IC pays UNI $45K to figure out what to do with downtown

[TH1974]

They're going to need help figuring out what to do with all the vacant bars, apparently.

Consultants help Iowa City diversity downtown

BY NICOLE KARLIS | APRIL 12, 2010 7:30 AM

The Summit used to be a Lands’ End clothing store. A Hardee’s once served burgers where Brothers Bar & Grill sits. And a luggage shop occupied the site of what is now bring-your-own-food establishment Pints.

But these vendors — like much of downtown’s business diversity — are gone.

That’s why Iowa City officials say they are working with consultants from the University of Northern Iowa to assess which businesses can succeed downtown. They’ve invested $45,000 for a feasibility study, whose results are due by the end of this month.

“We’re trying to look at what is most appropriate for downtown Iowa City,” said Wendy Ford, the city’s economic-development coordinator. “The next step is to put a plan together and make it work.”

Consultants from Northern Iowa’s Regional Business Center will recommend the types of businesses that might succeed and how the city can attract them using a business-incubation program — “an economic-development tool designed to accelerate the growth and success of entrepreneurial companies through an array of support resources and services,” according to the group’s website.

The program has worked with downtown Waterloo and Cedar Falls.

Iowa City’s desire to further assess the market stems from a 2007 analysis that indicated the downtown needed more diversity. The 192-page report then cited an “oversupply” of bars as one of the top challenges vexing the area.

The reason? Many point to the exodus that followed Coral Ridge Mall opening in 1998.

“We didn’t have a huge number of bars like we do now,” former Iowa City Mayor Ernie Lehman said. “Things started to deteriorate downtown.”

With many of the stores — including Lehman’s shop, Enzler’s — leaving, several bars moved in to fill the vacancies. The year the mall opened, the number of venues serving alcohol downtown was 27.

By 2005, the number jumped to 43, according to data former UI Provost Peter Nathan compiled in a study of alcohol accessibility near campus.

Ford cited the Northern Iowa collaboration, inked in a contract on Nov. 17, 2009, as a possible avenue toward remedying the bar density. Any developments after the 2007 study were largely hindered by the 2008 flood, she said.

“You want to have a downtown that is vibrant day and night,” Ford said.

The City Council’s recent move to make bars 21-only after 10 p.m. has many others wondering how the city may adapt.

Some local bar owners have expressed concern about dwindling revenue eventually forcing them to close their tavern doors. The new 21-ordinance will become effective June 1; citizens can push it onto the November ballot with 2,500 signatures.

“I won’t make it till November,” said Marty Maynes, the owner of Union Bar, at a March 29 City Council meeting. “I don’t have any delusions of grandeur about staying in business that long.”

If his bar closes, an ordinance that restricts where drinking establishments can open may prevent another alcohol-only watering hole from taking its place. The implications of that 500-foot rule, effective last July, have yet to be seen.

Other bar employees, such as Tom Lenoch, have said they are not too concerned.

“I’m not afraid of anything different,” he said. As general manager of Jakes, the Summit, and Vito’s, he said, he will likely just have to change his marketing strategy to target an older crowd.

One thing that is certain? The future for many bars is uncertain.

“Business climates change — it happens whether you make toothbrushes, cut hair, or sell beer,” Ford said.

At least one city official said he hopes to see fewer selling the latter.

City Councilor Mike Wright said he wants more venues that aren’t “alcohol-driven.”

Though he is skeptical about returning to a retail-oriented, pre-Coral Ridge Mall downtown, he said, he’s heard residents express a desire for more diversity.

http://dailyiowan.com/2010/04/12/Metro/16673.html

[RecreationalGynecologist]

It may help to increase enrollment? Are there a lot of housing options near the hill that are affordable?

[Lime]

It may help to increase enrollment? Are there a lot of housing options near the hill that are affordable?

What does a lack of affordable housing options near the Hill have to do with Iowa City?

[ISUFan98]

I remember being at that Hardees when the bars closed. Un. Real.

[RecreationalGynecologist]

Oh never mind..I assumed they were talking about the Hill area of Cedar Falls.. That makes no sense btw

[Lime]

Iowa City needs to wake up and realize that the shops aren't coning back. There isn't the non-student population density in Iowa City that's going to make a vibrant downtown shopping scene compete with Coral Ridge.

[RecreationalGynecologist]

Getting rid of the morons on the city council would be a great 1st step. How many of these people are businessmen/women? Music education major? Social worker? I blame the IC council for the MIP/PAULA policies that forced the 21+ bar law.

