Downtown Council Bluffs Plan

After nearly 15 years of implementation, downtown Council Bluffs has literally transformed to include more events, housing, retail and office.  It has become the cultural center of the city. A centerpiece of the project was the development of the 100 Block of Broadway, representing over $5 million in public improvements and sprouting new iconic businesses/housing to eradicate the area’s high vacancy rate. The public improvements along Broadway have also generated a private market reaction, restoring facades and improving interiors.  Consistent with plan recommendations, downtown is establishing a management structure by creating a Downtown Partnership through the MainStreet program.   Citizens of Council Bluffs quickly rallied behind the idea of renovating Bayliss Park and Fountain.  The park has become the public icon for the City.  The renovation included a process that engaged the citizens, integrated public art into the very fabric of the park, and expanded the use of the park by many age groups. This massive project showed that major beneficial change results from a common purpose. The plan’s acceptance produced support for restoring and rehabilitating historic structures in surrounding neighborhoods, including the West Residential and Bluff Street area.  The city subsequently completed a plan to improve the adjacent Bluff Street neighborhood and reinforced its connection to downtown.