Courier reporter Maria Kuiper’s favorite stories of 2024
By MARIA KUIPER – Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Iowa (TNS)
Each December, Courier reporters look back at their favorite stories of the past year. We ask them to pick their favorites: not necessarily the biggest stories of the year, just the ones they found most interesting.
Some are heart-warming. Some are amusing. Some are wistful. We hope you find all of the articles collected here to be interesting.
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View of the main entrance for the proposed new Waterloo high school located on the Central Middle School/Waterloo Career Center campus.
Waterloo Schools makes history with vote for single high school
The effort by the Waterloo Community Schools’ Board of Education to create a consolidated high school spanned the entirety of 2024.
The plan was first introduced in November 2023 and was approved by voters in the district in November 2024.
The high school, which will be located at the current Central Middle School, is “the biggest decision ever to be made” in the district, school board president Astor Williams said.
The project will be funded with $165 million of revenue bonds from the statewide 1% sales tax instead of raising property taxes.
The project was approved by the board in July – not requiring a public vote since it was not raising taxes. However, residents whipped up a petition with about 2,400 signatures to put the issue on the ballot, with the message that they wanted a choice in the matter.
Nearly 60% of voters approved the high school. The measure needed 50% to pass.
Waterloo high school overall site view
An overall view of the proposed new Waterloo high school. The portion of the building in the middle with a gray roof denotes the current structure. The portions with the white roofs denote new construction. That includes an academic wing, fine arts wing, main commons, athletic complex and hall of pride.
The school, set to open for the 2028-29 school year, will hold 10th through 12th graders from East and West high schools – about 2,000 students. Eighth and ninth graders will attend the current East and West high school buildings.
More specific plans for the school are expected in 2025.
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Crossroads Center mall in Waterloo will be demolished and the area redeveloped.
Crossroads Mall to be demolished and revitalized
After Crossroads Mall sat nearly vacant for more than five years, the city announced a formal plan to demolish the structure with hopes of redeveloping the area.
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A view of Crossroads Center shopping mall in May 2014.
The near-empty mall off of San Marnan Drive is slated to be replaced with standalone stores, apartments, ball courts and recreation areas after the Waterloo City Council approved a $20 million development agreement with Waterloo Crossroads Development LLC in November.
The developer’s Iowa-based management team representative McClure razed and redeveloped Fort Dodge’s former mall.
From 2015 to 2020, Crossroads lost JCPenney, Dillard’s, Sears, Younkers and Gordman’s. At Home, which took the place of JC Penney, closed in 2023. The only stores left in the once-bustling mall are U.S. Cellular, H&R Block, two restaurants, a massage business and space for military recruiters.
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Shoppers in the Crossroads Shopping mall in Waterloo for the “Moonlight Madness” event, July 16, 1970.
The city will reimburse the development group for the acquisition and demolition of the mall with TIF dollars.
McClure is expected to close on the sale with New York-based Namdar Realty Group in January. Namdar also owns College Square Mall in Cedar Falls.
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Sheets of plywood cover windows at the Logan Avenue Hy-Vee in Waterloo on June 3, 2020.
North Waterloo Hy-Vee closes leaving neighborhood without grocery store
Grocery chain Hy-Vee unexpectedly announced the closure of its Logan Avenue store in May, leaving a hole in the neighborhood.
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Customers at the Logan Avenue Hy-Vee shop amid the empty shelves at the soon-to-be closed store on June 6.
The announcement the store would shutter in June also included stores in Cedar Rapids and Davenport. All three locations were situated in low-income neighborhoods that are now considered food deserts.
Hy-Vee had existed in the area since 1969. The company told the city it had been losing “seven figures a year for years,” according to Councilmember Nia Wilder, whose ward represents the neighborhoods around the store.
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A shopper looks at the empty meat and produce section at the Logan Avenue Hy-Vee on June 6.
The company attempted to hold a positive event offering a free cookout in June, but customers taking in the emptiness couldn’t have cared less.
“I’m livid,” said Amy Weston, who lives in rural Waterloo and works nearby at Allen College. “It’s the only thing over here.”
At the closing event, many residents said they would switch to getting groceries two miles away at All In Grocers. However, that new neighborhood grocery store closed just three months later. The nearest stores are now places like Dollar General or Walgreens. Actual grocery stores are located near Crossroads Mall or the Hy-Vee on Ansborough Avenue – both nearly six miles away.
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Shoppers look over barren produce shelves at the Logan Avenue Hy-Vee on June 6.
Customers at the Logan Avenue Hy-Vee also lost Veridian Credit Union. The company said a new credit union will be built in the same area, north of McDonald’s.
Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart said he was disappointed with the Hy-Vee decision, especially since the 180-unit North Crossing apartments, a senior living facility and a day-care center are near completion. He said the city is continuing to look for opportunities to place a new grocery store in the area.
12 Cats of Christmas 2024
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