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Improving housing and sprucing up the Third Avenue Northwest corridor are two major goals of a new plan for the Northwest River District of Fort Dodge.
The city is vying for $1.7 million from the state to begin implementing the plan.
The City Council on Monday learned some details about the plan from representatives of Snyder and Associates, the Ankeny firm that is developing it.
Earlier this year, the city government received $25,000 from the Iowa Economic Development Authority to pay for a neighborhood planning process. The Northwest River District was selected and Snyder and Associates was hired to do the work.
Fort Dodge was one of six cities to receive $25,000 planning grants. Two of those cities will get $1.7 million to begin implementing their plans.
A 2016 plan addressed a larger area west of the Des Moines River.
The current plan addresses a more confined area, which is bordered by Third Avenue Northwest to the north, the Des Moines River to the east, Lizard Creek to the south and 12th Street Northwest to the west. That area contains 83 acres.
Wade Greiman, a project principal for Snyder and Associates, said the plan includes these goals and action items:
• Improve housing.
• Create a streetscape along Third Avenue Northwest.
• Improve connectivity by building more sidewalks.
• Continue reconstruction of Third Avenue Northwest.
The plan will be submitted to the council for final approval next month so that it can be forwarded to the Iowa Economic Development Authority by a Nov. 22 deadline.