U-Heights in the News

Josh O'Leary from the Press Citizen was at the Public Hearing and June City Council meeting last night. It was the first time in quite a while that a member of the media covered a meeting live. Here is the link to his story:

University Heights warming up to One University Place?

 Josh has a long history covering our city, something unusual here in the Iowa City area, where reporters typically don't stay long. His experience covering U-Heights is apparent in what he wrote. Here is the lead from the story:

A controversial mixed-use development along Melrose Avenue has been the center of heated City Council meetings, online debates and hotly contested elections in University Heights for much of the past five years.

While One University Place still has its critics, and still has yet to be given the green light by the City Council all these years later, the dissension appears to have died down, at least based on Tuesday's low-key council meeting.

The city is weighing the latest proposal from developer Jeff Maxwell, who put forth a new commercial-and-condominium plan this spring with a more sympathetic City Council on his side.

While meetings in past years with One University Place on the agenda drew big crowds with lines dozens deep at the podium, just 10 or so residents turned out Tuesday, and only four spoke during a relatively brief public hearing about the development.

Where meetings had once pitted council members on opposite sides of the issue, the only debate at Tuesday's meeting was when to schedule their next work session. Last year's election had swept out the three council members who had been generally opposed to Maxwell's plans.

The developer's new plans call for a 19,702-square-foot, single-story commercial building along Melrose Avenue, with an optional space for a 2,163-square foot community space for a city hall. Behind it, set back to the rear of the property, would rise a seven-story residential building that would house 78 condominiums and underground parking. 

 As Josh says, council is a long way from approving anything, and there are major items yet to be addressed (financing being chief among them) I appreciate the deliberate pace my fellow councilors are employing, and would encourage all interested citizens to contact us with your thoughts and comments as we work through this proposal.