Redesigning Downtown Iowa City: What Should Change?

Adding lighting, dealing with dangerous areas, making more room for cyclists, building a bandshell and including housing for professionals are among the changes some desire in downtown Iowa City.

"On the whole, I really like downtown Iowa City, but the homeless population is a big safety concern, not that we are taking care of them either," said Brody DeBettignies, 21, a University of Iowa student. "It makes people feel uncomfortable."

Iowa City is working with consultants and the public to reinvision downtown Iowa City. Wednesday was the first public input meeting of three for the "Iowa City Downtown And Pedestrian Mall Streetscape Master Plan."

The effort will end with final recommendations, such as changes to public art, signage, lighting and policies for smoking or sidewalk cafes, to City Council in January 2014. 

Bill Nusser, president-elect of the Downtown Association and owner of Hands Jewelers, says "make Iowa City clean, make it green and make it safe."

Business owners have different priorities, which has slowed changes, but this effort has the backing of the downtown business community as a whole, he said.

Nusser personally favors the continued growing taller of city buildings, heated sidewalks to help in the winter with clearing snow and adding housing for higher income level residents.

"I've seen five decades of change," Nusser said. "The problem would be if there wasn't change."

Gail Falk, of Iowa City, said she has concerns about some of the tall buildings going up, safety in certain parts of downtown and sustainability.

"My focus is on sustainability and integrating transportation so people can get around," Falk said.

Dennis Rubba, the principal of StudioInsite, encouraged the roughly 50 people in attendance to thing of big ideas, think about safety, think about parking and think about how you get around and use the downtown.

"What are the best attributes of what you have? How do we preserve that and how do we enhance it?" Rubba said. "Creating it comfortable and safe makes memorable places and encourages use of downtown."

Geoff Fruin, the assistant city manager, said the project originated when the city had roughly $850,000 of upkeep to the downtown area, and they decided to invest $258,000 in reexamining the vision with the community.

Fruin said success will not only be determined by the plan the comes out of this, but also if the result is something the community helps create and ultimately embraces.

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