[TH1974]

Oddly enough, the Courier has a story today about renovations to the old Newton's Jewelry store building in downtown Waterloo. It's becoming a restaurant, apparently.

http://wcfcourier.com/news/local/article_baa78a18-4642-11df-b676-001cc4c03286.html

[Karl Marks]

I really wish there was a Hardees on campus. Or really, any burger place. You'd think a burger joint would make about 1 billion/night on the weekends, and would do good business during the day as well.

[RecreationalGynecologist]

Isnt there a Hardees in Coralville?

[TH1974]

I really wish there was a Hardees on campus. Or really, any burger place. You'd think a burger joint would make about 1 billion/night on the weekends, and would do good business during the day as well.

I really can't believe there is no fast-food burger joint downtown.

[TH1974]

Isnt there a Hardees in Coralville?

A brand-new shiny one after the flood.

[Karl Marks]

I'm looking for some peeps with cash for a White Castle or something. That would be a fucking gold mine.

[RecreationalGynecologist]

I really wish there was a Hardees on campus. Or really, any burger place. You'd think a burger joint would make about 1 billion/night on the weekends, and would do good business during the day as well.

I really can't believe there is no fast-food burger joint downtown.

I do think a small ped mall McDonalds would make sense. Is there one on campus in the student union or anything? Most schools nowadays have one

[TH1974]

I do think a small ped mall McDonalds would make sense. Is there one on campus in the student union or anything? Most schools nowadays have one

No, but supposedly they're working on it.

[TH1974]

I'm looking for some peeps with cash for a White Castle or something. That would be a fucking gold mine.

Gross.

[ISUFan98]

I'm looking for some peeps with cash for a White Castle or something. That would be a fucking gold mine.

Gross.

I think I'd rather be kicked in the balls than eat White Castle.

[TH1974]

I'm looking for some peeps with cash for a White Castle or something. That would be a fucking gold mine.

Gross.

I think I'd rather be kicked in the balls than eat White Castle.

+1

[RecreationalGynecologist]

White Castle is for stoners

[Karl Marks]

Good god you retards, we're not going gourmet to feed the frat bros and tanorexic sororistutes. We're talking about a place with 49 cent burgers. Ker-fucking-ching.

[Wild Onion]

White Castle is for stoners

Which is why it would be a great fit for the ped mall.

[RecreationalGynecologist]

How are you any different than the frat bros? There is no such thing as a gourmet fast food chain in a college town. The only redeeming quality White Castle has is its chocolate shakes

[RecreationalGynecologist]

White Castle is for stoners

Which is why it would be a great fit for the ped mall.

Lets pool up some $$ get some investors and open up White Castle franchises in Eugene, OR, Iowa City, IA and Boulder, CO.

[ISUFan98]

White Castle is for stoners

Which is why it would be a great fit for the ped mall.

Lets pool up some $$ get some investors and open up White Castle franchises in Eugene, OR, Iowa City, IA and Boulder, CO.

How about Madison, too?

[Pinehawk]

Good god you retards, we're not going gourmet to feed the frat bros and tanorexic sororistutes. We're talking about a place with 49 cent burgers. Ker-fucking-ching.

The Iowa City Council wants to eliminate all of your future customers. Yet, they have no idea what Step #2 would be. So, they admit their economic development staff has no idea what to do, and we have to pay $45K for out of town consultants to get some ideas.
It really gets old.

[roseboundhawk]

Good god you retards, we're not going gourmet to feed the frat bros and tanorexic sororistutes. We're talking about a place with 49 cent burgers. Ker-fucking-ching.

The Iowa City Council wants to eliminate all of your future customers. Yet, they have no idea what Step #2 would be. So, they admit their economic development staff has no idea what to do, and we have to pay $45K for out of town consultants to get some ideas.
It really gets old.

Step 3. Profit!

[nolookpass]

what a bunch of retards running the Peoples Republic of Iowa City.

[Debit One]

Good god you retards, we're not going gourmet to feed the frat bros and tanorexic sororistutes. We're talking about a place with 49 cent burgers. Ker-fucking-ching.

The Iowa City Council wants to eliminate all of your future customers. Yet, they have no idea what Step #2 would be. So, they admit their economic development staff has no idea what to do, and we have to pay $45K for out of town consultants to get some ideas.
It really gets old.

How about this?

Keep the under 21 year old kids out of the bars and somewhat clean up the bacchanal festival atmosphere of the ped mall. That will make a more retail friendly environment in downtown I.C., and standard retail might have a chance.

[nolookpass]

Good god you retards, we're not going gourmet to feed the frat bros and tanorexic sororistutes. We're talking about a place with 49 cent burgers. Ker-fucking-ching.

The Iowa City Council wants to eliminate all of your future customers. Yet, they have no idea what Step #2 would be. So, they admit their economic development staff has no idea what to do, and we have to pay $45K for out of town consultants to get some ideas.
It really gets old.

