The City has released a new promotional brownfields video. The piece highlights Waterloo’s impressive history of using state and federal funds to help transition potentially impaired properties into community assets. Interviews include Noel Anderson, Community Planning and Development Director for the City of Waterloo; Mel Pins, Program Coordinator for the Iowa Brownfield Redevelopment Program for the Iowa… Read more »
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City Secures EPA TBA Assistance for Rath
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently approved a technical services application to further investigate the former Rath Meat Packing Plant located along Sycamore Street in downtown Waterloo. The 5.5-acre property contains an 8-story building totaling over 700,000 square feet of space currently used for cold storage. EPA’s Targeted Brownfields Assistance (TBA) program will fund… Read more »
Former Marquart Redeveloped
Rite Environmental, Inc. has completed its renovation of the former Marquart facility located at 110 Dunham Place. The sprawling complex totals over 14 acres across several city blocks near the Cedar River. The long-time concrete products manufacturer stopped production in the mid-2010s when its owner consolidated operations elsewhere in the community. Although the site included… Read more »
Riverfront Mixed-Use Building Opens
Art Bloc has officially opened. The 7-story structure features a lobby and parking along Cedar Street, offices and commercial retail uses on the amphitheater level, and 70 market-rate residential units on the upper floors. The project is located on the former Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company site and near the former Waterloo Gas and Electric Light… Read more »
Download a Brownfields Brochure!
Interested citizens can now download a copy of the City’s brownfields brochure. The informative tool defines a brownfields site and offers several examples of potential brownfield sites; summarizes the EPA Brownfields Program; describes the Phase I and Phase II ESA process; highlights benefits of participating in the EPA Brownfields Program; offers redevelopment success stories; answers frequently asked questions;… Read more »
Committee Selects Consultant
The City’s brownfield selection committee has chosen HR Green, Inc. to implement its EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant. These funds help the community inventory, characterize, assess, and conduct cleanup planning on underutilized sites throughout Waterloo. A special emphasis is being placed on properties located within the Broadway Street Corridor and the urban core. Officials anticipate being able to complete approximately… Read more »
Historic Building Comes Back to Life
Renovation on the upper two floors of the historic former Freidl bakery building is complete. The mixed-use project converted the space into 12 unique condominiums with with stunning views of downtown. Work continues on finishing the first floor commercial areas for future tenants. The building, located at 302 Commercial Street, is within an emerging entertainment… Read more »
Friedl Bakery Awarded Tax Credits
Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) has awarded the former Friedl Bakery project $839,741 in historic preservation tax credits. The program provides a state income tax credit for rehabilitation of historic buildings. It is designed to promote the retention of unique, character defining buildings and building features that contribute to a community and neighborhood. Rehabilitation must… Read more »
EPA Awards $300,000 to City
U.S. EPA awarded the City of Waterloo an FY 2020 Hazardous Substances and Petroleum Assessment Grant to investigate sites with actual or perceived contamination. 151 communities across the United States received 155 grants totaling $65.6 million in funding. The City was one of eight recipients in EPA Region 7 that includes Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska…. Read more »
Incentives for 6Comm
City Council approved additional incentives for the construction of a new 5-story building located at 801-805 Commercial Street on the former flea market site. The development agreement provides 20 years of 75% tax abatement on the former brownfield property. The 5-story structure will include both residential and commercial components and is expected to open in… Read more »