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The Hill High Point

College Hill Partnership Update

March 2022

As we draw close to the 2022 annual meeting, we thought we should send out an update of the past year.

In 2022 the College Hill Partnership has worked on many projects that align with our mission. “College Hill Partnership (CHP) is a non-profit organization that serves as the leader in revitalization and promotion of the College Hill area, an urban neighborhood community. The scope of its mission includes promoting healthy neighborhood businesses and housing enhancement; strengthening collaboration and pride; developing public/private partnerships; and serving as an advocate for addressing area concerns.”

To name a few, we have worked closely with city staff to ensure the word got out about the College Hill Vision Plan and the data that was collected from the public, including many of you. We hope that the Imagine Hill Vision Plan will lead to meaningful zoning code changes. These changes will allow the Hill to provide a wide range of housing options, including the missing middle housing Cedar Falls so desperately needs and growth in our business district to improve the economic vibrancy of the Hill. In addition to new housing and business opportunities, the upcoming zoning code changes will continue to value the historical nature of our neighborhood district and work to stabilize the mix of owner-occupied homes and rental homes in our neighborhood.

This year we have also welcomed many new members to our board, including Hannah Crisman, Frank Darrah, Sam Blatt, and Angela Johnson. We look forward to their continued involvement in the CHP and the elections at the annual meeting to include additional new board members.

Throughout the year, as always, we co-hosted several College Hill clean-ups. We worked collaboratively with Green Iowa Americorps, Threehouse Collaborative Miseries, UNI NOW, and the City of Cedar Falls to successfully clean the Hill. Clean-ups help us care for the Hill during the high traffic times, including the start and end of school and holidays like Halloween. In addition to clean-ups, the College Hill Partnership, with the help of an economic development grant from the City of Cedar Falls, can hire a very part-time staff member to help clean and care for the Hill. Trevor Smith has been a loyal employee doing his best to help us keep the Hill tidied and collaborates with our beautification committee to work to keep the Hill watered and weeded.

Over the last few months, the CHP has used several new committees to push forward some of the initiatives from the CHP Board. For example, our “Light Up College Hill” committee has been doing a lot of research to bring an iconic public light display to the Hill. We know the importance of placemaking for a cohesive district, and the CHP Board believes that lighting could be a natural step forward to creating a welcoming entertainment district.

Our Seerley Park commitee received the great news that the City of Cedar Falls has committed to a $300,000 project to revitalize and renew the park. This committee is committed to improving the park’s aesthetics, working towards better accessibility of the park, and ensuring the historical elements of the neighborhood and park are kept. The committee is looking forward to raising funds to improve the park soon.

Our communication committee jump started a new program called Saturdays in Seerley which the CHP hosted neighbors in Seerley Park for free coffee and breakfast sweets. As a result, we were able to bring neighbors together, have conversations about the neighborhood, talk with elected officials, and discuss potential park improvements.

Some other highlights of 2021-2022 have been:

Adding new tables to Pettersen Plaza thanks to the Friends of Pettersen Plaza and the Community Betterment Grant awarded to the CHP by the Cedar Falls Tourism and Travel Bureau
The first Illuminate Light Festival co-hosted with Dana Potter’s University class
UNI Homecoming Window Painting
2022 Named the Year of College Hill by Mayor Rob Green

Proclamation naming 2022 the year of College Hill

We are looking forward to a great new 2022-2023 year, where we plan to host many more events and continue to work towards a more inviting and revitalized College Hill District. Some upcoming events include:

CHP Annual Meeting April 9th, 6pm at Octopus (Learn More HERE)
Neighborhood Garage Sale April 30th, 9am-3pm (Learn More HERE)
Start of College Hill Farmers Market in the middle of May (Learn More HERE)
Saturdays in Seerley, join us for the first one, May 14th
or all the upcoming College Hill events check out the CHP Calendar of Events

Other things to watch out for in 2022-2023:

Parking lot improvements in the College Hill Business District
Invitation to share your time, talents, and treasures to support Seerley Park Improvements
Announcement about the College Hill Arts Festival
Additional improvements to Pettersen Plaza

We hope you will join us soon at one of our events or join in the fun of service by giving your time and talents to one of our committees or fundraising efforts.

March 24, 2022 / Comments Off 2294

Mohair Pear’s Pear Fair #10

Pear Fair #10 is headed back to the Hill. Mohair Pear started the annual event in the spring of 2010. They felt hosting an outdoor fair was a great way to showcase local and regional artists to the customers directly. Each year the event has been an outdoor indie fair that bring hand made items to College Hill in Cedar Falls.

