West Broadway (Downtown) Redevelopment

[MTO]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1636&u_sid=2118036

A proposal aims to make the historic Bluffs district more pedestrian-friendly.

[icejammer]

An overhead view of the area the article talks about. Basically from the left edge (a little below center) of the picture where Broadway starts angling to the northeast up about 2/3 across to the "half-y" where Broadway hits First Street (which turns into Madison Avenue). There's also a master plan for the area between Broadway and Kanesville (the other multi-lane that cuts across further up in the pic) for residential area with water features - I think Marty Shukart developed those; I'll see if they're online somewhere.

[adam186]

Should this be moved to Council Bluffs development? Just an idea.

[MTO]

Should this be moved to Council Bluffs development? Just an idea.

Lol your lucky its in development I first mistakenly posted it in General.

[Hawkeye]

Funny thing is, although that is TECHNICALLY considered "West" Broadway, the fact is that most of us who grew up in CB consider, for all practical purposes, "West" Broadway to be that stretch between the western most end of the 8th-16th Street Viaduct to the river, while "East" Broadway commences at the eastern-most end of said Viaduct and runs essentially to Jennie Edmundson Hospital where it peels off to Kanesville Blvd and "North" Broadway.

Again, Ol' Hawkeye knows what the map says...but if you asked most Bluffs residents, they wouldn't really consider this section to be "West" Broadway.

[Brad]

Better brodway, start by blowing up that awful looking Black and Yellow building right when you get in to town comming from Omaha.

The problem with brodway is the fact that there are so many run down buildings right on the edge of the road.

[icejammer]

Again, Ol' Hawkeye knows what the map says...but if you asked most Bluffs residents, they wouldn't really consider this section to be "West" Broadway.

Regardless of what some people may think, it still is West Broadway and always has been. They better get with the program.

Better brodway, start by blowing up that awful looking Black and Yellow building right when you get in to town comming from Omaha.

The problem with brodway is the fact that there are so many run down buildings right on the edge of the road.

I don't think you'd see too many people too terribly upset to see that building, along with about 10 others, come down. And as a Cyclone fan, I'd be more than happy to pull the switch on any black and yellow/gold building!

[icejammer]

And the Nonpareil finally updated their pages today with this story as well:



New visions For Bluffs' Streetscape

The stretch of West Broadway from First to Fourth streets features a variety of businesses, government offices and historic-looking restaurants and bars that attract people from all over the area.

Plans are in the works to make it even more attractive.

Architects this week unveiled drawings that would incorporate many of the features of the Streetscape projects in other downtown blocks with distinctive characteristics unique to that four-block area.

[Ingersoll1978]

A streetscape project would do wonders for Broadway in the Downtown area of Council Bluffs. Many of the buildings in the area are prime for redevelopment. The portion of West Broadway from the viaduct to the I-480/I-29 interchange has always been a mess. It looks 10x better though than what it looked like 10 years ago. It's a work in progress.

[icejammer]

Streetscape plans are in the works for West Broadway (and other major intry ways into town), since a master plan was supposedly developed several years ago, with the understanding that it will be more than a decade before all elements are constructed, as funds are made available. The Kanesville (Highway 6) corridor from just west of Iowa Western to North Broadway is pretty much wrapped up. I think N. 16th Street is in the works, if I recall correctly.

[StreetsOfOmaha]

Isn't there a Council Bluffs forum now?

[icejammer]

Yeah, but this thread hasn't been moved, along with a bunch of other threads. Is there a problem with the admin not moving it yet?

[StreetsOfOmaha]

Looks like they got to it.

[MTO]

Come on guys give ol’ Huston a break. Imagen if you had to go through every thread and place it where I needed to be.

[icejammer]

Sorry, my remark wasn't aimed at the admins, although in re-reading my comment after a few cups of java this morning, I can see where that impression would come from.

Mea culpa.

[icejammer]

Historical renovations progressing


The vacant building on the right at 128 West Broadway will be renovated for offices on the first floor and apartments on the second floor.

It's not happening overnight, but the 100 block of West Broadway is returning to its original historical splendor more and more, a local official said.

