Wonder if they tried to get the Aegon property on the corner? Maybe cheaper to remodel an existing building instead of building a brand-new complex? Probably need to add a gym to the site.
Co-worker told me that Mount Mercy University wanted the Regis site so that could be some of their funding, plus Regis was old and needing repairs.
CEDAR RAPIDS — Xavier Catholic Schools plans to purchase and remodel the former Toyota Financial Services building in Cedar Rapids into its new, consolidated Catholic middle school.
Xavier Catholic Schools plans to transform the three-story, 109,000-square-foot building and surrounding 11 acres of land at 5005 N. River Blvd. NE into a campus for sixth- to eighth-graders that replaces Regis Middle School and LaSalle Catholic Middle School.
The goal is to complete the remodel by August 2026, but the final timeline will be contingent on donor support and construction scheduling.
The property is valuated at about $10 million, according to the Cedar Rapids Assessor’s Office.
Funding options for purchasing and remodeling the building likely will include a capital campaign, in addition to budgeted savings, donations and a short-term loan, according to a news release Thursday from the school.
“The decision to remodel the Toyota Financial facility to serve as our new middle school marks an exciting milestone in this new chapter of Catholic education in our community,” said Chris McCarville, president of Xavier Catholic Schools. “This decision is the culmination of many years of conversations. … The mission of Xavier Catholic Schools is to form disciples unafraid to follow Jesus Christ. We believe this building and campus will help us carry out that mission even better for decades to come.”
The Toyota Financial Services building has remained mostly vacant since 2022.
Eight metro area Catholic schools united as a single corporation for preschool-12 grade called Xavier Catholic Schools as of July 1. Under this plan, Regis Middle School and LaSalle Catholic Middle School will consolidate into the single location.
Consolidating the middle schools will be a more efficient use of resources and ensure tuition is the same for all middle school students in the Metro Catholic school system, school leaders say.
“United LaSalle Catholic Middle School and Regis Middle School together in this space is an excellent opportunity for us to call to mind the reason why it is important for Catholic schools to exist and that is to form disciples of Christ,” said the Rev. Gary Mayer, Xavier Catholic Schools pastoral coordinator. “For students, the middle school years represent a pivotal time in their spiritual lives. By transforming this space into a Catholic school, we are creating a transformative environment in which students can have a more impactful and immersive experience as it relates to their faith development.”
A Middle School location feasibility study committee, which included 15 individuals representing metro Catholic parishes, school administrators, and a building expert, was formed early this year. The committee met regularly over the past six months to study options and provide a recommendation for consolidating the middle schools.
The committee made its official recommendation Aug. 27 to the Xavier Catholic Schools Board to remodel the Toyota Financial Services building. The board officially adopted a recommendation to move forward in a meeting Oct. 7.
“The decision to move forward with the remodel of Toyota Financial was the result of an extensive and deliberate process. In the end, we believe that reshaping this building and its grounds to our new middle school was in the best interest of our students, teachers, staff, and our greater community,” said Brian Talyat, chair of the Xavier Catholic Schools Board.
There are nearly 2,500 students in preschool-12 grade in the Xavier Catholic Schools.
Co-worker told me that Mount Mercy University wanted the Regis site so that could be some of their funding, plus Regis was old and needing repairs.
CEDAR RAPIDS — Xavier Catholic Schools plans to purchase and remodel the former Toyota Financial Services building in Cedar Rapids into its new, consolidated Catholic middle school.
Xavier Catholic Schools plans to transform the three-story, 109,000-square-foot building and surrounding 11 acres of land at 5005 N. River Blvd. NE into a campus for sixth- to eighth-graders that replaces Regis Middle School and LaSalle Catholic Middle School.
The goal is to complete the remodel by August 2026, but the final timeline will be contingent on donor support and construction scheduling.
The property is valuated at about $10 million, according to the Cedar Rapids Assessor’s Office.
Funding options for purchasing and remodeling the building likely will include a capital campaign, in addition to budgeted savings, donations and a short-term loan, according to a news release Thursday from the school.
“The decision to remodel the Toyota Financial facility to serve as our new middle school marks an exciting milestone in this new chapter of Catholic education in our community,” said Chris McCarville, president of Xavier Catholic Schools. “This decision is the culmination of many years of conversations. … The mission of Xavier Catholic Schools is to form disciples unafraid to follow Jesus Christ. We believe this building and campus will help us carry out that mission even better for decades to come.”
The Toyota Financial Services building has remained mostly vacant since 2022.
Eight metro area Catholic schools united as a single corporation for preschool-12 grade called Xavier Catholic Schools as of July 1. Under this plan, Regis Middle School and LaSalle Catholic Middle School will consolidate into the single location.
Consolidating the middle schools will be a more efficient use of resources and ensure tuition is the same for all middle school students in the Metro Catholic school system, school leaders say.
“United LaSalle Catholic Middle School and Regis Middle School together in this space is an excellent opportunity for us to call to mind the reason why it is important for Catholic schools to exist and that is to form disciples of Christ,” said the Rev. Gary Mayer, Xavier Catholic Schools pastoral coordinator. “For students, the middle school years represent a pivotal time in their spiritual lives. By transforming this space into a Catholic school, we are creating a transformative environment in which students can have a more impactful and immersive experience as it relates to their faith development.”
A Middle School location feasibility study committee, which included 15 individuals representing metro Catholic parishes, school administrators, and a building expert, was formed early this year. The committee met regularly over the past six months to study options and provide a recommendation for consolidating the middle schools.
The committee made its official recommendation Aug. 27 to the Xavier Catholic Schools Board to remodel the Toyota Financial Services building. The board officially adopted a recommendation to move forward in a meeting Oct. 7.
“The decision to move forward with the remodel of Toyota Financial was the result of an extensive and deliberate process. In the end, we believe that reshaping this building and its grounds to our new middle school was in the best interest of our students, teachers, staff, and our greater community,” said Brian Talyat, chair of the Xavier Catholic Schools Board.
There are nearly 2,500 students in preschool-12 grade in the Xavier Catholic Schools.
