After getting a first look at what could be possible for a key downtown block, Sioux Center leaders are now beginning to outline what comes next and how that vision could eventually move toward reality.
City officials say the conceptual plan for the 300 block along Highway 75 is just an early step, meant to guide future development rather than lock in any specific project.
City Manager Scott Wynja says the concepts are only meant to show possibilities and are not a finalized plan.
The next phase would involve seeking proposals from developers, who would ultimately determine what, if anything, is built on the site.
City Councilwoman Jenn Vermeer says the city is beginning that process.
Wynja says that the request for proposals would invite developers to bring forward their own ideas based on the city’s guiding principles.
Vermeer says the city’s role will be to help guide the project rather than lead development directly.
She says the concepts reflect a range of possibilities for the site.
Those possibilities include a mix of housing, retail, dining, and public gathering spaces to create a more active, walkable downtown.
Wynja says one of the city’s top priorities moving forward is to work with current tenants in the area and help identify future options for those businesses as planning continues.
He says any redevelopment would likely take time.
City leaders say the goal is to position Sioux Center for long-term success, even if redevelopment of the 300 block does not happen immediately.
Wynja and Vermeer made their comments on Sioux County Radio’s The Daily Grind.
