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Developer David Deeds returned to his roots after seeing potential in downtown development.
BRANDON POLLOCK / Courier Staff Photographer
BRANDON POLLOCK / Courier Staff Photographer
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David Deeds: Answering the call
By TIM JAMISON, Courier Staff Writer
Thirteenth in a series of profiles of this year's Cedar Valley Business Quarterly 20 Under 40 award recipients.
WATERLOO --- When the city of Waterloo sought developers for a downtown riverfront housing development --- in a neighborhood that had seen no new home construction and suffered depressed property values --- only one person stepped up to answer the call.
David Deeds saw something many others apparently did not: potential.
"I always liked downtown Waterloo, the history of Waterloo and particularly its industrial heritage," said Deeds. "I always liked the potential of downtown Waterloo."
The Cedar Falls High School graduate who earned a degree in accounting from the University of Northern Iowa left his home state for job opportunities in Des Moines, Topeka, Kan., and eventually Chicago, where he spent more than eight years before interest in Waterloo's downtown development plans drew him home.
"I had been thinking about it since the original Vision Iowa project was covered in the Courier," Deeds said. "I've been a season ticket holder for UNI football and basketball since I graduated, so I kept abreast of what was going on."
So when the senior housing company he was working for in Chicago was bought out, Deeds packed up and moved back to Iowa, buying and renovating a home on Mulberry Street near downtown Waterloo. He started Cedar Valley Restoration and Development, which has built two of 11 potential single-family homes known as Riverfront Village in an area near Sycamore and East Eighth streets, and is currently working in partnership with the city on the Water Street Flats and Rowhouses on the riverfront between East Seventh and East Eighth streets.
"Having lived in Chicago, I liked the urban lifestyle, where you could walk to places or take trains, and there were different businesses that weren't chains," he added. "Since I got started on this, CU, Monica's and Jameson's and other businesses have opened up downtown. Other people that are seeing the potential."
Deeds has taken his personal and business interest in the downtown area to the Main Street Waterloo board, where he now serves as vice president of the downtown promotional group and serves on two committees.
"David is the kind of person we all wish we could have on our boards and committees," said Main Street Executive Director Terry Poe Buschkamp. "He's a forward thinker and comes up with great ideas, but he's also not too busy to show up with his truck and be in our parades. He even watered plants for us downtown."
Buschkamp said Deeds is on the forefront of the residential projects taking place downtown.
"David's really pushing the entire lifestyle of livability, walkability --- live, work, play downtown," she said. "He is making an incredible commitment of time and talent."
Meanwhile, Deeds is working as an adjunct professor at UNI where he teaches accounting classes.
"I've known David since he served on the accounting advisory council (for the UNI College of Business)," said Marty Wartick, who heads the accounting program. "He's been teaching for us. This is his second year and he's absolutely wonderful ... so enthusiastic, and he brings accounting to life in the classroom.
"I know he's been acknowledged for what he's giving back (through his downtown development efforts) in Waterloo, but he's also giving so much back to the university every day in the classroom," she added.
Contact Tim Jamison at (319) 291-1577 or tim.jamison@wcfcourier.com.
WATERLOO --- When the city of Waterloo sought developers for a downtown riverfront housing development --- in a neighborhood that had seen no new home construction and suffered depressed property values --- only one person stepped up to answer the call.
David Deeds saw something many others apparently did not: potential.
"I always liked downtown Waterloo, the history of Waterloo and particularly its industrial heritage," said Deeds. "I always liked the potential of downtown Waterloo."
The Cedar Falls High School graduate who earned a degree in accounting from the University of Northern Iowa left his home state for job opportunities in Des Moines, Topeka, Kan., and eventually Chicago, where he spent more than eight years before interest in Waterloo's downtown development plans drew him home.
"I had been thinking about it since the original Vision Iowa project was covered in the Courier," Deeds said. "I've been a season ticket holder for UNI football and basketball since I graduated, so I kept abreast of what was going on."
So when the senior housing company he was working for in Chicago was bought out, Deeds packed up and moved back to Iowa, buying and renovating a home on Mulberry Street near downtown Waterloo. He started Cedar Valley Restoration and Development, which has built two of 11 potential single-family homes known as Riverfront Village in an area near Sycamore and East Eighth streets, and is currently working in partnership with the city on the Water Street Flats and Rowhouses on the riverfront between East Seventh and East Eighth streets.
"Having lived in Chicago, I liked the urban lifestyle, where you could walk to places or take trains, and there were different businesses that weren't chains," he added. "Since I got started on this, CU, Monica's and Jameson's and other businesses have opened up downtown. Other people that are seeing the potential."
Deeds has taken his personal and business interest in the downtown area to the Main Street Waterloo board, where he now serves as vice president of the downtown promotional group and serves on two committees.
"David is the kind of person we all wish we could have on our boards and committees," said Main Street Executive Director Terry Poe Buschkamp. "He's a forward thinker and comes up with great ideas, but he's also not too busy to show up with his truck and be in our parades. He even watered plants for us downtown."
Buschkamp said Deeds is on the forefront of the residential projects taking place downtown.
"David's really pushing the entire lifestyle of livability, walkability --- live, work, play downtown," she said. "He is making an incredible commitment of time and talent."
Meanwhile, Deeds is working as an adjunct professor at UNI where he teaches accounting classes.
"I've known David since he served on the accounting advisory council (for the UNI College of Business)," said Marty Wartick, who heads the accounting program. "He's been teaching for us. This is his second year and he's absolutely wonderful ... so enthusiastic, and he brings accounting to life in the classroom.
"I know he's been acknowledged for what he's giving back (through his downtown development efforts) in Waterloo, but he's also giving so much back to the university every day in the classroom," she added.
Contact Tim Jamison at (319) 291-1577 or tim.jamison@wcfcourier.com.
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Thanks! wrote on Jan 3, 2007 12:23 PM: