Greater Iowa City, Inc. (Greater IC) announced its request for letters of intent and proposals from professionals across disciplines to develop its newly launched strategic investment districts. The organization aims to recruit those with subject matter expertise to transform the districts through a charrette process.
As stated in the release, this will be a community-driven, collaborative planning process that combines the interests and talents of multiple parties to support a master plan.
The strategic investment districts, announced in December 2024, aim to leverage the identity of key areas in Iowa City, North Liberty, and Coralville to attract investment, create jobs, and enhance quality of life, the release states. The North Liberty City Council recently approved a $20 million development within the Cherry Street strategic investment district.
Greater IC is seeking professionals to fill the following roles:
- Lead Designer, Plan Engineer, and Orchestrator (Process Lead) – Oversees the charrette process, ensures project cohesion, and manages stakeholder coordination. Responsible for final deliverable of charrette book.
- Designer or Landscape Architect – Assists the lead designer with technical illustrations.
- Development & Pro Forma Expert – Provides financial feasibility analysis and investment strategy development.
- Banking Sponsor & Commercial Lender (Project Sponsor) – Acts as a primary funding partner, providing commercial lending expertise and stakeholder engagement support.
- Municipal Planners – Contribute perspectives on transportation, land use, parks, and permitting.
- Artist in Residence – Infuses artistic expression into the charrette process.
- Neighborhood Representative – Serves as a liaison between the charrette team and the broader community.
- Charrette Participants & Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) – Architectural, engineering, and design professionals who will engage in planning discussions and participate in the charrette process.
- Additional Expertise (On-Call) – Affordable housing, legal, research, environmental, and business professionals to advise as needed for each district.
Interested professionals will submit a two-page letter of intent expressing their qualifications for a role in the charrette process. As stated in the release, letters should include:
- Statement of Interest – What role do you want to have in the process? Which strategic investment district do you want to be involved with? Why you are interested and how does your expertise align with the role?
- Relevant Experience – Key projects or expertise that demonstrate your qualifications or other reasons why this is important to you.
- Availability – Confirmation of your availability for the charrette timeline (April–June 2025)
- Lead Designer, Plan Engineer, and Orchestrator (Process Lead) please also share your approach to the charrette process – your methodology for contributing to a collaborative, community-driven planning process. Please also suggest two or three charrette dates you’d like Greater IC to hold for your proposed process days.
Letters of intent must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on March 28 to Cady Gerlach at [email protected].
