$161,267Average Value$142Average Price per Sq Ft11Homes For Sale
Small town vibes on the Cedar River
Hugging the western bank of the Cedar River, the Northwest Area offers a mostly residential retreat just 1 mile from downtown Cedar Rapids. “It has a little neighborhood feel to it,” says Jill Monnahan, a Realtor with Skogman Realty who’s served the area for over 25 years. “You run into the same people at the grocery store all the time.” Impacted by the 2008 Iowa Flood, the Northwest Area was the last local community to be approved for rebuilding by the city. This process begins in the summer of 2024. In the interim, local organizations sprang up to support the neighborhood. “We’re getting back to where we were,” says Al Pierson, a lifelong resident and president of the Northwest Neighbors Neighborhood Association. “Slowly but surely.”
The entrance to the Northwest Area neighborhood.
Stunning aerial view: a vibrant Northwest Area filled with charm and community spirit.
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Older homes and modern condos
While some houses have been built since the 2010s, most homes in the area are from the turn of the 20th century or an expansion period just after World War II. As a result, Craftsman, Cape Cods and bungalows stand beside split-levels and ranch-style homes in a grid of well-worn streets. Sidewalks are typical, as are alleys behind homes that provide access to garages and backyard driveways. Lawns tend to be small in the older sections of town, although corner lots are often the exception. Prices begin in the low $70,000s for fixer-upper and rise to the mid-$100,000s for renovated turn-of-the-century homes. Newer construction peaks in the mid-$200,000s. Riverside condos range from the high $300,000s to the low $400,000s.
Find a beautiful historic builds through out the Northwest Area neighborhood.
Modern townhomes can be rented and purchased in the Northwest Area.
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Golf and waterskiing at Ellis Park
Athletics and outdoor activities are a big draw. Locals are fond of recreational boating and water skiing during the summer and sledding on the gentle slopes during the winter. Time Check Park has sports courts and fields in the middle of the neighborhood, which also borders the 400-acre Ellis Park in the north. Ellis has a boat harbor, baseball diamonds and an 18-hole golf course. Another highlight is the Northwest Recreation Center, which has a full-size gymnasium, game rooms and lounges in a 16,000-square-foot facility built in 2016. “People come here for the recreation,” Pierson says. “It’s like living next to a country club with no membership fee.” The Northwest Area is also home to the Mother Mosque of America, the first building in the country designed as a place of worship for Muslims. Built in 1934, it now serves as the Islamic Cultural and Heritage Center, offering support for Muslims and providing education and service to the surrounding community.
Catch a game of golf at the Ellis Golf Course, just outside of Northwest Area.
Northwest Area neighborhood is a rock throw away from Cedar River.
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Easy access to downtown and the Eastern Iowa Airport
Interstate 380 provides a direct route to Iowa City, less than 30 miles south, while Cedar Rapids’ downtown and Mercy Medical Park are a mile southeast across the river. The Eastern Iowa Airport is 9 miles south. “The airport is amazing,” says Monnahan. “It’s small enough that you don’t have to be there for more than an hour before your flight.” Public transportation is popular, and the Cedar Rapids Transit bus line provides access to the city and surrounding area for $1 a ride.
Cedar Rapids Transit takes Northwest Area residents anywhere they want to go.
Downtown Cedar Rapids is minutes away from the Northwest Area neighborhood.
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Robotics at Trinity Lutheran School
Students can begin their education at Harrison Elementary on the western edge of the community before attending the Roosevelt Creative Corridor Business Academy, both of which score a C on Niche. From there, they can enroll at Thomas Jefferson High School, rated B-minus and known for sweeping the National Academic Decathlon in 2022. Private schools include Trinity Lutheran School, which serves K-8th grade. Trinity offers extracurricular programs in robotics and a variety of athletics, including cross country, basketball and flag football. Iowa’s open enrollment policy allows parents to choose which school their child will attend, regardless of district.
Jefferson High School caters to high school students of Northwest Area neighborhood.
A view of the Roosevelt Creative Corridor Business Academy in the Northwest Area.
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Comfort food at Rumors
Most bars and restaurants are scattered along F Avenue NW and near the neighborhood's southern border. Rumors Bar and Grill is a classic sports bar providing drinks, live entertainment and gourmet comfort food through the family-owned Silver Fox Kitchen. Residents can see bands or play pool and darts at Cedar River Landing. Farther north in the neighborhood, Casey's sells pizza, doughnuts and coffee. Hy-Vee’s Grocery Store and Walgreens can be found 2 miles west. The Corner Store, a non-profit grocery store dedicated to providing affordable and free groceries and produce, sits just south of F Avenue NW.
Northwest Area residents rely on HyVee Drugstore for their last minute needs.
Northwest Area residents can enjoy food and drinks at the newly built Big Grove Brewery.
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Get to know the neighbors on a Night Out
The area is known for its community spirit, and local organizations host regular events throughout the year. They include harbor-view fireworks on Independence Day and an annual National Night Out, an evening of food and entertainment centered around building stronger bonds between neighbors.
Mega Markets at Cultivate Hope Urban Farm offer a unique blend of food and entertainment.
Theatre Cedar Rapids in Downtown, offer residents of Northwest Area a place to catch a show.
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Important to know
Cedar Rapids has a history of flooding, including in 2008, which when nearly 10,000 people were displaced and nearly 8,000 pieces of property were damaged or destroyed. Among the community groups that were formed in subsequent years is Matthew 25, a group dedicated to providing food and housing to displaced residents. In addition to an urban farm, home repair initiatives, and a non-profit grocery store, Matthew 25 has developed the Groundswell Café, a breakfast and lunch spot with a pay-it-forward option that provides meals to those in need. Many attribute this level of community involvement to the area’s safety. “You look at the crime statistics and it’ll tell you: we’re one of the safest neighborhoods in Cedar Rapids,” Pierson says. The city's flood-protection efforts in Northwest Area will include a new, earthen levee.
GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Northwest Area, Cedar Rapids sell after 28 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Northwest Area, Cedar Rapids over the last 12 months is $154,000, up 14% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Corner house with oversized two-car garage! Plenty of natural light throughout this NW side classic two story with covered front porch PLUS rear deck. Formal dining room. Extra large living room. Access to backyard and garage from kitchen. All bedrooms and full bath on second level. Practical, functional floor-plan. Close to parks and schools. Easy access to Downtown CR and I-380.
Property Id: 2036099This cool 3 bedroom 1 bathroom apartment on the Northwest side of Cedar Rapids is located on the second floor of an old fire house. Near where the casino is being built. Fill out a pre-screener to schedule a tour!
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
