Workers Move Back Into Downtown Cedar Rapids

By Mark Geary, Reporter

Looking down 2nd Ave towards the Federal Court House and May's Island after the flood in downtown Cedar Rapids on Sunday, June 15, 2008. (Steve Gravelle/The Gazette)

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By Becky Ogann

Story Created: Aug 18, 2008 at 4:23 PM CST

Story Updated: Aug 18, 2008 at 4:32 PM CST

CEDAR RAPIDS - After two months of staying away, some workers are finally coming back to downtown Cedar Rapids.

About 300 Cedar Rapids workers should be able to return to their downtown buildings over the next few weeks. It's a critical step toward recovering from the flood.

About 50 to 100 workers came back to the Great America building on Monday. Plus, a handful of small businesses and their employees also returned to work at the Armstrong Centre.

Workers at Pardata, a payroll and accounting company, spent the day cleaning desks and re-attaching wires.

While this particular business didn't have any flood damage, employees haven't been able to work out of the building until Monday morning.

The owner says he's glad to be back.

"We like being downtown and I don't think there was any question in our mind about whether we'd come back downtown. I don't think any great city can exist without a great downtown," said Terry Wightman, Pardata owner.

While many of the businesses on the upper levels of the Armstrong Centre are bouncing back, the lower level is still empty.

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