As we bring the year to a close, the 6th Avenue Corridor would like to take a moment to celebrate our many accomplishments in 2013. In our fourth year as a Main Street Iowa Urban Neighborhood Program, we continued to make significant progress in our efforts to revitalize the 6th Avenue Corridor commercial district. During 2013, the 6th Avenue Corridor…

• Celebrated the grand opening of C-Fresh Market, which brought much needed fresh foods AND new jobs to our district.
• Coordinated with the City of Des Moines and the EPA in the development of the Greening America’s Capitals program. With the public’s input, a team of designers offered strategies to incorporate green infrastructure and sustainable design initiatives into our revitalization plans.
• Installed new street banners to beautify corridor.
• Hosted our most successful Jazz in July yet, with great music, delicious ethnic foods, and a diverse crowd estimated at nearly 1,500 people.
• Published the organization in Iowa Architect Magazine, which has a reach of over 10,000 design professionals throughout the state.
• Advocated for the new Quik Trip store’s site plan approval with the City of Des Moines Zoning Board of Adjustment.
• Provided support to Hatch Development Group in their efforts to bring $8.6 million in quality affordable housing development to 6th Avenue.
• Administered a $50,000 Main Street Iowa Challenge Grant, to assist Trinity Church in the construction of a chair lift that will allow people with disabilities to attend a variety of events held daily at the church.
• Received an additional $75,000 Main Street Challenge Grant to further assist Trinity Church in the next phase of their renovation work – remodeling the outdated kitchen so that free nightly suppers offered to the community can continue.
• Strategized opportunities for commercial redevelopment of vacant buildings by hiring a team of architects to complete a Revitalization Study at 6th & College Avenues.

Of course, our work is far from complete. Looking ahead to 2014, the 6th Avenue Corridor has exciting plans to:

• Launch a quarterly newsletter -- The Connector -- to share information, connect resources, and promote business development along 6th Avenue.
• Encourage healthy communities through social events such as a 6AC night at Brenton Skating Plaza, a Zumbathon, and perhaps even a costumed fun run down 6th Avenue.
• Enhance the appearance of 6th Avenue through a number of beautification efforts, including neighborhood clean-ups and a Litter Letter campaign.
• Coordinate the work of the City, designers, and engineers as we take steps towards implementation of our streetscape improvements.
• Install a mural and coordinate other public art and place-making efforts to bring a renewed sense of vibrancy to the district.
• Recruit new businesses and retailers to 6th Avenue, and help bring stability to those currently located here.
• Promote the benefits of Historic Preservation, in both commercial and residential structures.
• Host new cultural events, in addition to Jazz in July, to celebrate our rich diversity and promote 6th Avenue as a safe, friendly, up-and-coming district.

Interested in helping us move forward in these efforts? The 6th Avenue Corridor is always looking for volunteers. Whether you want to join a steering committee, offer expertise to a specific task, or just plug an idea, we’d love to hear from you! Please feel free to contact our Director at 314-4243, or at director@6thavedsm.org