Iowa City Downtown District reflects on 2023, looks to future initiatives

Attracting thousands of visitors, improved placemaking, enhancing night-time safety measures and recruiting and retaining local businesses were several of the topics at the Iowa City Downtown District’s (ICDD) annual State of the Downtown, held June 5 at the Englert Theatre. Community members and stakeholders gathered around tables on the Englert’s stage for hors d'oeuvres and drinks to hear highlights from the past year, progress with programs and initiatives, challenges, and a forecast for the coming year. “Downtown Iowa City continues to be in demand,” said ICDD’s executive director Betsy Potter. “Property values are up, tenancy is strong, vacancy rates are low, and visitation and tourism numbers” are up, she said. The highest record of visits for 2023 occurred on August 26 with 70,000 people, coinciding with the first Saturday of the University of Iowa’s academic calendar. “While tourism remains the major drive to our downtown, an important key to supporting our hotels, restaurants, storefronts…(are) the daily visitors that use the district multiple times a week,” she said, whether they be office users or community members who see the downtown as hub for all their activities. The past year was not without its challenges, however; inflation rates, shifts in property ownership, employee retention issues and an increased need for services for community members drove the district to adapt. “It is a constant need for our organization to remain flexible, innovate, and address areas of concern for the long term…we are engaged, and we are partnered to support,” said Ms. Potter. Since 2012, when the organization was created to reflect its status as a Self Supported Municipal Improvement District (SSMID), it has successfully promoted initiatives to improve Iowa City's economy and tourism efforts by providing residents and visitors with activities, improve the city landscape with public art, and recruit and retain local businesses. Placemaking continues to be a priority, said Ms. Potter. In the past year, ICDD has added a pickleball, shuffleboard and hopscotch court; introduced X Marks the Arts; increased safety for nighttime activities with a lighting and safety program; created an outdoor dining space on North Linn Street; ramped up business attraction and retention with enterprises such as In the Meantime and Retail Build-Out grants; and the most ambitious so far, introduced the addition of downtown Iowa City ambassadors, part of a collaboration between ICDD and the City of Iowa City’s partnership with Block by Block, an enhanced cleaning service.

Block by Block’s traveling project manager, Leola Maxey, took the podium to discuss the company’s goals and to set expectations. “Our whole goal and purpose of being here is to help in revitalization, as well as the vibrancy of downtown Iowa City” she said, encouraging feedback from the public. “We know that there will be mistakes made…the only way we can make (the program) right and make it better is to hear your point of view.”

Ms. Maxey introduced former Block by Block vice president of strategic growth and a “placemaker, strategist, and new urbanist” according to his LinkedIn profile, Aaron Perri. Mr. Perri shared the triumphs and struggles improving South Bend, Indiana, where he worked as an executive director for many years. Some common reasons city projects don’t take off are the excuses that “it takes too long” or “costs too much,” but Mr. Perri encouraged audience members to think boldly for their city. “Money isn’t the problem, money is the solution,” he said, praising ICDD’s efforts and improvements over the past decade, giving some advice on how to move forward. “As you’re designing that project, talk about how we are going to promote it? How is it going to be programmed?” he said, giving Block by Block and the Downtown Ambassadors as an example.

“Build experiences, start from the center,” he continued. “Apply boldness, think bigger than you are. Think bigger than you are, and endure through all of those ‘how’ questions to get to ‘yes’...you have a great group of supporters and great new leadership in Betsy. But like any great coach, like any great team, like any great community, you don't depend on yesterday's victories for tomorrow's gains.” Ms. Potter concluded the evening with a reminder to support the businesses affected by the Dubuque Street construction, and thanked them for investing in Iowa City. “You are the reason that we have vibrancy, you are what make our events fun. You are the reason for our beautification efforts and our enhanced cleaning services, and why we put on events like your upcoming block party. We could not do this without you.”