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LUREOF<br />
THE CITY<br />
Inside:<br />
Featured Faces & Spaces<br />
Enticing Urban Living Options<br />
Developer Profiles<br />
Design & Rightsizing Trends
Riverview Plaza<br />
COMING SPRING 2018<br />
(319) 338-4100 425 E. OAKDALE BLVD., SUITE 101, CORALVILLE<br />
WATTSGROUP.COM
The Landing II<br />
COMING SPRING 2018<br />
Riverview Plaza<br />
Urban living at its finest, in the heart of<br />
Coralville. This vibrant Old Town neighborhood<br />
has all the lifestyle and community amenities<br />
you want with unique character and charm and<br />
offers commercial/retail space on the first floor.<br />
The Landing II<br />
Luxury condos and penthouses for lease or<br />
sale located above commercial/retail space<br />
in the up-and-coming Iowa River Landing.<br />
Be a part of this walkable urban experience<br />
with convenient transportation options.
FROM THE PUBLISHER<br />
Revisiting downtown<br />
It has been a year since we published our inaugural Lure of the City magazine on urban<br />
living in Iowa’s Creative Corridor, and it’s impressive to see just how much progress our<br />
cities have made since then.<br />
Major developments from the Depot in Cedar Rapids’ New Bohemia district to 808 on<br />
Fifth in Coralville are attracting tenants, the long-delayed Chauncey tower in Iowa City is<br />
finally underway, and new concepts proposed in downtown Cedar Rapids promise even<br />
more options in the coming years. Meanwhile, new restaurants, retail shops and cultural<br />
amenities in our core districts are making a truly walkable<br />
existence possible in the Creative Corridor.<br />
This progress is crucial to our future as a competitive,<br />
attractive region, and the main reason behind this publication.<br />
We here at the CBJ have set out to spotlight the best urban<br />
living our region has to offer and celebrate the people who are<br />
working hard to make it happen. At the same time, we hope to<br />
offer a counterpoint to those who say our region does not have<br />
enough to keep young professionals and retiring baby boomers<br />
in our communities.<br />
This year’s publication doubles down on many of the most<br />
popular features from last year’s edition, including glossy<br />
photo essays featuring local spaces, insightful interviews with<br />
developers and a look at emerging interior design trends, as<br />
curated by the Corridor’s leading design talents. We’ve also added a glimpse into a local<br />
developer’s adaptive reuse of the historic Mott Building in Cedar Rapids, and speak with a<br />
national expert on minimalism about “rightsizing” – a goal of many now moving downtown.<br />
We are confident this guide will continue to evolve and grow into an important<br />
resource for those interested in living the city life right here in Eastern Iowa. There are<br />
certainly plenty of developments to cover, and we hope you’ll follow us throughout the<br />
year ahead to keep track of them all.<br />
We are also excited to announce the launch of a spin-off magazine, called Lure of the<br />
Country, which will be published this fall. That concept will take the opposite approach of<br />
this magazine, spotlighting the Corridor’s more rustic and rural living options for those<br />
who gravitate to open spaces, as opposed to open shops.<br />
Whatever your inclination, we invite you to share your images and perspectives on<br />
life in the Corridor through our social media pages. Find us on Twitter, Facebook and<br />
Instagram, and add your voice to the conversation.<br />
APRIL 2017<br />
Chief Executive Officer<br />
& Publisher<br />
John F. Lohman<br />
Vice President<br />
Aspen N. Lohman<br />
Chief Operating Officer<br />
& Associate Publisher<br />
Andrea Rhoades<br />
Editor & Chief Content Officer<br />
Adam Moore<br />
Writers<br />
Chase Castle<br />
Dave DeWitte<br />
Cindy Hadish<br />
Angela Holmes<br />
Ruth Paarmann<br />
Photographers<br />
Emily Bettridge<br />
Brian Draeger<br />
Ben Kaplan<br />
Shuva Rahim<br />
Graphic Design Manager<br />
Becky Lyons<br />
Graphic Designer<br />
Julia Druckmiller<br />
Media Consultants<br />
Kris Lacina<br />
Kelly Meyer<br />
John F. Lohman<br />
Chief Executive Officer & Publisher<br />
Corridor Business Journal<br />
Event Media Consultant<br />
Rhonda Roskos<br />
Marketing & Distribution Manager<br />
Jean Suckow<br />
Event Marketing Coordinator<br />
Ashley Levitt<br />
LUREOF<br />
THE CITY<br />
ON THE COVER<br />
Two years ago, Cedar Rapidians Tom and Cathy Petersen<br />
made the move from Crescent Street to the NewBo district.<br />
Read their perspective and those of three other diverse<br />
urban residents starting on page 6.<br />
Contents are registered to Corridor Media<br />
Group. Reproductions or other use, in whole<br />
or in part, of the contents of the publication<br />
without permission is strictly prohibited.<br />
2345 Landon Road, Ste. 100<br />
North Liberty, IA 52317<br />
319.665.NEWS<br />
www.corridorbusiness.com<br />
Inside:<br />
Featured Faces & Spaces<br />
Enticing Urban Living Options<br />
Developer Profiles<br />
Design & Rightsizing Trends<br />
4 LUREOF THE CITY
CONTENTS<br />
6<br />
Discovering the<br />
Lure of the City<br />
Residents rethink downtown<br />
10<br />
Urban Living<br />
A look at some of<br />
the Corridor’s existing<br />
urban living options<br />
14<br />
On the Horizon<br />
Urban projects on the rise<br />
16<br />
In Person<br />
Steve Emerson<br />
18<br />
High Design<br />
Spaces<br />
George Hannah<br />
24<br />
High Design<br />
Spaces<br />
Kathy and David Gimer<br />
29<br />
In Person<br />
Blaine Thomas<br />
and Randy Miller<br />
30<br />
Adaptive Reuse<br />
Mott Lofts save the past<br />
32<br />
Design Trends<br />
Corridor designers share<br />
the look of the city<br />
36<br />
Rightsizing 101<br />
Organizing for the<br />
next chapter of life<br />
LUREOF THE CITY 5
Discovering<br />
the lure of the citY<br />
BY RUTH PAARMANN PHOTOS BY BEN KAPLAN
Area residents reflect<br />
on life in the heart of the<br />
Corridor’s cities<br />
PAGE 6<br />
The Petersens enjoy relaxed loft living<br />
in the Bottleworks Loft Condominiums.<br />
PAGE 7<br />
Since fall of last year, Shannon Beck and her<br />
son Willem have embraced the simplicity and<br />
perks of living near downtown Cedar Rapids.<br />
eady or not, the world is becoming<br />
more urban — and it seems the Corridor<br />
is ready. According to the World<br />
Health Organization’s Global Health<br />
Observatory data, the global urban<br />
population is expected to grow approximately<br />
1.84 percent per year from 2015-2020.<br />
Across the Corridor, the residents reflect<br />
diverse populations. Retired people, young<br />
professionals, empty nesters and single parents<br />
all cite various reasons for moving to —<br />
and loving — the urban lifestyle.<br />
Shannon Beck, a single mom and life coach,<br />
moved from the home where she grew up<br />
on Cedar Rapids’ northeast side to a unit in<br />
Village Lofts last fall. With an office in the<br />
Cherry Building, her eyes were open to all that<br />
downtown had to offer.<br />
“I always wanted to experience loft-style living.<br />
With a busy life, I love that I don’t have to<br />
take care of the lawn or snow,” she said. “And<br />
we love being near downtown.”<br />
She and her son, Willem, enjoy riding their<br />
scooters around town, and Ms. Beck likes being<br />
close to lunch meeting options and the gym.<br />
“I like the views of the river and the vintage<br />
Quaker Oats sign. And who doesn’t love stone<br />
counters and stainless appliances?” she noted<br />
of the amenities in her unit.<br />
Another plus: heated indoor parking. While<br />
