By Anelia K. Dimitrova
You may have noticed a new logo in downtown Cedar Falls, announcing the upcoming arrival of a new venue, called Lawn City.
It is expected to bring events and food to downtown Cedar Falls soon.
Located at 315 Main Street, the project is being developed by Lawn City LLC.
The Cedar Falls City Council on Monday, June 2, voted unanimously to approve the agreement.
The developer plans to transform the space in the building, which has been vacant for several years, after Scratch Cupcakery moved out of the premises to their new location at 6607 University Ave Suite A.
Barring unavoidable delays, work is expected to start no later than July 1, and wrap up by Dec. 31, according to the agreement, which is included in the council packet.
The developer’s vision
Cory Kent, one of the partners, told The Cedar Falls News Hub recently that the project is going to add a unique space for celebrations for groups and individuals right in the heart of downtown.
The vision, he said, is to have a community space, for such events as office parties, rehearsal dinners, retirement celebrations, and personal and office gatherings.
Kent noted that it would also be a destination for other special occasions that may, sometimes, take place over several days, such as retreats. That, he added, would bring business to the downtown hotels.
He said that the space will have a prep kitchen on site, but also, in collaboration with partnership eateries, like the next-door Patton Diner, and George’s Local, which is across the street, a variety of food options may be custom tailored for specific occasions.
The capacity of the space can be adjusted to the size of the group, Kent added.
Council unanimously approves agreement with Lawn City LLC
During the June 2, 2025 council meeting, Shane Graham, the city’s economic development coordinator, said the developer plans to “invest approximately $1 million into the 5,500-square-foot space.”
He mentioned the conditions under which the project, which is located in a TIF district, will be eligible for an economic development grant.
“This is just your standard agreement in the downtown area, which allows for a 10-year tax rebate on the increased valuation that the project adds,” he said. “So it won’t affect the current valuation and the current taxes on it, just the increased valuation that this project has.”
The increased assessed building value after the construction is required to be at least $983,970 for the developer to be eligible for the economic development grant, according to the agreement. The assessed building value as of Jan. 1, 2025, stands at $783,970, records show.
During the council meeting, Councilman Dustin Ganfield, who represents Ward 5, asked what the likely impact of the event center would be on downtown parking.
Cedar Falls Mayor Danny Laudick said that the event center is a “good addition,” to the downtown and noted that there will be an upcoming discussion about downtown parking.
The resolution of approving and authorizing execution of an agreement for private development with Lawn City, LLC passed.
Ganfield reiterated his concern about parking.
“I just want to make sure that we keep a keen eye on that,” he said. “Obviously, knowing that there’s a conversation [about parking] coming up, that’ll be good, but 175 additional attendees colliding on downtown. I like the addition, but that’s a huge concern.”
Councilman Gil Schultz, who represents Ward 1, said he shares the parking concern but the potential attendees, he said, “would be a draw for the hotels.”
He noted that some of the guests would be parking at the hotels and walking from there.
“So you know, it’s a risk, but I think that the reward outweighs the risk of this,” he said.
City attorney Kevin Rogers explains the downtown parking ordinance
After the issue of parking was raised by council persons, I asked city attorney Kevin Rogers to explain the existing ordinance, governing parking in that district.
In a written response, Rogers said that in accordance with Cedar Falls Code Ordinance Section 26-196c1, regardless of their use, buildings fronting Main Street between First and Sixth streets, which were in existence at the time the Downtown District designation was adopted, are exempt from the minimum parking requirements.
‘This lack of minimum parking requirements for buildings fronting Main Street downtown has been in place for many years,” Rogers said, adding:
“The intent is to ensure that our beloved downtown storefront buildings can remain open and have active businesses over time. There is no room on those lots for additional on-site parking unless they tear down a building. The City does not wish for historic downtown buildings to be torn down for parking, nor does the City want the buildings to sit vacant. This provision attempts to further both purposes.”
Reached for comment after the council meeting to address the parking concerns raised by Ganfield, At-Large Councilwoman Hannah Crisman, who did not have a comment during the council meeting, said this:
“Parking shouldn’t deter anyone from visiting Main Street. Downtown is designed to be a walkable district. We already host events for hundreds of people, like ARTapalooza and the Street Party. We also have a theatre that seats 500, and a historic hotel that can accommodate 150 guests.
“Adding a new event space shows the growing demand for more ways to experience downtown, and to me, that’s worth supporting.”