<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4GwCKh_18mQT5OW00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4GwCKh_18mQT5OW00" width="1200" height="600" >CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) - The Cedar Rapids City Council approved tax breaks Tuesday for a developer to convert a former elementary school into apartments starting this spring.The decision comes one day after the school board explored closing five schools due to falling enrollment.The district closed Garfield Elementary School in June 2024. The building has sat empty for nearly the last two years.Garfield Elementary School has stood on the northeast side of Cedar Rapids for 112 years, mainly educating students in the Mound View area.Neighbor Ron DeChristopher, who has lived next to the building for over 30 years, said he wants the history preserved.“One of our worries was that the building was just going to sit there empty,” DeChristopher said.DeChristopher said he supports turning the century-old building into 30 market-rate apartments as part of a $7 million project.“I think it is going to be good for the building because with Historic Preservation, the outside has to stay the same,” he said.On Tuesday, the Cedar Rapids City Council approved incentives to help the developer complete the project.“I have heard from neighbors that are excited to see what becomes of it and are amenable to it becoming housing,” said Ashley Vanorny of the Cedar Rapids City Council.The apartment conversion comes a day after the Cedar Rapids Community School board voted to further investigate two options that could close five elementary schools.In the proposed intermediate option, grades would range from pre-kindergarten to fourth grade. It would close five elementary schools, and three middle schools would serve fifth and sixth graders, while the other three middle schools would continue to serve seventh and eighth graders.A fifth through eighth model would also mean closing elementary schools.“It puts in place really how we are going to reshape our educational offerings in our district for the next generation to come,” said Jen Neumann, Cedar Rapids school board president.DeChristopher said he’s glad this school will once again fulfill a purpose in the community, but he worries what could happen if five more become vacant in the future.“You know, who knows if it is going to sit empty once they are closed. And if it does sit empty, then you have potential problems with vandalism, etc.,” he said.The Cedar Rapids School Board has tasked a new committee to investigate the consolidation plans further regarding transportation and boundaries. It won’t make a final decision until April.</div></body>

Block Source: KCRG.com

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CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) - The Cedar Rapids City Council approved tax breaks Tuesday for a developer to convert a former elementary school into apartments starting this spring. The decision comes one day after the school board explored closing five schools due to falling enrollment. The district closed Garfield Elementary...

Cedar Rapids approves tax breaks for former school conversion

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CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) - The Cedar Rapids City Council approved tax breaks Tuesday for a developer to convert a former elementary school into apartments

Cedar Rapids approves tax breaks for former school conversion

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