The juror panel of 1000 Friends of Iowa chose ten recipients of its Best Development Awards for 2020 in eight categories. These recipients were chosen because they implemented the efficient use of resources to develop sustainable communities and provide a high quality of life.
This year’s panel included Pat Boddy; Megan Down, Impact7G; Jeff Geerts, Iowa Economic Development Authority; Jeff Hanson, City of Sioux City, and Ulrike Passe, Iowa State University.
* In the specially created Best of Show category, Steeple Square in Dubuque, for the historical restoration of a former church and school campus to serve its neighborhood through affordable housing, childcare, greenspace, and community rental space. <Click for more>
* In the Renovated Civic category, the Mason City Arena in Mason City, for converting a vacant shopping mall space into an ice skating arena to fit the recreational needs of the community with many positive trickle-down effects. <Click for more>
* In the Renovated Commercial category, the Highpoint Event Center in Clarence, for its green building practices and community involvement to restore a dilapidated building into a needed event center. <Click for more>
* In the Innovative Leadership – Large Community category, the Iowa Flood Center for its successful efforts to address flooding and water quality challenges with its Iowa Watershed Approach across the state. <Click for more>
* In the Innovative Leadership – Small Community category, Main Street Jewell for its Vendors’ Village in Jewell, which supplied new retail storefronts through creative problem solving. <Click for more>
* In the Renewable Energy category, Southeastern Community College in Burlington, for adding solar rooftop and carport canopies to reduce its carbon footprint. <Click for more>
* In the Renovated Residential category, Newbury Living’s The Brenton in Davenport for sustainably repurposing a bank building into apartments. <Click for more>
* In the Stormwater Management – Private category, the Sippy Family for its Farm Flood Mitigation project near Oxford, which showcases natural infrastructure as a way to reduce floods and lessen negative impacts downstream for the good of everyone. <Click for more>
* In the Stormwater Management – Public category, the City of Clive for its Walnut Creek Hills Stormwater Wetland in Clive with its flood storage, enhanced water quality and wildlife habitat, and positive downstream effects. <Click for more>
* In the Urban Placemaking and Greenspace category, the Des Moines Heritage Trust for its Des Moines Heritage Center in Des Moines which incorporated conservation, vision, and impact into the restoration of an aging train depot. <Click for more>