she now drives Willem to school every day,<br />
they truly enjoy their commute together.<br />
Historic haven<br />
Across the Cedar River in the Bottleworks Loft<br />
Condominiums, Cathy and Tom Petersen gave<br />
in to their lifelong interest in having a cool,<br />
historic urban space. Having lived near Omaha,<br />
they were intrigued by the warehouse conversions<br />
there. In 2015, as their kids left the nest,<br />
they moved out of their Crescent Street home<br />
in southeast Cedar Rapids and into two condos<br />
they combined into one customized living space.<br />
“We’ve been downtown people for years,”<br />
said Mr. Petersen, who has worked at various<br />
downtown companies.<br />
“We go out to eat, go to the theater, CSPS,<br />
the farmers’ market — we have always come<br />
downtown for everything,” said Ms. Petersen,<br />
who owns Wit’s End in Marion.<br />
The couple appreciates their home’s history.<br />
“It’s on the National Register and there was<br />
a bakery on this floor,” said Mr. Petersen, who<br />
serves on the condominium’s homeowner’s<br />
association board.<br />
The couple considered buying an acreage, but<br />
found the scale of maintenance daunting. They<br />
don’t miss snow removal or lawn care, plus they<br />
use less gas, as Tom walks to work when he can.<br />
When remodeling the units, they ensured<br />
that their college-aged kids would have awesome<br />
rooms. Plus, they added loft seating and<br />
office areas. ><br />
LUREOF THE CITY 7
“It’s very fun not to be constrained by size,” said<br />
Ms. Petersen of their 16-foot ceilings and ample brick<br />
walls that allow for large works of art.<br />
Other than the occasional trains they say the place<br />
is amazingly quiet. The only thing missing for these<br />
urbanites is a grocery store within walking distance.<br />
Smooth Transition<br />
For Ednamae and Ken Fisher, their apartment in the<br />
Iowa River Landing provides the perfect transition<br />
from their north Coralville home to one they are<br />
building in North Carolina. Mr. Fisher, CFO of University<br />
of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, retires in July.<br />
“It provides a bridge between our old house and<br />
a new house. It has what we need and it’s easy to<br />
maintain,” Mr. Fisher said.<br />
The new, move-in ready unit was a big draw. Mr.<br />
Fisher is also closer to work, and Mrs. Fisher has easy<br />
access to shopping at Von Maur and other boutiques.<br />
“The restaurants here are great. We like to people<br />
watch, especially when we can sit outdoors,” Mrs.<br />
Fisher said. “It’s a friendly, social environment here.”<br />
They also enjoy the trails, although Mrs. Fisher often<br />
walks with friends in their former neighborhood.<br />
One of the difficulties was choosing furnishings to<br />
fit. This meant that Mrs. Fisher’s grand piano went<br />
to a friend’s house until their big move.<br />
Another change was to their grocery shopping.<br />
“We shop every day now, and that way, we don’t<br />
have to bring big bags of groceries back upstairs,”<br />
Mrs. Fisher said.<br />
“We market shop, like in Europe or on the East<br />
River in New York City,” Mr. Fisher added.<br />
ABOVE: The Petersens love having large walls in<br />
their loft condo for hanging vivid artwork.<br />
Carefree Retiree<br />
For Suzanne Lagina, downtown Iowa City has been<br />
the perfect place to retire. She now lives close to<br />
siblings in Cedar Rapids, and her Plaza Towers condo<br />
is in proximity to almost everything she needs.<br />
“I wanted to be able to walk to as many places as<br />
possible,” she said.<br />
When moving from Chapel Hill, Ms. Lagina considered<br />
Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, but the density<br />
of activities in Iowa City eventually won out.<br />
“I volunteer at the hospitals, both of which are walkable<br />
from downtown. I like the whole atmosphere and<br />
having the market, gym, swimming pool, library and<br />
Senior Center all so close. It is the perfect location.”<br />
One of the challenges was downsizing.<br />
“It’s something you need a reason to do, but it’s<br />
all good. It helps you see what you truly like and<br />
need,” she said.<br />
Ms. Lagina loves her views of the city, the Ped<br />
Mall and spectacular sunsets. And she can always<br />
find something to do, from FilmScene to the city’s<br />
annual jazz and arts festivals.<br />
“It’s a constant feeling of excitement and being<br />
alive,” she said. “I didn’t know a soul when I moved<br />
here. Being able to have all of these places to go and<br />
develop new friendships and groups, like the tennis<br />
team and dancing team, the people at church and the<br />
volunteer activities — they helped me develop lots of<br />
new friends with similar and different backgrounds.” |<br />
8 LUREOF THE CITY
Just like you,<br />
we chose the Corridor as our home.<br />
www.millhisersmith.com 319-365-8611<br />
3100 Oakland Rd N.E. Cedar Rapids<br />
www.ufgins.com 800-332-7977<br />
118 Second Ave. SE Cedar Rapids
URBAN LIVING<br />
IN THE CORRIDOR<br />
Iowa’s Creative Corridor offers a variety of enticing urban living<br />
options, from apartments in unique historic structures to beautiful new<br />
construction in up-and-coming neighborhoods. Here’s a sampling.<br />
The Landing<br />
201 Ninth Ave., Coralville<br />
1 & 2 bedroom luxury apartments<br />
591-1,191 square feet<br />
$955-$1,695/month<br />
(319) 351-3931<br />
www.wattsgroup.com<br />
Set in the heart of Coralville’s Iowa River<br />
Landing, this four-story structure was<br />
completed in June 2016, and features 64<br />
one- and two-bedroom luxury apartments.<br />
Each unit is on a single level and<br />
features a variety of high-end finishes,<br />
including stainless steel appliances,<br />
upscale cabinetry and stone countertops.<br />
The bathrooms are tiled and include<br />
imported fixtures, while the attached<br />
patios/balconies allow residents to take in<br />
all the action around them. The building also includes garage<br />
parking on the first floor and elevator access to each level.<br />
In addition to its proximity to cafés, restaurants and boutique<br />
shopping – soon to include a Trader Joe’s – the location is also<br />
conveniently located next to Coralville’s Transit Intermodal<br />
Facility, which connects local and regional bus routes.<br />
The Depot<br />
460 12th Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids<br />
1 & 2 bedroom apartments and condominiums<br />
575-1,175 square feet<br />
$895-$1,495/month<br />
www.thedepot-cr.com<br />
Residential living options in Cedar Rapids’<br />
trendy NewBo district are expanding to include<br />
more live/work options, including luxury condos<br />
above the shops and offices in The Depot.<br />
The first building in the $18 million<br />
development was completed last year with 13<br />
rental units on the third floor, and the second<br />
building will be completed later this fall with 26<br />
rental units. Designed by Fusion Architects, the<br />
buildings have open-concept floor plans with<br />
luxury details including 10-foot ceilings, quartz<br />
kitchen countertops and tile bathroom floors.<br />
Renters have a choice of one-bedroom<br />
units starting at 575 square feet; two-bedroom,<br />
two-bath units starting at 875 square feet; and three-bed, two-bath units topping out at 1,175 square feet.<br />
Most of the units have private balconies, and all come with on-site parking, front load washer/dryer units<br />
and luxury vinyl tile flooring.<br />
All 13 of the rental condos in the first building have already been leased, with demand driven by nearby<br />
cultural and lifestyle amenities such as the NewBo City Market, CSPS and The Vault coworking space.
