Downtown
Council Bluffs
Plan
This ambitious, multi-phase urban design and redevelopment plan has prompted nearly 15 years of transformation, making downtown Council Bluffs the cultural center of the city by adding events, housing, retail and offices.
A centerpiece of the project is 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. Another major focus has been the transformation of Bayliss Park, now the public icon for the City. The park renovation included a process that engaged the citizens, integrated public art into the fabric of the park, and expanded the use of the park by many age groups. The plan's acceptance engendered 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.