Concepts regarding the relationship of buildings to streets, street
design and public spaces, building placement and architecture are explained
in the design guidelines; the final details and adopted construction plan
should result from collaboration between the City and the developer selected
in a Request for Proposals process.
Low retaining walls, typical in older Iowa City neighborhoods, help
situate the homes on the gentle slope. Illustrated is one of the
“Green Edge Streets” such as South Willenbrock Circle or Walker Terrace.
Comfortable Streets with Great Views
The gracious residential roads and streets in the Peninsula should
be quiet and safe for children and the elderly. Shade trees create
a comfortable environment. Houses placed close to the street create
interest and natural surveillance. Communal front porches should
be the norm. Several of the streets have long views of the nearby green
spaces. These streets will be pleasurable to walk and will add value
to homes. Pictured here is a view that could be enjoyed on North
Willenbrock Circle, Carlton Street, or Ball Street.
A Mix of Housing Types
Lifestyles vary; people and families have different needs. Many
of the households being created today in Iowa City are quite different
from the “Ozzie and Harriet” suburban households of the past. So-called
“Empty Nesters” and other household types are attracted to smaller lots
and lower maintenance. A mix of housing types can offer a wide range
of homes to satisfy those needs. These types can be mixed closely
together. For example; attached rowhouses can sit comfortably next
to detached homes on the same street or block.
The Neighborhood Center
The square, which we have named Emma Harvat Square, is the center of
the Peninsula neighborhood. It is the central, narrower area of land
that unites the upper neighborhood and the lower neighborhood. The
square is a neighborhood meeting place, sometimes quiet contemplative
space, and sometimes filled with activity. In the morning parents
can drop their children off at the daycare center and pick up a cup of
coffee at Emma’s corner store on the way to work. Throughout the
day, many people enjoy the shaded square while waiting for the bus.
The Iowa River Corridor Trail is aligned to route trail users to the square,
so that they can stop at the square to rest and buy refreshments.
The on-street parking along the square doubles as trailhead parking- not
at the edge of the neighborhood, but at its center where visits and activities
are desirable.
The square will become the natural place for everything from community
gatherings and holiday events to casual frisbee games after school.
It will be the “postcard” symbol of the neighborhood.
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