If you see anything in bold, this mean there is most recent updates or changes.

Cedar Falls completed buildings (no more than 3 years ago)
Target-2010
Target Food Distribution Center-2009
Buffalo Wild Wings-2010
Pizza Ranch-2010
several new homes on the edges of the urban and rural areas

Waterloo completed buildings (no more than 3 years ago)
New firehouse-2011
Sonic's Drive in-2008
Isle Casino-2008
Best Buy-2008
PetSmart-2009
Barnes and Noble-2009
Starbucks-2009
Hardee's-2010
Hibachi sushi buffet-2011
Jo-Ann craft-2011
Party City-2011
Dick's sporting goods-2011
Family Dollar @ US 63-2011
Longhorn steakhouse-2011
Best Buy-2008
Preserve at Crossroads luxury apartments (1st Phrase)-2010
Several new homes built in nook and cranny spots of the undeveloped land
A few new big warehouses in extreme east Waterloo

Under construction:
CVS/Phramacy-Possible recolating from Crossroads Mall
Phase II of Preserve at Crossroads
Hyvee @ Ansborough Ave.-Recolation from Byron St. Hyvee: Waterloo's first Hyvee store
Kwik Star in Cedar Falls close to hwy US 20/US 58

Feel free to add more to the list if you know. If there are any errors, let me know!

Thanks for the update on Waterloo - Cedar Falls. Don't feel too bad. Waterloo - Cedar Falls isn't the only Iowa city getting ignored. Nobody posts about the Capitol City of Des Moines either - which is really too bad. Des Moines led the Midwest in percentage of population growth for all metro areas with over 500,000 people. It had an 18.3% growth rate from 2000 to 2010. Second was Indianapolis with 15.2% growth; third Columbus, OH at 13.9%; fourth Madison, WI at 13.3% and fifth - Minneapolis - St. Paul at 10.5%. It would be interesting to hear what is going on in Des Moines that is helping it grow so well.

Waterloo - Cedar Falls unfortunately isn't doing quite as well. Its growth from 2000 to 2010 was 2.5% - growing from 163,706 to 167,819. Is much happening downtown? Or is most of the new development you listed above occurring in the "suburbs"? What are the biggest companies and industries in Waterloo. (Is that where John Deere is based?)

Thanks for the update on Waterloo - Cedar Falls. Don't feel too bad. Waterloo - Cedar Falls isn't the only Iowa city getting ignored. Nobody posts about the Capitol City of Des Moines either - which is really too bad. Des Moines led the Midwest in percentage of population growth for all metro areas with over 500,000 people. It had an 18.3% growth rate from 2000 to 2010. Second was Indianapolis with 15.2% growth; third Columbus, OH at 13.9%; fourth Madison, WI at 13.3% and fifth - Minneapolis - St. Paul at 10.5%. It would be interesting to hear what is going on in Des Moines that is helping it grow so well.

Waterloo - Cedar Falls unfortunately isn't doing quite as well. Its growth from 2000 to 2010 was 2.5% - growing from 163,706 to 167,819. Is much happening downtown? Or is most of the new development you listed above occurring in the "suburbs"? What are the biggest companies and industries in Waterloo. (Is that where John Deere is based?)

Yeah, I agree. Des Moines metro area should be in the discussion. West Des Moines had LOTS of growth! I saw so many brand new construction in Jordan Creek area...even the mall, too.

Waterloo/Cedar Falls...yes that you are right it is not growing much as Iowa City or Cedar Rapids. John Deere headquarters is in Waterloo, yep. Target distribution center and the food distribution center serves 6 states in the Midwest, even Minnesota where Target headquarters are. It's in Cedar Falls on Hudson Road.

Yep, most of the development are at Crossroads Mall area and other spots outside downtown. I don't see anything exciting in downtown Waterloo. Altho, they did lot of renovations to reduce lot of eyesores and did attract several small businesses to downtown. They still have a long road to go.

Is there any possibility within the foreseeable future of connecting I-380 through that short, annoying non-freeway gap in central Waterloo?

Mike

Is there any possibility within the foreseeable future of connecting I-380 through that short, annoying non-freeway gap in central Waterloo?

Mike

It does look like it's a possibility because there is a wide gap of the median which is a big grassy park where that can be done to make it a continous freeway thru the city with exit ramps. The south part for about 1/4 of a mile can be built elevated. It looks like no one uses that park so why bother wasting that energy and space? I don't know what's the use of that huge gap in the middle of the US route. I don't know if that will happen, anyhow.

http://wcfcourier.com/business/local/article_bfd6399c-6cfe-11e0-b94c-001cc4c002e0.html

