Marion’s Central Corridor Rich with Investment Opportunity

Public Infrastructure Outlines Blueprint for Private Reinvestment

Published Friday, April 7, 2023

Marion’s Central Corridor continues to emerge as the most prominent and identifiable area within the community of Marion, IA. Over the past decade, the City of Marion has invested heavily in the Corridor through planning and infrastructure as envisioned by the Central Corridor Districts Plan, and the Uptown Master Plan. Informed by years of public input, these plans drive the growth of a unique regional business hub rich with urban-living options and entertainment destinations all focused on walkability.

In 2021, a new half-mile roadway was completed along 6^th Avenue, encompassing a twenty-block core of the Marion community. In 2023, major streetscape improvements were finished in the Uptown district featuring a new North Plaza and connecting to the award winning Uptown Artway.

The Marion Central Corridor is anchored by multi-million dollars investments including a TownPlace Suites by Marriott, the recently completed Broad & Main, planned medical services by Unity Point Health and Mercy Medical Center, a new Marion Public Library, and historic Uptown Marion comprised of more than sixty boutiques, restaurants and galleries offering an experience that’s made for you. Watch for the new Central Plaza under construction in 2023!

Marion, IA is one of the Midwest’s fastest growing cities, and one of the youngest. With a population of more than 43,000, our location offers easy access to some of the biggest cities in the Midwest. A four-hour drive takes you from Marion to Minneapolis, Chicago, Omaha, or St. Louis. Plus, we’re next door to Cedar Rapids, the second-largest city in Iowa with a population of over 130,000. Marion residents enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of a small town with convenient access to big city amenities.