116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Developer asks Iowa City to rename Broadway Street to improve image
Gregg Hennigan
Jan. 19, 2012 3:20 pm, Updated: Sep. 9, 2021 2:35 pm
IOWA CITY – A property company with significant investments along Broadway Street wants the city to rename most of the road in an effort to erase the neighborhood's negative image.
The request, which city officials believe is unprecedented for Iowa City, comes from Southgate Development Services.
It wants to rename the 1,550-foot portion of the street south of Highway 6. The three blocks north of the highway would not be affected.
Glenn Siders, vice president of property development at Southgate, said as part of the company's investment in the area – including a $5.75 million apartment complex renovation that's underway – it wants to end the negative public perception and media coverage associated with the neighborhood.
“And Broadway Street is part of that connection, so we feel if you can change the name of the street, it would do nothing but help promote more positive thoughts of the future,” he said.
Broadway Street and the surrounding area, located on the southeast side of town, has a reputation for criminal activity, although some residents and city officials say that is overblown.
Still, the Iowa City Police Department in 2010 placed its only substation in the city off Broadway Street in an effort to ease safety concerns and strengthen the department's relationship with the neighborhood.
Problems at the 108-unit Broadway Condominiums, 1956-60 Broadway St., have been the source of a lot of the negative reputation. Southgate currently is undertaking a $5.75 million renovation of the complex, which will be renamed. The city of Iowa City put $900,000 in federal funds it oversees toward the project.
Southgate spent $3 million a few years ago to restore the Woodlands apartment complex south of Broadway Condominiums, and it also owns the Pepperwood Plaza commercial area west of Broadway Street.
The City Council would need to approve the renaming of Broadway Street, although a vote is likely several months away, said Kent Ralston, an assistant transportation planner.
Southgate has suggested Redwood Drive as the new name, which Siders said would match the tree-themed street names of the neighborhood south of Broadway Street that his company developed.
Siders said he is willing to meet with city staffers, the City Council, and the public and businesses about the proposal.
Ralston expected the city to survey residents and businesses along the street and then pass those responses on to the council. Jeff Davidson, Iowa City's planning and community development director, said the biggest concern is any inconvenience and expense for residents and businesses should the name change.
In addition to Southgate's properties, Broadway Street south of Highway 6 has four single-family homes, two commercial buildings and two buildings used for transitional housing for people in need of assistance.
Broadway Neighborhood Center, which is part of the Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County human services agency, is one of those that would be affected by the name change. It also has been active in efforts to support the neighborhood.
Brian Loring, executive director of the nonprofit organization, had not heard of the proposed name change until a reporter told him. He said he needed to think about it more before forming an opinion but could understand how there may be benefits to the neighborhood. He also noted that it would likely require the Broadway center to change its name and replace any materials, like letterhead, with the name on them.
Davidson said he's not aware of Iowa City ever changing a street name under similar circumstances.
Ralston said a renaming typically occurs when a street is developed or extended into an existing street. For example, Captain Irish Parkway became Scott Boulevard after a project connected the streets, he said.
Broadway Street in Iowa City