Come to Iowa City Downtown Futurama Tonight

Iowa City Press Release

With new housing, new businesses, new restaurants and continued new development becoming an integral part of the face of Downtown Iowa City, it’s clear that this area is undergoing significant change. Now, the City’s Economic Development Committee is asking for opinions and input from residents to help shape the future of Downtown.

A community meeting is scheduled [TONIGHT!] Tuesday, May 29 at 6:30 p.m. in Meeting Room A of the Iowa City Public Library. The public is invited and encouraged to attend to provide input and opinions on the type of downtown they’d like to see in the future.

The meeting will be led by Marketek, a consulting company that the City of Iowa City, the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Downtown Association of Iowa City are working with to collect market data and to develop a business plan for the Downtown area. Along with the public community meeting on Tuesday, Marketek will host focus group meetings and will also conduct two surveys – one for consumers and one for business owners – that ask questions about Iowa City shopping needs, how people use Downtown, and what shoppers want to see in the future.

The surveys will be available on-line beginning May 29 at www.icgov.org/downtownsurveys on the City’s website. Printed copies will be available at the Iowa City Public Library Information Desk, and the Planning and Community Development Office at City Hall. Residents with an interest in the future of Downtown are urged to complete one of the surveys, which are due by July 9.

Wendy Ford, Iowa City Economic Development Coordinator, commented, “Iowa City’s Downtown is in the midst of some big changes with more on the horizon. Input from people who use Downtown or those who might use it will be invaluable as the community works to enhance Downtown as Iowa City’s vibrant core.”