"You have to do it a bit at a time, but it's looking fine," said Gayle Malmquist of the Community Development Department. "The renovations have been done well. It shows a nice commitment from the owners to improve the area, and I think that's wonderful."


That block is the oldest commercial block in Council Bluffs. It contains the two oldest remaining buildings in the city, located at 102 and 104 W. Broadway, both built in 1865. All the other structures were there no later than 1892. The entire block, not just one or two structures, is on the National Register of Historic Places.

[icejammer]

The Council Bluffs Historic Preservation Alliance will hold an informal meeting regarding the redevelopment of the 100 block of West Broadway on Monday [March 3, 2008].

The public is welcome to attend the meeting at 7 p.m. at Community Hall, 205 S. Main St.

The downtown area has been designated a historic commercial district on the National Register of Historic Places and a local landmark.

The businesses and neighborhoods in the surrounding area are being restored, and this meeting will provide an overview of the project to date and future plans.

"I really saw a need for an organization to take ownership of the downtown project," said Jill Struyk, president of CBHPA. "I wanted to make sure we didn't leave the neighborhoods behind."

Sheryl Garst, director of redevelopment for Pottawattamie County, and Rose Brown, urban planner for the Council Bluffs Department of Community Development, will be keynote speakers.

[thenewguy]

the owners of the Main Street Cafe said that there's a lot going on under the surface; there are people going around trying to get businesses to revamp their facades and restore it into an old town look.  They said that the city has offered them a large sum of money in the form of a grant or tax break for doing so (over 6 figures).  They're working out the details on it now, and as us council bluffs folks can see, the work is underway on several locations.

[icejammer]

Council to set hearing on Streetscape project

The Downtown Streetscape project is back.

Built in various phases, the project that was created a decade ago in a partnership between the city and Iowa West Foundation to rebuild the downtown public infrastructure and then accent it with old-time streetlights, brick curbs and more trees.

The first phase was completed in 1998 and the sixth phase, the last to be completed, finished up in 2003.

Now, the first portion of Phase VII is being planned this year for West Broadway between Fourth and Second streets. The second portion going east to First Street will be done later, according to City Engineer Greg Reeder. . .

This project will involve reducing the lanes of traffic on Broadway to three lanes between Fourth and Second streets, he said. . . .

Improvements include storm sewer and sanitary sewer replacement and new pavement. Streetscape amenities include landscaping, irrigation, walls, entry column, interpretive elements, benches and decorative concrete and brick.

Work will also include the rehabilitation of the Vine Street parking lot and the alley behind the 100 block of West Broadway. . . .

[icejammer]

Council approves next phase of Streetscape

The Streetscape project in Council Bluffs is moving forward again.

The City Council approved the plans for the seventh phase of this downtown improvement/renovation project that began in 1998. The most recent phase was completed in 2003.

This newest phase will involve reconstruction of West Broadway from Fourth to Second streets. The block from Second to First streets will be done at a later time.

Improvements in this phase will involve the replacement of sanitary and storm sewers and new pavement.

The amenities include landscaping, irrigation, walls, entry columns, interpretive elements, benches, streetlights and decorative concrete and brick.

There will also be restoration of the Vine Street parking lot and the alley behind the 100 block of West Broadway. The passageway that connects the 100 block to the Vine Street parking lot will also be improved. Total cost of the project is estimated at $2.1 million. The city has programmed $1,050,000 in general obligation bonds. There is also an Iowa West Foundation grant for $1,050,000. . . .

[icejammer]

West Broadway between Second and Fourth streets will be closed beginning Thursday at 8 a.m. so that workers can begin the next phase of the Streetscape project, the Public Works Department said. The street will remain closed until the project is completed, perhaps in October, the department said.

[icejammer]

Project expected to be completed in October




A pile of rusted streetcar rails lie near the edge of West Broadway as construction crews continue to remove sections of the street in preparation for the creation of a streetscape design Wednesday afternoon.


