This talk was presented at Big Grove Brewery in Iowa City on May 15, 2019. Speakers were Maeve Clark and Melody Dworak. Event description follows: Iowa City Public Library’s history experts will tell the tale of 1960s-‘80s downtown Urban Renewal, and how it led to the beloved and thriving Pedestrian Mall of today. Just in time for the launch of the final stage of the City’s Pedestrian Mall Improvements Project, come learn about pre-Urban Renewal downtown, controversies plaguing its redesign, and favorite hangouts and watering holes of Iowa City literary legends. This program is part of ICPL's Weber Days, a series of Local History programs and events honoring the memory and work of Iowa City Historian Irving B. Weber.

1. Birth of a Ped Mall
Maeve Clark • Adult Services Coordinator
Melody Dworak • Librarian

2. “You Had to Be There”
Kenney’s was conducive
to the best things in life—
companionship
communication.
It served as a lubricant
to some of the best
in our society.
Our town will be
poorer without it.
Nicholas Meyer
Writer/director
Star Trek: Wrath of Khan
Photo by City of Iowa City
125 S. Clinton St.

3. Why Urban Renewal?
Postwar Ambitions
Pittsburgh Magazine, 1960s,
https://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/Pittsburgh-
Magazine/December-2013/The-Way-We-Were/
1950: Urban Renewal era begins,
starting in Pittsburgh
1958: Life magazine features New
Haven, CT, mayor posing in front
of a wrecking ball tearing down
tenements
1965: 800 U.S. cities had urban
renewal plans, demolishing 150,000
structures

4. Why Urban Renewal?
Opportunity for Local Control
Downtown Redevelopment
The Iowa City Story: A Matter of Opinions
1983

5. Force of Change: Deterioration
1950: nearly
1200 dwelling
units in IC
lacked a
private bath,
toilet, or
running water
Photo by Oscar Beasley
Looking South on Dubuque from Burlington

6. Deterioration
1959: 250 dwellings
in IC were found to
be below standard
Photo by City of Iowa City

7. Deterioration
Photo by City of Iowa City
Dubuque Street

8. Redevelopment Area

9. Iowa City
Central
Business
District
c. 2005

10. 1960s: 110 S. Clinton
1980s: Rolled into Hardees
Photo by Theo Lindley
history.icpl.org
Burger Chef

11. Burger Chef

12. Force of Change: Disaster
Photo by Oscar Beasley
Strand Theater Fire
Businesses on
E. College St.

13. Photo by Oscar Beasley

14. Force against Change: Jerry
Downtown Redevelopment
The Iowa City Story: A Matter of Opinions
1983

15. Force of Change: Disaster
January 20, 1970 fire
Things, Things & Things
The Paper Place
130 S. Clinton St.
East side of street
Photo by Theo
Lindley
history.icpl.org

16. What Iowa City Lost: Housing
Photos by Oscar BeasleyClinton & Burlington

17. What Iowa City Lost:
Kenney’s & Marv’s
Photo by City of Iowa City
West side of S. Clinton St.

18. 1956

20. 1977
Carnegie Library
Mini Park
1st IC
Parking
Ramp
Plaza
Centre
One
Kenney’sCourthouse
Photo by City of Iowa City
history.icpl.org

21. Dubuque & Washington
Photo by City of Iowa City
100 block S. Dubuque

22. Dubuque & Washington
Photo by City of Iowa City

23. Blank Slate: 1974
Photo by City of Iowa City

24. Change: A Place to Sit!
Plants!
Photo by City of Iowa City

25. Black Hawk Mini Park
Postcard ∙ history.icpl.org

26. Birth of Project GREEN
1968: Formed
1972: Nowhere to sit downtown!
1973: Mini parks proposed
Downtown Redevelopment
The Iowa City Story: A Matter of Opinions
1983

27. Donnelly’s 1934-1973

28. Photo by Theo Lindley
history.icpl.org
Donnelly’s
1934-1973: 119 S. Dubuque St.
Exclusively sold PBR
for 40 years
197?-Now: 110 E. College
Kurt Vonnegut illustration
borrowed from 1983 postcard
from Prairie Lights

29. The Vine
Photo by City of Iowa City
history.icpl.org
Former
Deadwood
1973
100 block S. Clinton

30. Photo by Theo Lindley
history.icpl.org
The Vine
1974
Former
Deadwood

31. The Bicycle Peddler
Dubuque St.

32. Postcard ∙ history.icpl.org
S. Linn St.

33. Fountain & Hotel
Dubuque & College

34. Ped Mall Fountain

35. Explore More!
Digital History Project from Iowa City Public Library
Historical Newspapers of Iowa City from Iowa City Public Library
Iowa Digital Library: Daily Iowan Historic Newspapers
LitCity (The Writing University + The Studio + The University of Iowa)

36. Name that place!

37. Name that place!

38. Name that place!

39. Name that place!

40. Name that place!

41. References
Ammon, F. R. (2016). Bulldozer : demolition and clearance of the postwar landscape.
New Haven: Yale University Press.
Bailey, B. (2009). Cheever: A Life. New York, N.Y.: Alfred Knopf.
Caliger, R. (1983). Downtown redevelopment : the Iowa City story : "a matter of
opinions.". Chicago: Link Programs, Inc.
Fitzpatrick, D. (2000, May 21). The story of urban renewal. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, pp.
http://old.post-gazette.com/businessnews/20000521eastliberty1.asp.
Laing, O. (2013). The Trip to Echo Spring. New York, N.Y.: Picador.
Sklar, M. K. (2017). Ultimate Actualist Convention. Jackson Heights, Queens, New York
City, New York: The Spirit That Moves Us Press.
Slonneger, M. (2015). Finials: A View of Downtown Iowa City. Iowa City, Iowa: Hand
Press.

42. Contacts
Maeve Clark
Adult Services Coordinator
319-887-6004
Maeve-clark@icpl.org
ICPL Info Desk
319-356-5200
www.icpl.org/ask
Melody Dworak
Librarian
319-887-6006
Melody-dworak@icpl.org
history@icpl.org