 30: IN PERSON here’s an ‘odd couple
Page 31 and 32: helping your business make the righ
Page 33 and 34: Thinking about BUYING or SELLING a
Page 35 and 36: Randy Miller is honored to have rep
Page 37 and 38: Other tips to help with a move from
Page 39: Let us make your space extraordinar

Lure4.2017

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