MedQuarter to Hold Public Open House to Gather Community Input for Master Development Plan
The Cedar Rapids Medical Self-Supported Municipal Improvement District (Medical SSMID) is hosting an open house later this month to gather community input regarding the 55 square block medical district master planning process that is underway. The event will be held 6:30 to 8 p.m. on May 23 in the Third Floor Community Room at the new Physicians’ Clinic of Iowa Medical Pavilion, 202 10th St. SE, Cedar Rapids.
“We are looking forward to the community providing input and sharing their vision for how this area can become a first-class medical destination,” said John Albert, vice-chair of the Medical SSMID Commission. “It is critical for this process to learn what matters most to the patients, employees, visitors and business and property owners who make the district their daily destination.”
Consultants from The Lakota Group, a Chicago-based land use and urban planning firm, will be on hand to listen and answer questions. The format for this evening will be a “station-style” interactive open-dialogue with the community and area stakeholders who can provide input on specific topics such as land-use, character, transportation and the ultimate success of the district.
“Our goal for the open house is to start an open dialogue with the community and area stakeholders to find out what opportunities exist to maximize the MedQuarter’s full potential,” said Scott Freres, president of The Lakota Group.
The MedQuarter was the result of Vision Cedar Rapids Downtown Framework Plan 2007 (JLG Plan) and the 2009 Neighborhood Planning Process, which developed districts to help grow downtown Cedar Rapids. Its major medical providers — Mercy Medical Center, UnityPoint Health - St. Luke’s and Physicians Clinic of Iowa — are committed to developing Cedar Rapids as a medical destination, where many health care needs are met in one area of the downtown.
Recently recognized as a top 10 city in the nation that delivers high-quality, low-cost healthcare by the Institute for Health Care Improvement, the Cedar Rapids MedQuarter is intended to create jobs, fuel economic development, improve the city’s tax base and enhance the quality of life within the community.
Join the Conversation
Join your neighbors and friends at the Community Open House #1 to discuss plans, ideas and opportunities for the future of the MedQ.
This is the first of a series of Community Open House meetings to transform the MedQ into a first-class medical destination. All residents, business and property owners, employees and visitors are encouraged to attend this meeting to provide input.
