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CEDAR RAPIDS — For decades, the Riverside Roundhouse was a staple of Cedar Rapids’ historic Czech Village neighborhood.

The large, circular structure was built in 1963 near what would become the location of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library. It served as a neighborhood center for farmers markets, weddings and all kinds of community events.

“On early Saturday mornings, it was the scene of verbal jousting between (market) vendors jockeying for the best spot or sometimes it was the scene of a bit of brewhaha at weddings,” recalled District 3 City Council member Dale Todd.

Then the devastating 2008 flood swept through, and the typically busy gathering space went quiet. Like many build

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