How about this?

Keep the under 21 year old kids out of the bars and somewhat clean up the bacchanal festival atmosphere of the ped mall. That will make a more retail friendly environment in downtown I.C., and standard retail might have a chance.

standard retail requires parking.

[TallGrass]

“I won’t make it till November,” said Marty Maynes, the owner of Union Bar, at a March 29 City Council meeting. “I don’t have any delusions of grandeur about staying in business that long.”

Well, at least he's admitting that underage drinking is a cash cow for him.

[newsbreaker]

I don't know how comparable Iowa City and Cedar Falls possibly can be. Assuming they can be compared, CF is well on their way to being 2 for 2 in redevelopment of particular areas.

The transformation they have created on Main Street (aka, the "Parkade") is stunning. This was an area that, ten years ago, had a few bars, a dozen or more empty store fronts, and no day or nighttime foot traffic. Now it is the dominant entertainment, and one of the major retail/business corridors in the area. I thought they were crazy when they talked about an area where people could shop and eat by day, drink and dance by night. Incredibly, it worked and worked well.

The Hill is another matter. They forced out Tony's and allowed the revolving door of odd bars at the top of the hill to keep rotating. I'm not sure what the status of those storefronts is, but they spent a lot of money redeveloping the street scape, helping an anchor institution (which again has found a way to strike the "family by day - college by night" balance) find its footing.

How these successes can be imported elsewhere, I don't know. CF also doesn't have to compete with anything approaching the Coralville Strip or that mall.

[danish_hawkeye]

what the ped mall is missing is a nice seedy strip joint

[TallGrass]

CF also doesn't have to compete with anything approaching the Coralville Strip or that mall.
Lord knows there's no one at College Square or Crossroads mall. Both those places are dead.

[newsbreaker]

CF also doesn't have to compete with anything approaching the Coralville Strip or that mall.
Lord knows there's no one at College Square or Crossroads mall. Both those places are dead.

There is an entire half of College Square that is totally empty. They sunk a lot of money into a remodel and it still sits empty.

Crosshairs, er, Crossroads is better, but it's not exactly flourishing. The Crossroads area has done better, just not the mall itself.

[lilzaphod]

I really wish there was a Hardees on campus. Or really, any burger place. You'd think a burger joint would make about 1 billion/night on the weekends, and would do good business during the day as well.

Shorts...

[TallGrass]

CF also doesn't have to compete with anything approaching the Coralville Strip or that mall.
Lord knows there's no one at College Square or Crossroads mall. Both those places are dead.

There is an entire half of College Square that is totally empty. They sunk a lot of money into a remodel and it still sits empty.

Crosshairs, er, Crossroads is better, but it's not exactly flourishing. The Crossroads area has done better, just not the mall itself.
I went into College Square a few months back, first time in probably a couple years. Couldn't believe how dead it was. Take out Scheels & HuHot and I don't think anyone would ever go there.

[ivan_drago]

Lord knows there's no one at College Square or Crossroads mall. Both those places are dead.

There is an entire half of College Square that is totally empty. They sunk a lot of money into a remodel and it still sits empty.

Crosshairs, er, Crossroads is better, but it's not exactly flourishing. The Crossroads area has done better, just not the mall itself.
I went into College Square a few months back, first time in probably a couple years. Couldn't believe how dead it was. Take out Scheels & HuHot and I don't think anyone would ever go there.

Old Chicago, bro!

[LutherBlue89]

They're going to need help figuring out what to do with all the vacant bars, apparently.

http://dailyiowan.com/2010/04/12/Metro/16673.html
This article made me LOL 3 different times:
1. The fact that Iowa City hires UNI -- slapping Tippie right in the face. After all, what the hell would Tippie know about downtown Iowa City?
2. The Iowa City economic development coordinator's plan for economic development is to ... make a plan!! Was that what you told the council in your job interview, Wendy? "If you hire me, I promise to hire someone else to do my job."
3. The unmitigated gall of the downtown bar owners with respect to the 21 only issue.

[Debit One]

standard retail requires parking.

I'm not talking big box or strip mall retail, NLP. But, I'll acknowledge that I'm not an urban planner.

There's a parking ramp on Burlington, one connected to Old Capitol Mall, and parking on Iowa Ave. Is that insufficient to support downtown I.C. retail?

[Debit One]

The unmitigated gall of the downtown bar owners with respect to the 21 only issue.

You go into a business that is only legal for those over the age of 21 (serving alcohol), and then complain about the possibility that someone would enforce that law.

THE HORROR!!!

[ivan_drago]

standard retail requires parking.

