The first-ever Ames Downtown Charrette will be held this week to provide ideas on how to revitalize the city’s downtown area.

The event will kick off Monday, and activities – including key-person interviews, small group discussions, design sessions and public review and comment meetings – will continue throughout the week.

City Councilman Russ Cross said the long-term goal of the charrette is to redevelop the downtown area. The short-term goal is to involve the community in an open discussion on how the downtown area can be made better.

“Anyone and everyone should attend,” said City Councilman Steve Goodhue.

City Councilwoman Sharon Wirth agreed and said she encourages all students and community members to attend. She said City Council considers the charrette to be “very important” to Ames. Cross said it is one of the City Council’s goals to strengthen the downtown and accomplish this by involving everyone in the community.

Although council members emphasized the importance of student involvement in the process, organizers of the event decided against scheduling any activities on campus. Setting up a satellite office in the College of Design had been discussed, said Matt Flynn, director of planning, housing and economic development for the city, but multiple locations were not feasible, and all the events are being held at the library.

“It’s a good opportunity for different groups to come together,” Flynn said.

The City Council decided to hold a charrette because outside consultants – hired to provide an unbiased viewpoint in discussions on the revitalization of downtown Ames – said they have experience with charrettes and have had good responses in the past, Cross said.

Students and anyone else are being encouraged to attend Tuesday at the public sector day. Cross said during the day anyone will be able to come in and find out what has been done in other communities and share ideas about what they think should be done with the downtown area. Students are also being encouraged to attend the review session at night, which Cross said is when “the true charrette” will occur.

Cross said events Monday, private sector day, will focus on obtaining input from property owners, business owners and potential property owners.

Wednesday is a general review day when the discussions from the public sector and private sector will come together, he said.

The charrette will cost approximately $37,000, given to contractor Charrette Center of Minneapolis, Minn. The money came from a city discretionary fund.

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