06.22.17

Roosevelt Hotel Apartments Relights Iconic Roof Sign

The iconic Roosevelt Hotel sign will once again become a feature in the downtown Cedar Rapids skyline. The Roosevelt Hotel Apartments is located at 200 First Avenue and the sign is now lit and visible in the downtown nighttime skyline. The Roosevelt Hotel Apartment developer and owner, Sherman Associates recently completed the restoration of the iconic rooftop sign that towers nearly twenty feet over the roofline of the twelve story building. The restoration involved removing and neon tubes and replacing with light emitting diodes (LED). It also involved refurbishing the letter faces and trim caps and installing new circuitry and power supplies. The sign will remain lighted every evening from sunset to sunrise. The Roosevelt Hotel, designed by the architects Krenn and Dato, was originally constructed in 1927. For almost four decades, The Roosevelt Hotel served as a premier hotel and destination for travelers to Cedar Rapids. The hotel was converted to apartments in the 1970s and was affected by the flood of 2008. Sherman Associates acquired the property in 2009 and registered it on the National Register of Historic places. Sherman utilized a variety of tax credits to rehabilitate the Roosevelt Hotel into 96 apartment units, both workforce and market-rate homes. The $11 million rehabilitation included the restoration of the brickwork, refurbishing of the windows and revitalization of the historical interior corridors and doors. New flooring, fixtures and mechanical systems were installed. Amenities at The Roosevelt apartments now include fitness center, business center, and community room. Chris Sherman, Vice President at Sherman Associates, served on Sherman’s project management team during the renovation. Restoring, installing and re-lighting the sign marks a significant milestone in The Roosevelt’s history, according to Sherman, “Cedar Rapids is a vibrant and growing city. The Roosevelt Hotel and Apartments has played a role in its history and now has a role in its bright future."