Iowa City Pedestrian Mall construction project is topic of open house

IOWA CITY - The public has a chance to get a peek Friday at what the Pedestrian Mall in Iowa City will look like after a major upcoming construction effort that is part of the Streetscape Plan project that left Washington Street torn up for much of last summer.

The city hosts a public open house from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Sheraton Hotel, 210 S. Dubuque St., to present the Ped Mall designs. The business and property owners also have a similar meeting earlier in the day.

Scott Sovers, senior civil engineer with the city, said attendees can expect a presentation on the designs for the Ped Mall and the opportunity to ask questions about the project.

Work on the Ped Mall is set to begin in the spring and last through the fall of 2019, Sovers said. The project's construction cost is estimated to be $6.5 million, with it being bid out to contractors this winter.

Sovers said the work would include brick and infrastructure improvements, such as replacing water mains, as well as the installation of light poles, trash bins and benches, among other amenities. The city also plans to install jets with lights in the splash fountain and a stage and canopy in front of the Sheraton.

As far as Black Hawk Mini Park, the open space on the Ped Mall at the intersection of Dubuque and Washington streets, Sovers said the plan is to create a shade structure to make it more usable and add some tree planters.

'Right now that's kind of an open barren space,” Sovers said. 'I think the idea there is to make it usable but also flexible because we do have a lot of events that occur within the Ped Mall in Black Hawk Mini Park ...”

Nancy Bird, executive director of the Iowa City Downtown District, said during construction the message she hopes to communicate to the public is that plans call for all the Ped Mall businesses to remain open during the entirety of the work. Specific efforts to help mitigate the effects of the construction on member businesses, however, are still to be determined.

'Similar to last year, we will work with our businesses that are impacted by it,” Bird said, adding that the district's efforts won't be finalized until more details on the construction are explained Friday. 'We'll probably put together some plans after that to help support the businesses and kind of guide them through the process.”

Most of businesses have a 'long vision,” Bird said, and are focused on weathering the construction because they're supportive of the improvement work. She said the infrastructure improvements should present 'a lot of really great opportunities that'll help improve the tenant environment and the business environment downtown, as well as for those who are coming down to visit.”

l Comments: (319) 339-3172; maddy.arnold@thegazette.com

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What: Open house to discuss Iowa City Pedestrian Mall construction project

When: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday

Where: Sheraton Hotel, 210 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City