City staff presented a coordinated update on Downtown Urbandale on Jan. 13, outlining recent property acquisitions, infrastructure projects and a strategy of temporary placemaking to test concepts before committing to permanent construction.

Aaron (city staff) summarized acquisitions and redevelopment priorities, saying the city has assembled parcels in the 7000 block of Douglas that include the Big Sky Bridal building, the former Dairy Queen at 7025 Douglas and a parcel under contract from Green State Credit Union. He told the council the acquisitions create “over 2 acres of property right adjacent to each other” and said that district parking and a central plaza would help spur private reinvestment. “We can really create some pretty cool spaces,” Aaron said.

The staff presentation tied the acquisitions to a range of CIP-funded projects that staff said will support redevelopment: a Douglas restriping and redesign planned for this year, a phase 1 of a Big Block plaza or park, stormwater improvements and scatterings of parking work in later CIP years. Staff emphasized the need for stormwater infrastructure because the downtown currently lacks adequate management.

On placemaking, Ebony (city staff) described a two-step approach: short-term temporary installations (three months to a year) to test what draws residents and then, based on observed use, move toward a permanent public-space identity. She noted the pop-up park last fall as a successful test and said temporary installations lower cost and let staff collect data before permanent investments.

Staff also described parallel work to change the regulatory and marketing framework for downtown. An RFP for a downtown zoning ordinance update recently closed and staff said they expect zoning work to take months (staff estimated roughly a six-month timeline from contract, with early-fall target for deliverables). A branding-system RFP will begin late February/early March and staff aim to have it wrapped by May–June.

On redevelopment targets, staff said conceptual designs from Slingshot architecture are informing early cost estimates for rehabilitating the former Dairy Queen building; Aaron gave an estimate “about between $250,000, $300, maybe $350,000” to get the building market-ready and said staff would prefer to find an operating tenant as part of the project. Staff also said Urbandale is preparing a pre-application for the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) catalyst grant program, which can provide funding assistance for eligible redevelopment projects.

Councilmembers asked about schedules and community involvement. Staff said the downtown planning group — composed of city staff, downtown business owners and at least one residential member — will take a leading role on event programming and placemaking; staff hope to stage seasonal events (spring, Fourth of July and a fall block-party) to establish a regular rhythm and attract private investment.

Staff closed by asking for council feedback and said they will return with specific RFP recommendations, contractor selections and project schedules as each procurement concludes.

The presentation concluded with council discussion of timing, outreach and the desire to preserve historic buildings while encouraging redevelopment. Staff said the downtown effort is a multiyear undertaking intended to be iterative and data-driven.