The Great Furniture Mart - A New Chapter for Downtown Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids, IA (PRWEB) July 25, 2013 -- The Great Furniture Mart building has been a long-standing, highly recognizable structure located at the corner of 1st Street and 6th Avenue in downtown Cedar Rapids for 100 years.
Built in 1914, it served as a wholesale grocery distribution center under the owner's name; The John Blaul's Sons Company through the late 1950s. Midwest Food Distributors then took over operations until 1964 when it became the most currently recognizable operation as The Great Furniture Mart. The company closed and the building was abandoned during the flood of 2008 where it flooded to a depth of approximately 8 feet and has remained vacant since.
Now the building celebrates another chapter in its magnificent history. On Tuesday, July 23, 2013, Cedar Rapids City Council granted final approval of redevelopment of the property. Construction is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2013 and completed in 2014.
The proposed development includes:
- 1st floor commercial/office tenant space
- 2nd floor office tenant space
- 3rd and 4th floor residential condominium units
- Rooftop outdoor space for building residents
The interior rendering shows an example of the mixture of historic personality combined with the latest in modern design and technological amenities.
Developer Joe Ahmann feels all condominium units will be purchased before construction is completed. The facility will also feature for each condominium unit; underground parking for 2 cars and separate storage . There will be access to residential floors directly from the garage from the inside of the building.
The development plan and long-term benefits to the downtown community are eagerly anticipated and will provide contributions economically, culturally and socially to the re-growth of Urban Living in downtown Cedar Rapids.
Fusion Architects and Compass Commercial Services will work together to revive one of the last surviving structures from among dozens of similar warehouses and manufacturing facilities that once lined the rail corridor. These new implementations allow the Developer to bridge recognizable Cedar Rapids history with the City's growing future.
About Compass Commercial Services:
Compass Commercial Services is a full-service General Contracting and Construction Management firm in the Cedar Rapids area specializing in a wide range of commercial construction projects including interior and exterior renovations, remodeling, building additions and the compete construction of new buildings. AS a TRUE design-build firm, Compass Commercial Services is poised to complete projects from the ground up. From the initial design through the entire building process, customers have the advantage of working directly with one company, and a team that is structured to deliver final projects on time and on budget.
Kristina Schoell, Compass Commercial Services, http://www.compass-built.com, 319-393-9004 320, [email protected]
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