Proposal to change Iowa City street name gets mixed reviews

IOWA CITY - A proposal to change the name of a street in a troubled Iowa City neighborhood is getting mixed reviews.

Last week, Glenn Siders, wrote a letter to the city council asking members to consider changing the name of a portion of Broadway Street.  Siders, VP of Property Development at SouthGate Development Services, LCC, said the change will help curb a negative stigma in the neighborhood.

Last fall SouthGate kicked-off a multi-million dollar project to renovate the Broadway Condominiums, 1956-60 Broadway Street.  The complex has been the subject of criticism, most notably in 2009 after landlord John Versypt was shot and killed while working in one of the buildings.

"As far as changing the name (of Broadway Street), I don't think it's going to change anything," said Andre Brock, who lives near the condos.

Siders has proposed changing the 1,550 foot portion of the street South of Highway 1 to "Redwood Drive."

"We're not married to (Redwood Drive)," said Siders.  "It's just an idea."

Jorey Bailey, a crime prevention officer with the Iowa City police department, said he doesn't know if changing the name would change any stigma. Bailey works full-time in a police substation, which began operations near Broadway Street in 2010.

"I've never thought of it as having a stigma, it's just another portion of the city where I work," Bailey said.

"It's not bad now," said Malcom Brown, who recently moved to the Southeast side. "But maybe a new name will bring something new to the area."

The city council is expected to discuss the proposal at a future meeting.