Advancing Plans in 2015 – Washington Street and North Ped Mall

Monday, July 20, 2015 - 2:34pm
Downtown and Pedestrian Mall Streetscape Plan

In 2015 the City focused in on the highest priority locations, Washington Street and the north end of the Ped Mall. Washington Street (Clinton to Linn) was chosen because of significant utility upgrades that are needed in the corridor. Particularly, the replacement of the water main that broke in 2013 and caused significant damage to nearby properties. The age of the streetscape components and poor health of a significant number of trees was also cited as reasons for reinvestment.

The north end of the Ped Mall was repeatedly ranked as a high priority during the master plan process...

Getting started – Progress made in 2014

Monday, July 20, 2015 - 2:28pm
Downtown and Pedestrian Mall Streetscape Plan

Soon after the Master Plan was adopted the City got busy with several quick start projects in the district. Some of the more significant accomplishments in 2014 included:

Resurfacing of the Ped Mall playground Northside Building Lighting Project (led by the ICDD) Independent arborist evaluation of tree health in the district A study of multiple potential complete projects, including road diets Advance planning for the three highest priority areas, Washington Street, Dubuque Street and the Ped Mall

The advanced planning concepts that were developed in 2014 can be viewed below:...

Iowa City Police patrol vehicle struck

Monday, July 20, 2015 - 9:19am
Contact: 
Scott Gaarde
Police

On July 20, 2015 at 4:09 a.m., while conducting an unrelated traffic stop on Highway 218 northbound just south of the Melrose Avenue intersection, an Iowa City Police Department patrol vehicle was sideswiped by a pickup truck and trailer travelling northbound on Highway 218. The driver of the offending pick-up truck and trailer, which had a combine head on the trailer, continued northbound at a higher rate of speed was then followed with lights and sirens by an additional Iowa City Police Officer who was in the area. As the offending vehicle continued northbound on Highway 218, still...

13 projects awarded HUD funds to help meet Iowa City’s housing, services, and employment needs

Friday, July 17, 2015 - 4:05pm
Contact: 
Tracy Hightshoe
Communications

Thirteen community programs or projects that will help meet the City of Iowa City’s housing, public facilities, public services, and economic development needs were awarded funding on July 1, the start of the City’s new fiscal year. More than $1.5 million will be distributed, using funds the City received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships Program. These funds are provided to Iowa City from HUD each year to help meet the housing, services, and employment needs of low- to moderate-...

Party in the Park: July 23 at North Market Square Park

Friday, July 17, 2015 - 11:45am
Contact: 
Joyce Carroll
Marcia Bollinger
Parks and Recreation

North Market Square Park, at the intersection of Fairchild and Johnson Streets, will be the featured park and host site for the next Party in the Park, scheduled Thursday, July 23. Join in the neighborhood fun from 6:30 to 8 p.m. to hear live music by Pennies on the Rail, and enjoy games, arts and craft projects, and ice cream. Be sure to bring your lawn chairs or blankets! This is a no-fee event and is open to the public.

Party in the Park is sponsored by the City of Iowa City’s Parks and Recreation Department and the Neighborhood Outreach Division. A party will be scheduled in a...

Coffee with a Cop logo

Join the Iowa City Police Department for Coffee with a Cop Wednesday, July 22

Friday, July 17, 2015 - 10:31am

Join the Iowa City Police Department for Coffee with a Cop from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 22 at the Pheasant Ridge Neighborhood Center, 2651 Roberts Road. Coffee with a Cop is a national initiative that aims to build trust between community members and police officers, one cup of coffee at a time.

It’s a simple concept. Police and community members come together in an informal, neutral space to discuss community issues, build relationships and drink coffee. The majority of interactions law enforcement has with the public happen during emergencies or emotional situations....

Road construction and transit service notice: Iowa Avenue street resurfacing

Friday, July 17, 2015 - 8:37am
Contact: 
Shannon McMahon
Communications

Weather permitting, on Monday, July 20, Iowa Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic from Riverside Drive/Hwy 6 to Madison Street. This closure is necessary to facilitate the resurfacing of Iowa Avenue and will include street milling, patching and resurfacing work.

A detour route will be posted and will utilize Burlington Street. It is anticipated that normal traffic will resume by the end of the day on Thursday, July 23.

Due to the closure the Westwinds, Plaen View, Westside Hospital and Melrose Express bus routes will detour. These outbound routes will travel south on...

Iowa City neighborhoods encouraged to participate in National Night Out on August 4

Thursday, July 16, 2015 - 3:37pm
Communications

Iowa City residents are encouraged to join in with neighbors across the United States for National Night Out on August 4 to promote police-community partnerships and strengthen neighborhoods. Iowa City Crime Prevention Officer R.A. Mebus asks Iowa City residents to lock their doors, turn on porch and exterior lights, and spend the evening outdoors with neighbors and members of the Police Department. National Night Out, now in its 32nd year, is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; generate support for local anti-crime efforts; strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-...

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