Kittrell ‘really excited’ about progress, plans for downtown CF

Downtown Cedar Falls has experienced significant growth in recent years, becoming an increasingly popular destination. One of the key figures behind this transformation is Mark Kittrell, co-founder of Eagle View Partners.

Although Kittrell is now a well-established figure in real estate, his career didn’t begin in that field.

“I worked in the IT world for about 30 years and decided it was time for a change,” Kittrell said. “At 50, I thought real estate might be a good idea.”

Kittrell has played a role in many local projects, but one that stands out is his involvement with the renovation of the Regent Theater.

“I was on the board 30 years ago when the Regent Theater was being renovated,” Kittrell said. “I also think the Black Hawk Hotel renovation and providing a nice place for people to stay were big milestones. I’m particularly proud of the Plaza as well. It’s been fun to create a venue where families and music come together.”

The Plaza was part of an ongoing expansion of Downtown Cedar Falls, including the development of State Street. The addition of local businesses, like the Plaza, has helped fuel this growth.

However, the construction of the Plaza wasn’t without its challenges.

“One of the biggest challenges was the Army Corps of Engineers working to raise the levee,” Kittrell said. “There were concerns about floods after two prior incidents, so there was a big push to better protect downtown from future flooding.”

Kittrell has long believed that the river should play a bigger role in the city’s revitalization. He sees the Plaza as a first step in making the river a focal point of Downtown Cedar Falls.

“I started with a desire to bring people back to the river,” Kittrell explained. “With the levee there, people didn’t even know the river was there. We wanted to create a space for recreation, like boating, tubing, and floating.”

Kittrell’s vision for the river continues with a new project—the whitewater course. The course is nearing completion and will offer more opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy the river.

“We’re really excited about the river project,” Kittrell said. “The new whitewater course is being finished up right now, so people will be able to do more things on the river. We’re cleaning it up and figuring out how to get boats, kayaks and canoes back on it—just like how people bike all over the city.”

Kittrell and Eagle View Partners aim to complete the Whitewater course by the end of the year.