We are excited to see you on the Hill for Pear Fair on Saturday, September 25th, from 11:00am to 5:00pm. Weekend parking on the Hill is always free to head up and make it a day on the Hill with your favorite beverages and food from any of the College Hill businesses while you enjoy all the amazing art at Pear Fair.

Pear Fair is located in the parking lot on the corner of West 22nd and College Streets. Come visit vendors like: Wild Sky Studio, Mama Mage, Tena & State, and Arctic Summer. La Calle will also be back on the Hill during the event.

For more information head to http://thepearfair.com/. Or check them out on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thepearfair/.

September 23, 2021 / Comments Off 2127

August 2021 College Hill Parking Update

Here is what you need to know:

1. Parking changes which include paid lots are effective immediately.

2. Both Lots, 22nd Street West (L shaped lot on behind Sidecar Coffee, Chad’s Pizza, and includes diagonal parking in lot North of Octopus) and 22nd St Street East South (Behind The Other Place) will require payment to park (through Park Smarter App, or Kiosk)

3. If you are interested in purchasing a parking pass (this pass can only be used for 22nd Street East South Lot) you can do so here: https://www.thepermitportal.com/IPS

4. There will still be “Free” Parking (15 minute, 1 hour, 2 hour, & day parking on the Hill). This includes alternating street parking (which is all day), street parking (on College, W 22nd, & W 23rd, and parking lot parking. Those lots are 22nd Street East North (2 hour), 23rd Street East (1 Hour), 20th Street East (2 Hour).

Are you looking for more long term options?

Check out the Parking Permit Option for Lot 22nd Street East South. Parking Permits cost $35/month (as of 8/5/2021) and can be purchased by going to https://www.thepermitportal.com/. (Instructions on how to purchase are shown above.)

Or know that there will still be FREE (2+ Hour) street parking on the bordering streets of the Hill. We just encourage you to check signage before you park as many times there are alternating days.

To learn more about the pay by visit method & how to uses Park Smarter App:

Check out brochure above or head to https://smartcity.ipsgroup.com/cedarfalls/. To download the Park Smarter App head to the Apple Store, Google Play Store, or https://www.parksmarter.com/.

Remember if you are going to be using the Smart Park App, or Kiosk you will need to know:

Your license plate number
Enforcement of all parking on and near the Hill is enforced Monday-Friday from 9am-6pm
You can use pay stations or download the Park Smarter App to your smart device

For more information about parking system please check out https://smartcity.ipsgroup.com/cedarfalls/. Please note there have also been changes to the parking system in the Downtown District. For more information about parking changes there head to https://www.cedarfalls.com/1513/Downtown-Parking.

Have feedback or opinions on the new parking system? We’d love to hear them. Head to our feedback form (https://forms.gle/Ewar72Wfb7EevF37A) and submit either with our name or without to pass along your feedback to the College Hill Partnership Board of Directors and our partners at the City of Cedar Falls.

August 5, 2021 / Comments Off 1493

Flash from the Past: The Hill High Point

College Hill Partnership First Newsletter from 2009

Check out the the newsletter from 2009 with notes from the President, Dave Deibler, CHP Coordinator and UNI student Adam Bentley and more.

“College Hill has changed dramatically since I first encountered it. People shop differently then they did back then. This has affected the businesses located on College and 23rd Streets and retail areas like it all around the country. On the residential side, increased student population has changed the face of neighborhoods through out the College Hill overlay. What will the next thirty five years bring? We cannot be sure, but I feel that it is full of promise. We have a unique opportunity, now more than ever, to shape what College Hill is and what it will become. I strongly believe that the Streetscape construction project mounted by the city of Cedar Falls is the start of a new era for all of us who live, work and play on the Hill.

So, how does the College Hill Partnership fit into all of this? Most importantly, I think, is the fact that we are the first organization to really try and manage and consider College Hill as a whole. Retail and residential as one. We are also locating grants and other funding opportunities that can benefit this area. The CHP is looking to sponsor and stage educational and artistic events through out College Hill (including Seerley Park and our new pocket park). We are working hard to improve communication between students, land lords, businesses, families and anyone having a presence on College Hill.” Dave Deibler, 2009.

2009 was also the year of the College Hill Streetscape. You will find details about the project in the Newsletter below.

To Read Whole The Newsletter Click >Download

March 16, 2021 / Comments Off 1154

Draft Of Imagine College Hill Vision Plan Ready for Public Feedback

The Draft Imagine College Hill Vision Plan is ready to review! Based on extensive public input gathered over the last nine months, including the Public Kick-Off events, numerous focus group discussions and interviews with community stakeholders, and the week-long Virtual Design Charrette the City held this past October, the plan will provide a framework for future growth and development on College Hill and nearby neighborhoods. All members of the public are welcome to download and review the draft.