The Metropolitan<br />
450 First St. SW, Cedar Rapids<br />
1 & 2 bedroom apartments and condominiums<br />
643-2,600 square feet<br />
$995-$1,750/month; condos start at $300,000<br />
www.themetropolitancr.com<br />
Located across the street from the McGrath Amphitheater<br />
and overlooking the Cedar River, the Metropolitan<br />
offers a luxury lifestyle for owners and renters alike.<br />
Featuring owner-occupied penthouses on its top<br />
three floors, market-rate lofts below and Class A commercial<br />
space on its ground-floor, this new building from<br />
Hobart Historic Restoration aims to set a new standard<br />
for urban living in the Corridor. Each unit has been built<br />
around an open-floor plan and includes private balconies;<br />
on-site parking is included. Other amenities include<br />
granite countertops, full appliance packages, glass and<br />
tile showers, private floor access, a fitness center and<br />
smart energy and tech features.<br />
“It’s unique, it’s luxurious, and the views from every unit are unbelievable,” said developer B.J.<br />
Hobart. “To my knowledge, there’s no other residential building downtown with these river views.”<br />
Vizzi Media/Iowa Realty<br />
Plaza Towers<br />
201 S. Linn St., Iowa City<br />
Studio through 3 bedroom units<br />
550-4,300 square feet<br />
$1,750-$4,200/month<br />
www.moengroup.com/plaza.html<br />
Plaza Towers was one of the first developments in Iowa City to<br />
combine a robust mix of commercial tenants with upscale residential<br />
units, all in the center of Iowa City’s Pedestrian Mall.<br />
The building’s first six levels include a luxury hotel, conference<br />
center and banquet facility, restaurant, market and deli, center<br />
for holistic healing and massage therapy, a 6,000-square-foot roof<br />
terrace and a 24-hour health club. The Residences at Plaza Towers<br />
on the floors above serve up light-filled spaces, all with commanding<br />
views and generous private balconies. Tenants enter through a<br />
staffed lobby, with secure underground parking and resident-only<br />
elevator access also available.<br />
There are a few rental units in the building, but the vast majority<br />
are owner-occupied condos, said developer Marc Moen, of Moen<br />
Group. A 1,040-square-foot one bedroom unit is set to come on<br />
the market around $460,000, while a luxurious three-bedroom unit is<br />
currently listed at $1.36 million.<br />
LUREOF THE CITY 11
One University Place<br />
1300 Melrose Ave., University Heights<br />
1-4 bedroom condominiums<br />
981-2,264 square feet<br />
Starting at $315,000<br />
www.oneuniversityplace.com<br />
One University Place stands out for its energy-efficient and sustainable condominiums<br />
next to wooded ravines and rolling green space, and its unmatched proximity<br />
to the University of Iowa campus, UI Hospitals and Clinics and Kinnick Stadium.<br />
The two buildings and grounds designed by Neumann Monson Architects<br />
feature striking surroundings, sophisticated finishes and secure underground parking. Set back from Melrose<br />
Avenue by a wide, tree-lined promenade, the recently completed south building’s two upper floors feature<br />
24 condominiums. The building is welcoming its first commercial tenant, Maggie’s Farm Wood-Fired Pizza,<br />
which is set to open May 1.<br />
The five-story north building, scheduled to be complete by December, will have 80 condominiums. Its<br />
concierge services, including shuttle service, will benefit both buildings. Sustainability and comfort has also<br />
been a focus for One University Place’s design, with solar panels, high-end sound insulation and LED lighting.<br />
Smulekoff’s<br />
97 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids<br />
Studio & 1 bedroom apartments<br />
600-950 square feet<br />
$650-$750/month<br />
www.aspectinc.net<br />
The historic Smulekoff’s department store building on the banks of the Cedar River is<br />
restored and ready for its next life as the Corridor’s first “microaparment” development.<br />
Featuring 16 efficiency and 16 one-bedroom apartments across two floors, the building<br />
has been tailor-made for young professionals looking to live in the middle of the action.<br />
The apartments feature a variety of fully restored historic elements, including exposed<br />
wood timbers, wood floors and exposed brick on the walls, and many of the units offer<br />
stunning bird’s-eye views of the adjacent Cedar River. Amenities include in-unit washers<br />
and dryers, available indoor parking, and a coffee shop and wine lounge on the ground<br />
floor, making it ideal for those looking to stay close to home.<br />
“I have a lot of people calling me about this one,” said developer Steve Emerson. “You<br />
get some people who want a really big one bedroom, or who want the smaller efficiency<br />
[unit] because it’s looking over the river.”<br />
Riverview West<br />
629 S. Riverside Drive, Iowa City<br />
1-3 bedroom apartments<br />
686-1,462 square feet<br />
$762-$2,080/month<br />
www.hpmic.com<br />
As redevelopment brings new amenities to Riverside Drive in Iowa City,<br />
the new Riverview West apartments provide a wide range of affordable<br />
living options with a luxury feel.<br />
Riverview West opened in the fall of 2016, one of the first living<br />
options in the area with rooftop solar power. It was developed by<br />
Riverview West LLC, a partnership of Kevin Hanick and Kineret Zabner.<br />
Mr. Hanick believes the location within walking distance of the<br />
University of Iowa campus will appeal to a range of renters. The location also brings plenty of convenience for socializing and<br />
dining, with a new Bruegger’s Bagel Bakery across Riverside Drive, and a new Kum & Go Marketplace next door.<br />
Apartments include upscale touches, such as quartz countertops, balconies and stainless steel appliances. Among the shared<br />
amenities are a landscaped courtyard with picnic tables, elevators and trash chutes on each floor for convenient waste disposal.<br />
Mr. Hanick said Riverview West plans to utilize its large lobbies with abundant natural light to offer wellness options. Among<br />
those being considered are yoga classes, table tennis tables and exercise equipment.<br />
12 LUREOF THE CITY
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ON THE<br />
HORIZON<br />
There are numerous urban<br />
residential developments in<br />
various stages of progress<br />
across the Corridor. Here’s a<br />
glimpse of what’s to come.<br />
7<br />
7 S. Linn St., Iowa City<br />
Studio & 1 bedroom units<br />
300-500 square feet<br />
Pricing not yet available<br />
As its name suggests, the building in downtown Iowa City<br />
known as 7 aims to be both simple and stylish. The seven-story<br />
building will be located just west of the Plaza Tower Condos,<br />
built on the site of the former Van Patten House.<br />
In its place will be approximately 24 studio apartments<br />
with 300 square feet of space, and 12 one-bedroom apartments<br />
with 500 square feet of space, in addition to retail/<br />
office space on the first floor.<br />