I'm not talking big box or strip mall retail, NLP. But, I'll acknowledge that I'm not an urban planner.

There's a parking ramp on Burlington, one connected to Old Capitol Mall, and parking on Iowa Ave. Is that insufficient to support downtown I.C. retail?

Yeah, people want to pay $2 an hour to park in order to go shop at overpriced downtown shops. That'll work.

[Jimmie Dimmick]

standard retail requires parking.

I'm not talking big box or strip mall retail, NLP. But, I'll acknowledge that I'm not an urban planner.

There's a parking ramp on Burlington, one connected to Old Capitol Mall, and parking on Iowa Ave. Is that insufficient to support downtown I.C. retail?

Yeah, people want to pay $2 an hour to park in order to go shop at overpriced downtown shops. That'll work.

nm

[ISUFan98]

The unmitigated gall of the downtown bar owners with respect to the 21 only issue.

You go into a business that is only legal for those over the age of 21 (serving alcohol), and then complain about the possibility that someone would enforce that law.

THE HORROR!!!

This.

It would be like a seedy motel owner complaining that he won't be able to keep his place in business because the cops are cracking down on prostitution there.

[Hacksaw Jim Duggan]

Taco Bell at 1am usually has queso dripping from the walls. It's chaos is there.

Hardees was great.


What crazy eccentric business especially in this economy are going to come into the Pedmall and be succesful? None thats who.

Students love getting in a car and hitting Coralville Mall. Downtown is for binge drinking.

The city sure is particular about what revunue is ok for them, I mean parking tickets and alcohol sales are not kosher but some lame candle store is? mmkay.

[Du Hawk Du Mich]

There's a lot of stupid in that article, the pinnacle being that Iowa City is paying Cedar Falls to do its job instead of firing the people it has in charge and hiring the people from Cedar Falls.

[114evans]

I think the City of Iowa City needs to embrace the fact that downtown Iowa City is fueled by U of I students.

The City has become anti-student imo. Look at the rental code. They restrict the number of unrelated people that can live together. I was actually looking into buying some houses near downtown when they passed this gem. Bob Micklo, the senior planner at the City, told me the reason they did this was because they wanted families to move to the downtown area. They wanted to get the students out of the housing near downtown and get families to take their place. This was the only way to save downtown Iowa City in his opinion. I told him it would never work. Families were never going to move back to the downtown area. They would come downtown to eat. They would come listen to music on Friday nights, but they were never going to live and consistently shop downtown. The migration to suburbia is not going to stop.

The lifeblood of downtown Iowa City is the students. If you open a business in downtown Iowa City, you better know that or you won't be around long. I think most of the students would live downtown if they could afford it. The city should be encouraging redevelopment to add more rental housing downtown. They need to forget about the fairy tale of families being the savior of the downtown commercial area and embrace the student population.

[Hollywood Hawkeye]

Paying $45,000 to anybody to research the downtown is just a waste of money. The students will get the age of the bar's on the ballot come November and they will win.

[Du Hawk Du Mich]

The City wants families to live downtown? That just took stupid to a whole new level.

[Debit One]

We should just wall off downtown I.C. and let the college kids run wild as they did with Manhattan Island in Escape from New York.

[Debit One]

The City wants families to live downtown? That just took stupid to a whole new level.

No, it's stupid to think that you have to cede the downtown area of the city to debauchery.

[Du Hawk Du Mich]

What kind of "families" do you imagine would move anywhere near the apartment complexes that are already built for students?

[The Tin Man]

what the ped mall is missing is a nice seedy strip joint

Now that is an idea I could get behind.

[lilzaphod]

Yeah, people want to pay $2 an hour to park in order to go shop at overpriced downtown shops. That'll work.

Have ever been to Iowa City?

[bigazzturkeylegs]

Bob Micklo, the senior planner at the City, told me the reason they did this was because they wanted families to move to the downtown area. They wanted to get the students out of the housing near downtown and get families to take their place.
LOL

[lilzaphod]

Bob Micklo, the senior planner at the City, told me the reason they did this was because they wanted families to move to the downtown area. They wanted to get the students out of the housing near downtown and get families to take their place.
LOL

Overpriced shitholes when I lived there in the late 90s. not. going. to. happen.

[bigazzturkeylegs]

Bob Micklo, the senior planner at the City, told me the reason they did this was because they wanted families to move to the downtown area. They wanted to get the students out of the housing near downtown and get families to take their place.
LOL

Overpriced shitholes when I lived there in the late 90s. not. going. to. happen.
Even if the city does somehow clean up downtown and attracts new businesses, it's still in the middle of a college campus surrounded by shitty houses and apartments full of drunk college students. That's no place for a family.