We encourage you to review the plan by going to the draft College Hill Vision Plan and watching the presentation and downloading the pdf. After you have time to review the draft vision plan we hope you will take some time to fill out the survey which also can be found here College Hill Draft Vision Plan.

Please feel free to reach out to the CHP with any questions or comments! collegehillpartnership@gmail.com.

Thank you all for everything you do for the Hill and your continued support in making our community a better place to live work and play.

March 10, 2021 / Comments Off 1439

Pettersen Plaza Expansion & Olive Street Box Culvert

The City of Cedar Falls is looking for feedback from you on an upcoming project regarding the Olive Street Culvert. They are hoping you will review the video and provide feedback on the worksheet (via email) both can be located on the website below. This project is a large improvement for the College Hill District. We hope you will take time to provide your opinions on this project as we want this project to serve all in our neighborhood.

Learn more and provide feedback about the Pettersen Plaza Expansion Project/ Olive Street Culvert

Head to https://www.cedarfalls.com/1591/Olive-Street

Stay up to date with the entire process by liking the Olive Street Box Culvert Facebook Page

Olive Street

Find information about Olive Street Construction here.

Virtual Public Information Meeting

Open January 4, 2021 – January 18, 2021

The City of Cedar Falls is conducting a Virtual Public Information Meeting to obtain information for the Olive Street Box Culvert Project and to present initial alternatives that are being considered. This project is located on Olive Street between W. 20th Street and W. 21st Street in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and includes the extension of the Pettersen Plaza.

All interested persons are invited to view the virtual presentation and submit their feedback or questions via e-mail, phone, or by mail by January 18, 2021.

View the Public Information Meeting here:

Submit your comments or questions:

If you have any questions or comments regarding the meeting, please notify the Cedar Falls Engineering Division at (319) 268-5161 or complete a comment sheet: Olive Street Comment Sheet (Pdf) Olive Street Comment Sheet (Word) and email it to OliveStreet@CedarFalls.com.

Stay updated throughout the meeting process by finding us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/OliveStreetBoxCulvert/.

January 6, 2021 / Comments Off 2331

OUR CEDAR FALLS IMAGINE COLLEGE HILL – Virtual Design Charrette Oct 3rd-8th

We hope you will join us for Imagine College Hill Charrette Week Oct 3rd – 8th.

What is the Virtual Design Charrette?

A virtual community design charrette focuses on the College Hill area and surrounding neighborhoods. Events will take place on-line, beginning with a Hands-On Visioning session on Saturday morning and wrapping-up with a Work-in Progress presentation the following week.

There will be several other opportunities for public involvement via the web, including daily studio updates, topical presentations, questions and surveys, and opportunities to virtually “drop-in” to the studio to talk with members of the design team. All are encouraged to participate. This effort will lead to a new College Hill Vision Plan, followed by updates to the zoning code for the area.

How Do I Participate?

Check https://ourcedarfalls.com/ for more details and the weblink for each virtual activity.

Important Dates:

October 3: 9:00 am – 11:00 am. The week will start with a virtual Hands-on Community Design Workshop on Saturday morning. Participate from the comfort of your own home (or any other location you choose with an internet connection!) City residents will gather virtually to share their ideas about the future of College Hill. The workshop will include on-line facilitated small group discussions. People will share their aspirations for the future — using words and images to discuss topics like urban design; walkability; character and scale of new buildings; areas for change; and areas for protection. Facebook EVENT – With Zoom Information
October 5: 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm; October 7, Noon – 1:00 pm. Virtual Design Studio. “Drop” by at scheduled times to chat with the design team!! The design team will work remotely all week, building on the ideas from the Hands-On Community Design Workshop, exploring and testing options, getting feedback, and creating drawings and visualizations to help us imagine the future of College Hill and surrounding neighborhoods. The studio will be “open” at several times during the week and you are welcome to “stop by” and ask questions about the teams work. October 5th Facebook Event – With Zoom Information, October 7th Facebook Event – With Zoom Information
October 14: 5:30 pm. Wednesday evening, Charrette Week activities will conclude with a “Work-in-Progress” presentation during the Planning Commission meeting. The design team will share the preliminary work on the College Hill Vision Plan. Facebook Event- With Zoom Information

Why is this important?

Because you want…

a vibrant neighborhood center that provides a wide variety of goods, services, and activities for students and the larger community;
the edges of College Hill to transition to your neighborhoods in a positive way;
walkable neighborhoods with a variety of housing types for people of all ages;
your children to inherit a Cedar Falls that is a great place to live, work, and play;
a community that is designed to manage the growth pressures of today and tomorrow,
a chance to express your opinions on College Hill and future developments.