The development is largely aimed at young professionals<br />
and graduate students looking for affordable housing downtown,<br />
as well as retirees looking to live a simpler life near the University of Iowa campus. The building<br />
is also expected to be LEED certified, and will include design efforts aimed at minimizing street noise.<br />
The location is just two blocks from Iowa City’s Pedestrian Mall, and falls within walking distance<br />
of no less than three grocers.<br />
“It’s very livable from a walking standpoint, which is one of the unique features that we have with<br />
that location,” architect and developer Kevin Monson said.<br />
Ellis Landings<br />
1871 & 1895 Ellis Blvd. NW, Cedar Rapids<br />
1-3 bedroom units<br />
1,000-2,000 square feet<br />
Starting at $250,000<br />
Those looking to be close to Cedar Rapids’ core while still<br />
having a little green space might want to consider the<br />
coming Ellis Landings project. Developed by Steve Emerson<br />
and Jim Happel, the four-story building will bring 27<br />
upscale condominiums to the riverfront near Ellis Park, in a<br />
bid to bring residents and businesses back to an area that<br />
was largely depopulated by flood buyouts after 2008.<br />
According to Mr. Happel, the units will be priced in<br />
the $250,000-$380,000 range, with the upper price range<br />
attached to larger, 2,000-square-foot penthouse units that<br />
will include a spiral staircase to a fourth-floor space with<br />
an extra bedroom or study and extra bath. The development<br />
will also include a large atrium and private garages,<br />
and a new restaurant located next door.<br />
Mr. Happel says the river views have already generated<br />
strong interest from prospective buyers. “It’s the nicest<br />
part of the river, definitely,” he said.<br />
14 LUREOF THE CITY
Sabin Townhomes<br />
509 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City<br />
2 & 3 bedroom units<br />
1,135-1,428 square feet<br />
Pricing not yet available<br />
The Sabin Townhomes are among the<br />
latest projects scheduled to come online<br />
south of downtown Iowa City, not far from<br />
other pending developments such as<br />
RISE at Riverfront Crossings and the Hilton<br />
Garden Inn.<br />
The majority of the units will be<br />
two-bedrooms, and all will feature an<br />
upstairs and downstairs component. The<br />
multistory building will also be paired with<br />
a roughly 600-stall parking ramp, which<br />
should be partially obscured by residences<br />
along the facility’s street-facing walls.<br />
Ground-level units of the Sabin Townhomes<br />
will begin at roughly 1,100 square<br />
feet. At the high end of the development,<br />
the largest units will total closer to 1,400<br />
square feet.<br />
The development’s are scheduled to<br />
be completed in August, with move-ins<br />
beginning this fall.<br />
The Crossings<br />
1201 & 1301 S. Gilbert St., Iowa City<br />
Studios to 2 bedroom units<br />
$600-$1,400/month<br />
When the first apartments at The Crossings are<br />
completed next year, the development on<br />
Gilbert Street in Iowa City will provide one of<br />
the first glimpses into the future of the Riverfront<br />
Crossings District.<br />
Located just north of Highway 6, the complex<br />
will overlook the planned Riverfront Crossings<br />
Park, which the city plans to connect with<br />
surrounding neighborhoods and trails.<br />
Those amenities were major draws for the<br />
developers behind The Crossings, which will<br />
eventually contain eight residential and mixeduse<br />
buildings. Next year, the development<br />
should finish its first building, located at 1301 S.<br />
Gilbert. That will be mixed-use, with first floor<br />
retail or office space, and second and third<br />
floors each containing up 27 studio apartments.<br />
Although ground hasn’t yet been broken<br />
for the mixed-use buildings, the de facto<br />
centerpiece of the development has already<br />
arrived: Big Grove Brewery opened its brewery<br />
and taproom at the former Iowa Hawk Shop<br />
Outlet warehouse offering both indoor and<br />
outdoor seating, live music, and a slew of<br />
specialty foods and in-house brews.<br />
The first move-ins at The Crossings are<br />
anticipated for summer 2018.<br />
LUREOF THE CITY 15
IN PERSON<br />
Steve Emerson<br />
Business-minded architect taking<br />
on historic renovations and<br />
reviving downtown Cedar Rapids<br />
BY RUTH PAARMANN PHOTO BY SHUVA RAHIM<br />
Steve Emerson stands inside the newly renovated<br />
Smulekoff’s building in downtown Cedar Rapids.<br />
rawing and drafting were among<br />
Steve Emerson’s favorite activities<br />
as a kid.<br />
The Marion native always wanted to be<br />
an architect, so he pursued that dream at<br />
Iowa State University. After graduating and<br />
receiving his architecture certification, he<br />
also saw the value in expanding his skill<br />
set by completing the University of Iowa’s<br />
evening MBA program.<br />
“At ISU, I was so goal-oriented. The other<br />
architecture students were super artistic.<br />
I was detailed and thorough, but not so<br />
strong on the design flair,” Mr. Emerson<br />
said. “My strength is the business end – the<br />
practicality side. I do rigid, fast deadlines<br />
well. We hit them and make sure things are<br />
done right.”<br />
A shrewd business sense has earned<br />
Mr. Emerson a place as one of the primary<br />
property owners in downtown Cedar<br />
Rapids. His 11-year-old firm, Aspect<br />
architecture:design, employs more than 30<br />
people, with 20 in construction. In addition<br />
to providing architecture services, the company<br />
maintains 30 properties.<br />
Around 1999, Mr. Emerson began<br />
buying one property at a time, performing<br />
much of the demolition and construction<br />
work himself. Family and friends pitched<br />
in, and Mr. Emerson secured tenants.<br />
“It was a fun hobby on the side,” he said.<br />
“I found buildings that had been on the<br />
market for a while, and I negotiated super<br />
hard on price. I had the ability to walk away.<br />
If I bought a building under contract, I used<br />
that time to find tenants.”<br />
That formula paid dividends, allowing<br />
him to establish cash flow. It also gave him<br />
valuable experience.<br />
“I get a lot of business because of my<br />
construction background. I look at life cycle<br />
costs, durability, efficiency, use of space,” he<br />
said. “I think of how the owner can repurpose<br />
the building when they move on.”<br />
Restoring Property Health<br />
Many structures Mr. Emerson refurbishes<br />
are vacant, but even occupied buildings<br />
have issues. The Town Centre office<br />
building was such a case, with the previous<br />
owners in bankruptcy. Mr. Emerson<br />
bought it specifically to make it healthy<br />
again, making sure tenants had someone to<br />
communicate with about leases and other<br />
concerns. (He has since sold his stake.)<br />
In a much more demanding project, he<br />
stripped the Paramount office building<br />
down to the concrete and > PAGE 38<br />
