CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — City leaders, residents and business owners gathered Tuesday to discuss what they would like to see as part of the future of the Czech Village and New Bohemia districts in downtown Cedar Rapids. The session, hosted by The District in partnership with Main Street Iowa, focused on translating recent survey data and demographic trends into a revised strategic plan for the area.
The meeting marked a key step in Cedar Rapids’ participation in the Main Street Iowa program, a state program which uses market data, survey responses and community input to shape goals across four key areas: design, promotion, economic vitality and organization. Attendees reviewed a presentation from Iowa Economic Development Authority staff summarizing trends in housing, population, business turnover and consumer habits in and around the district.
The District, which includes both the Czech Village and NewBo neighborhoods, is a designated Main Street Iowa community. According to new data, the surrounding area skews younger and more diverse than the Cedar Rapids average, with people aged 25–34 making up the largest group within a five-minute drive of the district. Most residents are renters, and many are new to the city, often moving in from out of state…