Local Developers Approved for New Project in Downtown Cedar Rapids

It's sat empty for years, but plans for an 8-acre area on the west side of the Cedar River are finally moving forward.

Earlier this week, the Cedar Rapids City Council gave approval for Jeff Pomeranz, Cedar Rapids City Manager, to negotiate the terms of the project with its four local developers. The 8-acres borders 1st St. and 1st Ave. on the city's west side. It's an area that many hoped would be home to a casino. That won't be the case, and what will be there is still somewhat of a question.

Joe Ahmann and Chad Pelley of Ahmann Companies, along with former Hawkeye and NFL kicker Nate Kaeding, and restaurant owner Matt Smith, make up the development team of 1st and 1st West LLC. They're the four people behind the project, named Kingston Landing, which is expected to be a $90 to $100 million development, according to Iowa's News Now. The Gazette says the development could include a family activity center, outdoor ice rink, a 12-14 screen movie theater, and Big Grove Brewery.

What's important to remember is a lot has changed since the project was submitted in late February. Ahmann and his team have been paying close attention to what the market might want moving forward, telling the Cedar Rapids City Council, "I think it's (the market) been screaming pretty loud lately that there's change on the horizon. We've been watching that very closely and trying to listen very closely as to what that may mean."

The project is expected to be signed off on by the Cedar Rapids City Council sometime this summer.