WATERLOO, Iowa --- Local housing experts have noted a dearth of housing starts in the Cedar Valley the last couple of years, but they also see some signs that construction could accelerate this year.
Indeed, Waterloo city officials reported that 27 new-home permits were issued in the quarter ended March 31. Cedar Falls reported 58.
"It has been picking up," said Bill Kugler, co-owner of Kugler Construction, a Waterloo-based home builder. "We had quite a few new leads on new construction homes."
Cedar Falls remains the pace-setter for new-home construction, Kugler said.
"The Cedar Falls market has always been fairly strong," he said. "I've seen a lot of holes being dug."
But there's activity elsewhere, as well, he said.
"We've had a wide range," he said. "We've always had a few here and there in Janesville, Waverly and a couple in Waterloo, and we're looking, as well in Raymond and Elk Run (Heights), and I think there's activities in other areas, too."
Housing starts aren't generally seen as a foreshadow of economic turns, experts say. But many analysts across the country have pointed to new-home construction as a barometer for various consumer-based economic indicators. They point out that people buying new homes tend to spend money on furniture, lawn and garden supplies and appliances.
National trends down
Across the U.S., housing starts dropped 22.5 percent in February -- the latest figures available -- to an annualized rate of 479,000 units, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. The month-over-month decline in single-family starts was 11.8 percent, while multifamily starts -- which the federal government defines as more than five units -- were down 47 percent between January and February.
Compared with February 2010, before the federal homebuyer tax credit kicked in, single-family starts were down 20.8 percent in February 2011. Year-over-year, multifamily starts were actually up 54.8 percent,
Those numbers don't necessarily carry over into the Cedar Valley market, Kugler said.
"We've always been fairly steady," he said, pointing out that his company's projects "generally" have been in the $250,000 to $350,000 price range. "We're looking at doubling our year. We average about six (new homes) a year, and we're looking at 10 this year."
Steve Knapp, managing broker at Lockard Cos. in Cedar Falls, said the prospects for the upcoming building season are encouraging.
"As I look at the building season for 2011, there's some real optimism for the new units we'll be putting on the market," he said. "I have several clients I represent as a broker who are starting new homes and condos."
New properties with split commercial/residential uses are going up, as well, Knapp said.
"I have a project in downtown Cedar Falls near the library with commercial space on the main floor and upstairs some executive-type condos, depending on how we lay it out," he said.
Other new residential construction projects are popping up across town, Knapp noted.
"I'm encouraged by the activity in disparate locations," he said.
Spec-home inventory down
Spec homes remain in short supply in the area, but builders say that may loosen up a bit this year.
"Builders are feeling a little more comfortable putting some spec houses out there," Kugler said, noting that the Nordic Ridge development in Cedar Falls has six homes in various stages of progress.
Building an inventory of spec homes is not an easy proposition, Knapp said.
"This whole spec-home scenario is kind of tough as you look at it from a builder's standpoint," he said. "It kind of undulates. We have a lot of small contractors building one or two at a time, and when they see the market loading up and the absorption slows down, they get caught and stop building and, soon, we get caught with no spec homes available. It's a little conundrum."
Former Waterloo Mayor John Rooff, a developer who is currently building five spec homes in the $120,000 range near downtown Waterloo and expects to build as many as 10 more in the same price range at the old Lincoln School site, said the Cedar Valley market is ripe for building new homes.
"We're finding homes in the $120,000 to $160,000 range are readily achievable for families, but it's finding the ground and finding the customer that can be a problem because banks right now aren't willing to do much spec housing," Rooff said.
Rooff said he also has some new-home construction going in Gilbertville.
He said things are starting to look up for the new-construction business.
"It's not as good as it should be because of the economy, but programs are out there," he said. "We need plans in place, especially in Waterloo, that say this is our path to the future in building new homes and people are working at them."
Magee Construction Co. in Cedar Falls has reported positive financial results, but not from new construction, said David Holien, the firm's production manager.
"Last year was phenomenal; I was kind of surprised," he said. "It's rare if we build one new home. We're doing some additions, mostly kitchen and bath remodels, as people are staying in their own homes."

Here's other.

http://wcfcourier.com/business/local/article_c7906a56-3f43-5507-ba79-c0d86a9a4fc8.html

WATERLOO --- To reflect on 15 years of downtown revitalization, Main Street Waterloo director Jeff Kurtz borrowed a phrase from punk rock legends the Ramones.
"Waterloo is too tough to die," he said.
Main Street Waterloo marked its 15-year milestone with a banquet at the Sky Event Centre in the Black's Building Thursday night. The venue was appropriate --- a recently renovated and well-known space in downtown Waterloo, organizers said.
Part of the program following dinner looked at the origins of downtown revitalization efforts. Four groups came together to try to revive the city's center that had suffered as unemployment and population loss took its toll on Waterloo during the farm crises of the 1980s.
Kurtz invoked the Ramones' lyric describing the attitude that has brought the city back and will keep it going in the right direction.
Former Main Street Waterloo executive director Terry Poe Buschkamp attended the banquet. She held the top post from 1998 through 2008 and now works at the state Main Street office.
Buschkamp said the work and progress is due to the volunteers who donate their time to the organization's efforts.
"As much as I know people around here, I see a lot of unfamiliar faces," she said. "That's a good sign."
After reflecting on successes of bringing dozens of new businesses downtown and seeing historic spaces renovated, Kurtz urged a focus on the future.
"We can only bask in it briefly," he said. "We're not finished."

Next influx of developments come/came to town.

New amptitheather, play fountain, kids playground (part of Phelps Arts Center complex in downtown Waterloo)

Bamboo Ridge campgrounds/gas station across from Lost Island Waterpark in Waterloo. Its currently under construction. About 150 sites with 50 in the future plans with a 15 acre lake.

Proposed, 6 story apartment complex in downtown Cedar Falls right on 1st ave.

Panda Express landed on former Blockbuster store in Cedar Falls.

Any tips let us know!

They have been very busy rezoning and redeveloping Waterloo. They have torn down many vacant and bad shape houses, moved houses to new locations, etc. They seem to try their best to improve the image of Waterloo. They have done a lot for the last several years and still have a long way to go.