16 LUREOF THE CITY
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LUREOF THE CITY 17
HIGH DESIGN SPACES<br />
Cedar Rapids professional<br />
relocates to lively NewBo neighborhood<br />
BY RUTH PAARMANN PHOTOS BY BRIAN DRAEGER
When the Row Houses on Second were<br />
announced in the NewBo neighborhood<br />
in southeast Cedar Rapids, George Hanna<br />
was the first to buy. For two years, Dr. Hanna,<br />
a dentist had been seeking a smaller<br />
alternative to his 6,000-square-foot home<br />
in Swisher. The three-bedroom townhome<br />
offered the right size for his lifestyle. ><br />
PAGE 18<br />
Sleek, comfortable and functional, this Cedar Rapids row<br />
home checks all the boxes for George Hanna’s goal to<br />
downsize his home while enriching his life.<br />
PAGE 19<br />
TOP: Dr. Hanna sourced Poggenpohl cabinets and unique,<br />
smart appliances for his kitchen. BOTTOM: While most of<br />
the home features a deep gray color scheme, these glass<br />
stairs add a touch of color with bold LED lighting.<br />
LUREOF THE CITY 19
“The house was just too big for an empty nester,”<br />
he said. “I was so ready to move.”<br />
Dr. Hanna embraced the opportunity to be part<br />
of the growing NewBo area, with its biking trails,<br />
the YMCA and nearby live music jams. He was<br />
intent on choosing a large, bright unit with views<br />
of the park-like area between Second and Third<br />
streets. He also liked the townhome approach.<br />
“At other condos, I’d park below and have to<br />
go up an elevator, and they felt like apartments.<br />
I wanted something that felt more like a home,”<br />
he said. “I also liked the idea that I could do some<br />
design work.”<br />
Having lived 15-20 minutes from restaurants<br />
and supermarkets, Dr. Hanna also appreciated the<br />
location’s proximity to dining options.<br />
“I always had this vision of walking to restaurants,”<br />
he said. “I love being able to walk to meet<br />
my neighbors and friends for drinks and dinner.”<br />
TOP: The home’s streamlined design and color scheme is the<br />
perfect backdrop for beautiful artwork. TOP RIGHT: The relaxed<br />
living room features a TV hidden behind an art canvas. Dr.<br />
Hanna can scroll up the artwork using a remote control.<br />
BOTTOM: Included in the smart home system, the mesmerizing<br />
electric fireplace adds color and interest to the space.<br />
Smart & Secure<br />
The ease of maintenance means few worries. To<br />
ensure all is operating properly, no matter where<br />
he is, Dr. Hanna chose a Control4 smart home<br />
system from Reference in Coralville.<br />
“The system controls the sound, TV, window<br />
blinds, security, temperature and lights,” he said.<br />
“It even has a setting to track my activities for a<br />
week so that info can be used to make the place<br />
look occupied when I’m gone.”<br />
When he leaves or arrives at home, he presses<br />
a button to control the temperature, lighting and<br />
more. He uses an app to control settings while<br />
he’s away or in bed. The system also controls ><br />
20 LUREOF THE CITY
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LUREOF THE CITY 21
TOP: Comfortable furnishings provide a<br />
continuity of style throughout the master<br />
suite. ABOVE: An alcohol-based fireplace<br />
hangs in the corner of the master suite.<br />
RIGHT: The powder room on the mezzanine<br />
pops with a modern stone sink and pedestal.<br />
22 LUREOF THE CITY
the electric fireplace in the living room and the lighted<br />
stairs that lead to the mezzanine level kitchen.<br />
The units are built to withstand flooding, which they<br />
did seamlessly in September 2016. Dr. Hanna explained<br />
that the front door is at the 26-foot flood level, and the<br />
footings and garage are extra thick. Even though he had to<br />
relocate for a week, he was thrilled that his home didn’t<br />
take on a single drop of water when the Cedar River<br />
reached its second-highest crest in the city’s history.<br />
Warmth & Depth<br />
When it comes to style, Dr. Hanna wanted to maintain a<br />
sleek, yet warm space. A backdrop of grays and blacks<br />
receives pops of colorful art and plenty of texture.<br />
Dr. Hanna chose a few key pieces and worked with<br />
Jeff O’Brien of Focal Point Interiors to complete the look.<br />
First, Dr. Hanna chose Poggenpohl black lacquer cabinetry,<br />
which he found in Chicago along with light fixtures.<br />
“Jeff did the interior design for my previous home in<br />
Swisher, so he knew my tastes and knew what furniture<br />
I had,” he said.<br />
Mr. O’Brien helped him replace some oversized<br />
furnishings and chose flooring, tile, wallpaper, paint and<br />
fabrics to coordinate with the color scheme.<br />
“This space feels really warm and cozy,” Mr. O’Brien<br />
said. “It’s partly the depth of the color – the lights and<br />
darks. There’s enough warmth to the gray that it doesn’t<br />
give you that cold feeling.”<br />
The kitchen features everything a cook needs and<br />
more, including a built-in espresso and coffeemaker.<br />
Flip-up cabinets offer dimension and texture over the<br />
polished tile backsplash and quartz countertops. A<br />
cleverly updated lazy Susan makes the most of a corner<br />
cabinet. Dr. Hanna enjoys cooking in the space, taking<br />
advantage of the delivered meals-in-a-box to save time<br />
on shopping.<br />
Sleek Modifications<br />
The one space that Dr. Hanna modified from the original<br />
plan was the master suite. He had the floor plan<br />
changed to allow for a tiled shower. Sliding doors separate<br />
the bath and bedroom. He also found a ventless<br />
hanging fireplace for the corner.<br />
A guest bath and two bedrooms round out the third<br />
level. One bedroom is a dedicated guest suite, while the<br />
other serves several purposes. To make the space multifunctional,<br />
Dr. Hanna ordered an ingenious wall bed system<br />
from Resource Furnishings. It came complete with<br />
modular shelves and a desk that dives effortlessly under<br />
the bed as it descends from the wall. (See page 27.)<br />
“It came in 55 boxes,” he said. “It probably took me<br />
200 hours to put it all together.”<br />
The flexibility of the room is worth it, as his two sons,<br />
both in their 20s, can have their own rooms when they<br />
visit, while Dr. Hanna has a functional office and workout<br />
room the rest of the time.<br />
He could not be happier with his space or choice of<br />
neighborhood.<br />
“I love this area,” he said. |<br />
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LUREOF THE CITY 23
HIGH DESIGN SPACES<br />
Retreat with a View<br />
Iowa couple finds a fresh retreat in Park@201<br />
BY RUTH PAARMANN PHOTOS BY BRIAN DRAEGER<br />
Sometimes, a small space with<br />
incredible views is all you need.<br />
Just ask Kathy and David Gimer.<br />
Their condo in Park@201, in the<br />
beating heart of Iowa City,<br />
brings them more enjoyment<br />
than they ever expected. ><br />
An open concept provides the perfect backdrop<br />
for stylish and comfortable furnishings and rugs.
David and Kathy Gimer.