A decades old streetcar rail is unearthed along the 300 block of West Broadway as construction crews continue to remove sections of the street in preparation for the creation of a streetscape design Wednesday afternoon.


A view looking north from atop the Bennett Building, 405 W. Broadway, reveals the progress as crews continue renovating Broadway between Second and Fourth Streets Wednesday morning. The project, which is expected to be completed in October, will result in a streetscape design similar to those near Bayliss Park.

[Brad]

Too bad they were not re laying all that rail to connect to Omaha's streetcar project!

[icejammer]

Reconstructed West Broadway to open

Those 'road closed' signs on West Broadway between Second and Fourth streets will be taken down Thursday or Friday at the latest, a city official said. . . .

That stretch of Broadway between those streets has been closed since spring to allow for total reconstruction, he said, which involved new sanitary and storm sewers, water mains and new pavement. It's the seventh phase of the ongoing Downtown Streetscape project.

Though the street will be opened for traffic, landscaping work will continue for a while, he added.

This will include decorative sidewalks with brick curbs and brick retaining walls to "soften the views" of parking lots, Reeder said. Trees, grasses and flowers will also be planted, he said. . . .

The next phase will be the reconstruction of the 100 block of West Broadway, the oldest commercial block in Council Bluffs, perhaps as soon as next year, Reeder said. Changes there will include parallel parking, instead of angle parking, along those north side businesses and historic streetlights, he said.

[icejammer]

Council OKs 2nd phase of street project

The 100 block of West Broadway, the oldest commercial block in Council Bluffs, will get a new street next year.

The City Council Monday evening unanimously authorized Mayor Tom Hanafan to enter into an agreement with HGM and Associates for engineering services for improvements on Broadway between First and Second streets as continuation of the Downtown Streetscape project that began 10 years ago.

Improvements on this block call will include new storm and sanitary sewers, better irrigation and new pavement. Amenities will include more landscaping and benches, streetlights and decorative brick curbs. Estimated total cost is $3.4 million. . . .

[icejammer]

Council OKs final phase of West Broadway Streetscape

The final phase of a project to give the oldest commercial block in Council Bluffs a new look will begin this year. . . .

Improvements will include street, storm sewer and sanitary sewer replacement as well as a new sidewalk on the south side. There will also be new landscaping, streetlights, benches, walls, entry column, interpretive elements, decorative concrete and brick. . .

The project includes a $10,000 incentive if the work is completed by July 2. . . .

Plans call for bid letting on Feb. 8, with the contract awarded on Feb. 22. . . .

[icejammer]

Council OKs outdoor drinking in 100 block of West Broadway

Bars in the 100 block of West Broadway will soon be able to serve drinks outdoors, courtesy of action taken by the Council Bluffs City Council Monday evening. . . .

The 100 block, the oldest commercial block in Council Bluffs, is undergoing a major renovation that includes wider sidewalks, a change that helped bring about the ordinance discussion. . . .

[nativeomahan]

A tiny slice of New Orleans!

[StreetsOfOmaha]

Hmmm. That sucks that they can only serve until 10 pm on the weekends and earlier during the week.

[Brad]

A tiny slice of New Orleans!

May be I read it wrong, but it sounds like Beer Gardens, not drinking in the street like New Orleans

Hmmm. That sucks that they can only serve until 10 pm on the weekends and earlier during the week.

11 on weekends, 10 during the week.  That does seem lame on the weekend.

[Seth]

A tiny slice of New Orleans!

May be I read it wrong, but it sounds like Beer Gardens, not drinking in the street like New Orleans

Hmmm. That sucks that they can only serve until 10 pm on the weekends and earlier during the week.

11 on weekends, 10 during the week.  That does seem lame on the weekend.

I don't know what kind of problems they could possibly be worried about.  Quite a few bars and restaurants have sidewalk tables here in Champaign-Urbana where drinks are allowed (up to close, I think).  I've never heard anyone complain about them either.

[S33]

Heck, it doesn't even seem like beer gardens, to me. Just that you can have a drink on the patio. Wheeew, thanks! Omaha (area) blows...

I guess it's better than Texas' dry counties, though.