The Iowa City Downtown District announced on Feb. 2 that the location of its office had changed, moving temporarily to 125 S. Dubuque St. for the next five months until it can find a new headquarters. The relocation came after the building where the office was housed at 103 E. College St., was sold.
The headquarters will remain at 125 S. Dubuque St. until the Downtown District can find a different residence. According to a listing on the Edge Realty Group’s website, the approximate rent for a space in the building is $2,707.38 per month.
Previously, the boutique CIELO inhabited the space in the Iowa City Pedestrian Mall, but closed on Jan. 14 after being open for just over three years.
The Downtown District is a nonprofit organization representing property owners and stakeholders of local businesses in downtown and Northside Iowa City, according to its website. They organize events and projects to support local Iowa City businesses and create community engagement.
Betsy Potter, the downtown district’s executive director, said the district had been headquartered above Wells Fargo for 10 years with a month-by-month lease until the property owner, Barkalow & Associates, decided to sell it. She said the reason they had been in the location so long was the proximity to businesses downtown. Luckily, she said, this is also a feature of their new residence.
Potter said the reason the new location was chosen was that it was open and available when they needed it, adding that the nonprofit leased the building in hopes of improving it.
“Part of our process is ‘How can we improve spaces when we’re in them?’ and so we’ve put investment into the space so that hopefully when we leave it will be a better attractor for a new tenant,” Potter said.
President of the Downtown District’s Board of Directors, Jason Paulios, said the organization looked at three different spaces, but chose the Dubuque Street location because of its location in the heart of downtown Iowa City. He said that they were excited about improving the building for future use.
“When they’ve found a longer-term space, we’ll be able to leave that space and pretty easily fill it with another business,” Paulios said.
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Potter said the Downtown District’s daily operations have not changed drastically, except for the fact that they are closer to the public. She said the office has been receiving more visitors than before, with people walking in all the time.
“We’re more public facing, so we can engage with the public a lot easier because we were on the second floor previously,” Potter said.
Paulios also said that the ICDD had always struggled with accessibility in its former spot. Although they had an elevator in the building, it was difficult to get into the building itself from the Ped Mall.
“There were stairs and double glass doors without a handicap option, and the other way to get in around the corner was just more cumbersome,” he said.
Paulios said the move went smoothly, but that the biggest challenge with the new location was the work it took to prepare the space, such as painting and moving furniture.
“They probably did lose some productivity for a week or two there, but from what I can tell, everything looks like it was before at this point, so I think they’re ready to go,” he said.
General manager of Brothers Bar and Grill, Trey Jennings, said the Downtown District has always been a good partner to the business. He said he appreciates their help in bringing events to Downtown Iowa City.
Jennings said that he thinks the location change will be beneficial to Brothers, as well as other local businesses. Jennings said the Downtown District has always been present downtown, specifically highlighting Joe Riley, the ICDD Director of Operations and Nighttime Initiatives.
“He always makes his rounds, comes and talks to everybody, but it is nice to have him right there in the center of the Ped Mall where all the action is,” Jennings said.