PAGE 26<br />
LEFT: Kathy Gimer<br />
ensured that reading<br />
nooks were available<br />
in the unit and on<br />
the balcony. RIGHT:<br />
Windows and natural<br />
light are key features<br />
of every home in<br />
Park@201. BELOW: A<br />
pop of fresh apple<br />
green lights up a<br />
feature wall.<br />
PAGE 27<br />
The Gimers’ unit<br />
provides fabulous<br />
sunset views from the<br />
unit and its balcony.<br />
26 LUREOF THE CITY
“In 2013, we talked about investing in real estate somewhere<br />
– either down south or out west,” said David, who<br />
has a dental practice in Iowa Falls and also serves as an<br />
adjunct instructor at the University of Iowa College of<br />
Dentistry.<br />
“Through conversation with friends and peers, we<br />
found out about a new development in downtown Iowa<br />
City. We met with the developer, Marc Moen, to discuss<br />
Park@201, and it sounded like a good investment opportunity.<br />
It represented a place that we could use rather than<br />
one that was far away.”<br />
Dr. Gimer teaches once a week at the dental school, so<br />
their unit serves as a landing pad for work and play. The<br />
couple met during dental school, and their kids now have<br />
families of their own. As lifelong Hawkeye fans, they hold<br />
season tickets to football and basketball games. Dr. Gimer<br />
also attends wrestling matches and baseball games.<br />
“It enables us to come and go freely, depending on my<br />
work schedule and what university events might be taking<br />
place. If we want to do something with friends, we can stay<br />
over and do that,” he said.<br />
Fresh Outlook<br />
Their Iowa City home bears a contrast to their home base<br />
in Iowa Falls, which they built in 1995. In Iowa Falls, they<br />
have 2.5 acres and an open, yet woodsy, setting for their<br />
home, which offers 1,800 square feet on the main level. In<br />
Iowa City, they embrace a hotel suite-feel several stories<br />
up, with modern industrial overtones and an entire wall ><br />
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LUREOF THE CITY 27
TOP: The master suite opens<br />
directly to the balcony. ABOVE:<br />
A glass shower enclosure shows<br />
off a beautiful tile shower.<br />
of windows in the living room.<br />
“It’s a place we use as a retreat from the week. We love to<br />
come to Iowa City and just relax,” Mrs. Gimer said.<br />
To achieve a fresh feel, they painted one wall a shade<br />
of green apple and added wallpaper in the bedroom for<br />
texture and warmth. Mrs. Gimer worked with Luxe Interiors<br />
in Coralville to furnish it with clean-lined chairs, glass tables<br />
and comfy rugs.<br />
The appliances, cabinetry and window treatments were<br />
preselected, but the couple loved the choices. They made<br />
one upgrade – to Corian countertops, which are easy to care<br />
for and look perfect in the unit’s modern setting.<br />
In January, the couple started their third year in<br />
Park@201. The couple each cite different favorite aspects of<br />
their retreat.<br />
“I like the vibrancy of the Ped Mall. It wasn’t there when<br />
we were in dental school,” Mrs. Gimer said. “I’ve also been<br />
really surprised when we take walks around the campus. I<br />
really enjoy exploring around the Union and river. We find<br />
places we’ve never seen.”<br />
“For me, I really enjoy the view,” Dr. Gimer said. “The ability<br />
to look out over downtown and the Ped Mall is relaxing.<br />
We’ve been watching the construction of the College of Music<br />
and the hotel being built to the east of it. The constant activity<br />
in the downtown area is great. It’s upbeat and progressive.”<br />
A balcony allows them to spend time outside, usually in<br />
the evening in the fall. Mrs. Gimer also likes to read there<br />
during pleasant spring days.<br />
As part-time residents, they appreciate how easy to is to<br />
come and go. They credit Mr. Moen for being readily available<br />
as a property manager.<br />
“We’re landlords at home ourselves, so we appreciate<br />
how helpful he has been with questions and if we need him<br />
to check on things,” Dr. Gimer said. “We feel very rewarded.<br />
We think it turned out to be a good decision. And we’re<br />
proud to have invested in downtown Iowa City.” |<br />
28 LUREOF THE CITY
IN PERSON<br />
here’s an ‘odd couple’ dynamic<br />
between developers Blaine Thomas<br />
and Randy Miller that could very<br />
well be the secret ingredient in the success<br />
of their development, 808 on Fifth.<br />
Located in the heart of Coralville, just<br />
north of the busy Coralville Strip and a few<br />
blocks down from the city’s Center for the<br />
Performing Arts, 808 on Fifth has grown<br />
steadily since its first building opened in<br />
2015, expanding to two buildings along<br />
leafy Fifth Street, with two more under<br />
construction and a fifth being planned.<br />
There is now a waiting list for the<br />
development’s 200-plus apartment units,<br />
and its 40,000 square feet of retail space<br />
has filled up quickly with Mr. Thomas’<br />
friends and associates – each one of them<br />
seemingly drawn by his magnetic presence,<br />
frenetic pace, and vision of creating<br />
a high-end yet welcoming development in<br />
the heart of the city.<br />
“I would like to call this a development<br />
for everybody,” Mr. Thomas said over coffee<br />
at Tip Top Cakes, one of the first commercial<br />
tenants at 808. “We talk about price<br />
points on menus before people come in.<br />
We talk about the cost of a haircut. Is it<br />
affordable to the masses?”<br />
The development is now home to a<br />
diverse cast of small businesses, including<br />
a florist, a salon, a gym, a chiropractor and<br />
realty offices. Each one has been recruited<br />
and selected by Mr. Thomas for their<br />
appeal and ability to complement the<br />
growing Fifth Street corridor.<br />
“If the commercial businesses in this<br />
development don’t serve the community<br />
and the residents upstairs, they aren’t coming,”<br />
he said.<br />
Indeed, Mr. Thomas prides himself on<br />
his hands-on nature, saying that he knows<br />
“every single person who moves in the<br />
building,” and proving it in conversations<br />
with tenants, during which he floats effortlessly<br />
between questions about family to<br />
furniture arrangements. He has set a high<br />
bar for 808 on Fifth and expects a lot of its<br />
businesses, but also works to ensure their<br />
success, whether by helping with buildouts<br />
or offering regular – often unvarnished<br />
– feedback.<br />
“We argued about everything in [Tip<br />
Top Cakes] to make it the best it can be,” he<br />
recalled. “Stuff like the sign being crooked<br />
or tape on the windows, that just drives me<br />
nuts. And I don’t own the business, but I<br />
want it to be the best it can be.” > PAGE 38<br />
Blaine Thomas<br />
and Randy Miller<br />
Coralville’s dynamic duo brings an urban<br />
mindset to the center of the city<br />
BY ADAM MOORE PHOTO BY SHUVA RAHIM<br />
Blaine Thomas (left) and Randy Miller<br />
stand outside their offices at 808 on Fifth.<br />
LUREOF THE CITY 29
ADAPTIVE REUSE<br />
Mott Lofts: Where Past & Present Meet<br />
BY RUTH PAARMANN PHOTOS BY BRIAN DRAEGER<br />
Back in 1902, the Iowa<br />
Wind Mill & Pump Co.<br />
made and housed its<br />
wares in several facilities<br />
on the west bank of<br />
the Cedar River. One<br />
structure remains: the<br />
main brick building, which<br />
was labeled “Mott Inc.”<br />
in the 1990s. In 2012, the<br />
building was placed on<br />
the National Register of<br />
Historic Places.<br />
The previous owner, Linn County, used it for storage and<br />
debated using the land for other purposes following the<br />
flood of 2008. But the county decided to sell, and Hobart<br />
Historic Restoration saw the value in the sturdy structure.<br />
“My husband and I always liked the building, especially<br />
the setting on the river. We admired it for years before the<br />
opportunity came along to work on it,” said owner and<br />
project manager B.J. Hobart.<br />
The company made plans to convert it to a mixed-use<br />
building, completing its residential apartment units in<br />
2016. According to Casey Dunagan, property manager, all<br />
units were occupied by July.<br />
“Several of our residents work at Rockwell or Transamerica,<br />
and some of them travel a lot,” said Mr. Dunagan.<br />
He noted that many of them relocated to Cedar Rapids<br />