We hope you will join us for this exciting event to help shape the future of College Hill. Again, for more details head over to https://ourcedarfalls.com/. And if you have any questions please feel free to reach out to us at collegehillpartnership@gmail.com.

September 29, 2020 / 1 9317

College Hill COVID-19 Update

You Asked & We Answered!

We have been working hard to get a DATABASE (CLICK HERE) out to you College Hill LOVERS. This information will help you support your favorite College Hill Businesses during this time. We know this ever changing situation for you and for College Hill Businesses and we want to help you through it.

We are going to be working to update this DATABASE (CLICK HERE) on an as needed basis to make sure you know what is happening on College Hill. Because this is an ever changing situation we have chosen to use Google Docs to be able to make changes promptly (we know it isn’t the prettiest). We realize Google-Docs isn’t for everyone. If you would like updated pdfs sent to your email just below contact us at collegehillpartnership@gmail.com and we would be happy to get updates as soon as we can!

Wait There Is More…

We know that if you love College Hill you love our community. So we wanted to provide you with additional form of links to community sites. These sites have updated information regarding COVID-19 and our community. Form located HERE.

A big THANK YOU all of our community. You have come together to support your neighbors, friends, and all of us on College Hill. And for that we want to say thank you. It is so awesome to see the amazing community we have here in the Cedar Valley.

COLLEGE HILL BUSINESSES- If you need information updated on this database please email collegehillpartnership@gmail.com so we can get them updated asap. We hope to help you serve your customers, clients and community!

March 22, 2020 / Comments Off 1692

Join the College Hill Partnership Today

Join the College Hill Partnership Today!

Become A Member of the College Hill Partnership

This year the College Hill Partnership is working to be more efficient. You could say it’s the CHP’s New Year’s Resolution. With that in mind, the Board passed a resolution at our October Board Meeting to ensure the membership application process is streamlined & open for a longer period of time to encourage increased participation in the College Hill Partnership.

Benefits to CHP Membership:

Vote for board members and any changes made to bylaws in the upcoming election
Free food at the annual meeting
All formal communication includes: updates, minutes, agendas, meeting reminders
Opportunity to participate in the College Hill Neighborhood, and projects that better our community
And the satisfaction you are making the Hill a better place

To obtain all the privileges above you must:

Request an application via email and mail or email completed application to:

PO Box 974

Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613

OR

complete an application online HERE prior to March 1, 2019

Submit dues by mail or online (amount of $25) prior to March 1, 2019

A resolution passed allowed two possible ways to have membership dues waived. Each person who qualifies for the waiver program has been notified by email. Didn’t receive an email notifying you of your qualification for a waiver and you believe you qualify for one please submit a request for waiver via email to collegehillpartnership@gmail.com?

Waiver Opportunities:

During CHP’s calendar year (May 2018 to March 2019) you have volunteered for CHP events, or committees totaling over five hours. College Hill Partnership Monthly and Annual Board meetings do not qualify towards these hours.
You own property in the College Hill Overlay SSMID district and pay taxes into the SSMID fund helps support the CHP.

If you qualify for the wavier opportunities you will receive one membership which is non-transferable. An application must be submitted by the deadline (March 1, 2019) for you to obtain all privileges listed above. A record of volunteer hours (dates, times, description) must be provided with the application if requesting a waiver.

SHARE!

We encourage you to share this blog with members of the community who might like to be a part of our wonderful organization. If there are any questions about the application process please reach out to Kathryn Sogard either by phone (319)-830-6338 or email collegehillpartnership@gmail.com.

January 22, 2019 / Comments Off 2920

College Hill Gift Certificates

Did you know that the Hill has gift certificates?

Created by the College Hill Partnership, College Hill gift certificates can be purchased by cash or check at Copyworks on the top of the Hill (2227 College Street) and can be used at over 30 locations on the Hill. These gift certificates are perfect for holiday gifts, birthdays or even for the avid UNI fan. The gift certificates come in increments of $20 and NOW $5. They are great for anyone who spends a lot of time near the Hill. Pick up your College Hill gift certificates today.

NEW FOR THE 2022 CHFM SEASON!! Now you can use the College Hill Gift Certificates at the College Hill Farmers Market! And NOW purchase your CH Gift Certificates at the Cedar Falls Visitors Center.

Not currently accepting CH Gift Certificates at the following locations (List updated March 2021):

Tales Untold Tattoo, Wild Hair Salon, Insomnia Cookies, Third Eye Tattoo, Domino’s, Asian Tuna

October 11, 2018 / 1 3098