from out of state, and most are young professionals in<br />
their 20s and 30s.<br />
The apartments feature similar layouts with wood-look<br />
flooring, stone counters and open floor plans. Most units<br />
offer one bedroom, while four are two-bedroom units.<br />
Residents must agree to respect the brick walls and beams<br />
that add historic character and value to the building, Mr.<br />
Dunagan noted.<br />
The lobby features exposed beams, pulleys and photos<br />
of the building. Residents can use the elevator, but many<br />
opt for the rustic restored staircase.<br />
While the building stands close to a number of downtown<br />
gyms, a workout room was added in the basement for<br />
residents. Hobart also occupied a space for its maintenance<br />
shop to easily access the mowers, snow blowers and other<br />
equipment required to keep the property tidy.<br />
Outside, with its refreshed white lettering, the building<br />
is a prominent landmark on the river’s west bank. The<br />
brick structure was cleaned and tuck-pointed to secure the<br />
exterior. New custom double-hung wood windows took the<br />
place of old ones, but screens could not be > PAGE 39<br />
30 LUREOF THE CITY
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PAGE 30<br />
A typical one-bedroom unit in Mott Lofts<br />
provides an open concept kitchen and<br />
living area. Brick walls and original ceiling<br />
joists provide historic charm.<br />
PAGE 31<br />
The building’s original staircase has been<br />
preserved for the use of tenants.<br />
CIVIL ENGINEERING · LAND DEVELOPMENT PLANNING · LAND SURVEYS · LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE · WATER MANAGEMENT<br />
LUREOF THE CITY 31
The Look of the City<br />
Keep up with the latest in urban design. Corridor designers<br />
offer their expertise on what’s hot for your home.<br />
LIGHTING<br />
Alex Von Ahsen, Phelan’s<br />
Lamps to ceiling fixtures are being influenced by<br />
the industrial look. In lamps, it’s industrial meets<br />
glam, with natural elements such as marble and<br />
agate mixed with brushed metal or acrylic. Mixed<br />
metals – brushed brass, gold and copper – or<br />
those metals mixed with black are also popular.<br />
TEXTILES Chris Gnade, Design Ranch<br />
Woven vinyl textiles give designers freedom to bring character to any interior, and in unexpected<br />
ways. Available in a range of weaves, they can add color, texture and even coordinate vertical<br />
surfaces with upholstery and floor coverings. Today’s textiles are durable and easy to clean and<br />
install. Chilewich wall coverings, shown here, are also environmentally sustainable products.<br />
32 LUREOF THE CITY
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Your home, my expertise!<br />
319-360-2181<br />
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STONE<br />
Lori Wiles, Lori Wiles Design<br />
Stone can create a huge architectural<br />
impact in a cost effective way. The<br />
Corridor offers excellent stone resources,<br />
and very light stone has recently become<br />
available in a variety of designs, making<br />
it easier than ever to incorporate in an<br />
interior design. We love to use it to make<br />
a statement in both traditional and<br />
contemporary spaces.<br />
Interiors Gifts Lifestyle<br />
LUREOF THE CITY 33
KITCHENS<br />
Devonna Wood, Cabinet Studio Inc.<br />
White and gray painted cabinets still dominate<br />
kitchen trends, while dark blue has become popular<br />
as an accent color for kitchen islands. Textured<br />
white oak and horizontal walnut have also grown<br />
in popularity. Custom hoods in wood, stainless steel<br />
and other metals, and backsplashes in slabs of<br />
stone and large tiles provide dramatic focal points.<br />
FLOORING<br />
Alex Von Ahsen, Phelan’s<br />
The preference continues for<br />
wood flooring in neutral gray<br />
stains, wide planks and a range<br />
of clean to distressed surfaces.<br />
The introduction of Luxury<br />
Vinyl Tile (LVT) has brought a<br />
durable, easy-maintenance<br />
product for use in commercial<br />
and residential spaces.<br />
34 LUREOF THE CITY
Randy Miller is honored<br />
to have represented the<br />
following area projects<br />
808 on 5th<br />
Mixed-Use Redevelopment in Coralville<br />
Big Grove Brewery<br />
Riverfront Crossings in Iowa City<br />
The Crossings<br />
at Riverfront Crossings<br />
Mixed-Use Redevelopment in Iowa City<br />
Mid-West America<br />
COMMERCIAL REALTY<br />
250 12th avenue suite 100 · coralville, iowa<br />
319.338.8909<br />
www.dwellhomefurnishings.com<br />
Randy Miller, BROKER/OWNER<br />
319-688-3000<br />
www.MWACR.com<br />
<br />
This could be your view every day!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Leasing Now!<br />
The Metropolitan is conveniently located across the street from<br />
the McGrath Amphitheater/downtown. The luxury apartments are<br />
spacious and have an open floor plan with private balconies. All<br />
rentals have river views and parking on-site included.<br />
<br />
<br />
www.hobarthistoricrestoration.com<br />
LUREOF THE CITY 35
ORGANIZATION<br />
A national expert in minimalism<br />
offers tips for getting back to basics<br />
Rightsizing for the Next Chapter<br />
BY CINDY HADISH<br />
The business<br />
concept of<br />
rightsizing a<br />
company’s<br />
footprint through<br />
a proactive,<br />
strategic plan can<br />
apply to lifestyle<br />
choices as well.<br />
Baby boomers, born between 1946-1964, are heading into retirement at a rate of<br />
about 10,000 per day, with an increasing number of them moving from spacious<br />
homes in the suburbs to more compact homes in the city.<br />
Retirement or not, anyone debating a move could benefit from rightsizing their<br />
material footprint, by cutting through clutter and reorganizing their possessions.<br />
During a recent Professional Women’s Network event at the Cedar Rapids<br />
Marriott, Joshua Becker, founder of “Becoming Minimalist,” offered some strategies<br />
for living more simply that apply to all stages of life.<br />
Mr. Becker, author of “Clutterfree with Kids” and other best-sellers, is one of the<br />
leading voices of following a minimalist lifestyle with fewer possessions.<br />
“Simplicity brings balance, freedom and joy,” he writes on his blog. “When we<br />
begin to live simply and experience these benefits, we begin to ask the next question,<br />
‘Where else in my life can I remove distraction and simply focus on the essential?’”<br />
Some tips from Mr. Becker’s talk that can help in the rightsizing process:<br />
n Determine what you value and need in your life. Essential needs may<br />
vary greatly depending on that determination. Someone who plans to travel<br />
extensively, for example, would need different possessions compared to a<br />
person who has several pets or wants to stay at home to garden. “Ask yourself,<br />
‘what do I want my life to be about?’” Mr. Becker said. “It’s about value: what<br />
things do you need in order to do that.”<br />
n Start on the easiest, most lived-in areas. Mr. Becker began with his car;<br />
removing everything and saving only those things that were important, such as<br />
a pair of sunglasses and the vehicle manual.<br />
n Move room to room. Begin with the place in your home that already is the<br />
most organized, saving closets, the basement and garage, where clutter tends<br />
to accumulate, for last.<br />
n Focus on your own possessions. “It’s always easier to see someone else’s<br />
junk,” Mr. Becker said. “But you can’t start throwing out your spouse’s stuff or<br />
your kids’ stuff first.”<br />
n Stay on top of paper clutter by digitizing documents and photos.<br />
Unsubscribe to junk mail and handle the mail on a daily basis, immediately<br />
recycling what can be tossed and saving other items into a folder to be<br />
reviewed on a weekly basis.<br />
n Match cups, bowls, plates and silverware for better uniformity in stacking<br />
and storing. Donate those items that don’t match. If there is one souvenir cup<br />
or mug that is so important you can’t live without it, that’s perfectly fine. Just<br />
don’t keep five of them.<br />
n Get rid of guilt by donating to places that can benefit by reselling<br />
your items, including the Salvation Army and Goodwill, and look for other<br />
organizations that could use the items, as well, such as giving pots and pans and<br />
blankets to a refugee resettlement group and clothing to women’s shelters. |<br />
36 LUREOF THE CITY
Other tips to<br />
help with a<br />
move from<br />
Caring.com<br />
If it’s chipped, broken or<br />
stained, toss it. Charities<br />
don’t want nonworking<br />
Christmas lights,<br />
snagged clothes, lidless<br />
plastic Tupperware or<br />
any items they can’t sell.<br />
Consider bringing in<br />
the pros. Hire someone<br />
to hold an estate sale<br />
if you have a large<br />
number of items, such as<br />
furniture and dishware,<br />
that you’d like to sell.<br />
Don’t be shy about<br />
tossing replaceable<br />
items. Not worth<br />
moving, donating, or<br />
even conferring about:<br />
old spices, junk mail, old<br />
magazines, outdated<br />
medications, unused<br />
toiletries, plastic food<br />
containers, candles,<br />
stuffed toys (most<br />
charities won’t accept<br />
them) and the contents<br />
of the junk drawer (just<br />
hang onto change and<br />
spare keys).<br />
If there are several<br />
items of high value,<br />
consider an appraisal.<br />
Go through the entire<br />
house; the appraiser<br />
will only come out once<br />
and is more interested<br />
in relatively large lots.<br />
Auction houses, whose<br />
goal is to sell items at<br />
the best price, are<br />
better options than<br />
antique dealers, whose<br />
goal is to get items for<br />
the lowest price.<br />
If an item is meant to be<br />
a gift or legacy, plan to<br />
give it now, rather than<br />
moving or storing it.<br />
Innovative, space-saving furnishings can be a huge help in right<br />
sizing. Dr. George Hanna found this modular wall bed system<br />
through Resource Furnishings. The bed folds down, tucking the desk<br />
away. Shelving is part of the system, providing a cohesive look.<br />
LUREOF THE CITY 37
EMERSON FROM PAGE 16<br />
rebuilt the office space from scratch in order to restore an architectural<br />
gem to the city.<br />
Although historic preservation can be daunting, the state’s<br />
housing credits and historic tax credit program help make the<br />
challenges worthwhile.<br />
“I focus on downtown because it is such an important region for<br />
the city,” he said. “Plus, if I can take a crappy building and make it<br />
new and fresh again, it improves all of downtown. It has inherent<br />
benefits to the rest of my buildings and to downtown.”<br />
Changing With the Times<br />
Other obstacles he has encountered during his career include the<br />
changes in the banking industry and a struggle toward work-life<br />
balance. While he used to work day and night with his job as an<br />
architect and do the demolition on the side, he has become a better<br />
delegator, entrusting employees to keep him in check.<br />
“In the office and construction areas, I empower people extremely<br />
well so they buy into the project,” he said. “It saves me time.”<br />
Technology has also enabled him to have a more flexible work<br />
schedule, working from home in the mornings and evenings as<br />
needed, or even answering questions while on vacation.<br />
As of February, Mr. Emerson is working on seven projects that<br />
will result in approximately 147 residential units. These vary from<br />
32 efficiency and one-bedroom apartments in the Smulekoff’s<br />
building to new and historic townhomes in Kingston Pointe, the<br />
old ESC building, 323 Third St. and other developments.<br />
Mr. Emerson is excited about the way Smulekoff’s is evolving<br />
into a mixed-use development. He’s also exploring an innovative<br />
solar/green roof combination on this and two other buildings.<br />
While he prefers living near Center Point with his wife and two<br />
children on an acreage with woods and a pond, he appreciates the<br />
urban lifestyle.<br />
“The people who want to live downtown aren’t just people who<br />
work here,” he said, noting that a cross section of older and younger<br />
couples and professionals live in his buildings. “You can park<br />
your car and you don’t need to drive on weekends.” |<br />
Inside Tip Top Cakes, one of<br />
808 on Fifth’s first commercial<br />
tenants, and a popular<br />
meeting place for Mr. Thomas.<br />
808 FROM PAGE 29<br />
It’s that energy and dedication to detail that drew in Randy Miller,<br />
owner of Miller Monument and a longtime real estate investor<br />
and broker. Mr. Miller was introduced to Mr. Thomas by a mutual<br />
friend, and began doing some consulting work on the earliest<br />
stages of 808. Despite Mr. Miller’s preference against partnering<br />
on projects and the prospect of an early retirement on the horizon,<br />
the two hit it off and struck a partnership that continues to grow,<br />
just like their development.<br />
Mr. Miller, for his part, compared their partnership to TV’s “Odd<br />
Couple.” He serves as the opposing force to Mr. Thomas’ big dreams<br />
and boundless energy, preferring to work in the background and<br />
crunch numbers while Mr. Thomas does the gladhanding.<br />
“I’m 58 now, and I have a lot of patience,” Mr. Miller said of his partner.<br />
“I’m not sure how we would have done back when I was 30.”<br />
“Blaine likes to take an idea and run with it, and sometimes you<br />
can’t – you have to think about it,” he added. “But then again, that’s<br />
why the two of us get along so well. I’d be sluggish without him.”<br />
Mr. Thomas, 40, affectionately describes his partner as “the”<br />
leash that keeps him from chasing the next thing to flutter in front<br />
of his face, as well as his cheerleader, keeping him grounded in the<br />
realities of large-scale development.<br />
“When I’m talking about the numbers, the performance, the<br />
contractors, the timelines, the interest rates … who do I call? Randy,”<br />
he said. “Instead of [my] going and jumping off the Iowa River<br />
bridge, he pulls me back.”<br />
While Mr. Miller originally set a time limit on their partnership,<br />
pledging to retire after five years of work on 808, that now looks<br />
like a casualty of Mr. Thomas’ expanding vision. Plans are moving<br />
forward for the fifth building, which will be “loaded with commercial<br />
space,” according to Mr. Thomas, and the partners are working<br />
with the city to purchase three properties on 10th Avenue for<br />
future residential development. Mr. Miller also has his own plans<br />
in action, as the developer behind The Crossings development in<br />
Iowa City (see page 15).<br />
If Mr. Thomas has his way, 808 on Fifth will evolve into a central<br />
piece of Coralville’s emerging downtown, connecting the Plaza<br />
on Fifth building, the Watts Group’s Old Town development and<br />
reshaping 10th Avenue down to the strip.<br />
“I have to continue the mantra of a pedestrian development.<br />
This is downtown,” he said. “Is it going to keep going down Fifth<br />
Street? Of course it is. Is it going to go to the north? Of course. It’s<br />
just a matter of time.” |<br />
38 LUREOF THE CITY
Let us make your<br />
space extraordinary!<br />
Commercial and<br />
Residential Interior Design<br />
319.320.6971<br />
www.melanieolson.com<br />
A spacious lobby greets guests and residential and<br />
office tenants. It features historic pulleys and wood<br />
beams original to the Wind Mill & Pump Co. building.<br />
MOTTS LOFTS FROM PAGE 31<br />
used because the original windows had none.<br />
Functional additions include a parking lot and water retention<br />
basin, which is required in order to preserve water quality. In<br />
addition, a short black iron fence was added to deter geese that<br />
would walk up the banks of the Cedar River.<br />
Per Hobart’s original plans for the building, commercial leases<br />
are taking off in the lower level and main floor. Synergy Massage<br />
opened a studio in the lower level before the flood of 2016. Several<br />
businesses are on the docket for the rest of the available space<br />
on the main floor. An artisan jeweler plans a workshop there, and<br />
other professional services companies have expressed interest<br />
in the space. A yoga studio will occupy a bright, open space on<br />
the east side of the building, where the original, ornate safe door<br />
remains in place.<br />
The build-out for four businesses began in February, and most of<br />
the businesses are expected to occupy their new spaces this year. |<br />
FOCUSED ON<br />
BUILDING QUALITY<br />
Plaza on Fifth<br />
319.338.1125<br />
1310 Highland Court, Iowa City<br />
LUREOF THE CITY 39
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