Ragen Cote, Downtown Partners executive director, stands at a wayfinding map on a signal box at the corner of Fifth and Pearl streets in downtown Sioux City in this September 2020 file photo. The signage was created to help people find points of interest in the city's downtown.
SIOUX CITY -- Corner traffic signal boxes wrapped with brightly colored vinyl directional signage will help visitors and locals alike better navigate Sioux City's downtown.
With a number of new developments having sprung up since 2005, Ragen Cote, executive director of Downtown Partners, said the previous wayfinding system was outdated. Wayfinding, or directional signage, is described as "direction for people in motion."
"When wayfinding isn't accurate, people just don't trust it, so they're not looking. That was one of the things that really needed updating in downtown," Cote said.Â
A few years ago, Roger Brooks, a placemaking expert, visited Sioux City and presented his findings through the eyes of a tourist. Brooks targeted the downtown wayfinding system as a "must do" for the community, according to Cote.
Since then, Downtown Partners, the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce and the city have partnered to move the wayfinding project forward. Cote said hundreds of community members, groups and businesses have been involved in the design process, which was led by Corbin Design. Design services were provided by JDG Creative and installation was completed by Siouxland Signs.
"We're going to see a lot more development in downtown that's going to inspire more walk-ability. When you get out of your car and see something like this, you're able to understand what's around you," Cote said.Â
The total cost of the project is roughly $250,000, which includes pedestrian and vehicular signage. Cote said a grant from Missouri River Historical Development covered quite a bit of the cost of the project.Â
A wayfinding map is shown on a traffic signal box at the corner of Fifth and Pearl streets in downtown Sioux City in this September 2020 file photo.
"What we've ended up doing, just due to funding, is we've split the project into two phases. One was pedestrian and one was for cars," Cote said. "Pedestrian is the one that got done first to help people as they're walking downtown."
Cote said bids for the vehicular piece of the project, which is the most expensive, were recently received. She said the City Council will be asked to award a contract to the lowest bidder in the next couple of weeks.Â
"The vehicular side of things is more of a citywide based system," Cote explained. "It takes a little bit of our history. You'll see some of the steer heads in the design. You'll see a lot of golds and terra cotta colors that you would see in downtown."
The new signage and maps will help connect people with entertainment areas, museums, parks, residential living units, city services, the riverfront and hundreds of downtown small businesses.
Sioux City's downtown has a new wayfinding system. Wayfinding, or directional signage, is described as "direction for people in motion."
Each traffic signal box is wrapped using an image of how that intersection once looked and a map that shows the current location and identifies businesses within a two-block radius.Â
"I think these are really fun. They're colorful. They're bright. You notice them," Cote said. "We can change those out every year. As businesses change, as things change downtown, those can come off and be put right back on very inexpensively."
Pedestrian signs are located at the following corners: Third and Pearl, Fifth and Pearl, Sixth and Pearl, Fifth and Douglas, Sixth and Douglas, Seventh and Douglas, Third and Pierce, Fourth and Pierce, Fifth and Pierce, Sixth and Pierce, Third and Nebraska, Fourth and Nebraska, Fifth and Nebraska, Sixth and Nebraska, Third and Jackson, Gordon Drive and Virginia, Fourth and Floyd, and in the Farmer's Market area.
Photos: Lower Fourth Street through the 20th century
Photos: Lower Fourth Street through the 20th century
Lower Fourth Street
The Lee Block, constructed in 1911 as a multi-use commercial building, was home to billiard halls, saloons, drug stores, furniture dealers, clothing shops and hardware stores. Notable occupants included the O.P. Skaggs grocery store (1931-1951), the Scandinavian Bakery (1933-1973) and Cooper’s Market (1955-1992).
Lower Fourth Street
The Chelsea Theatre was located on Fourth Street in downtown Sioux City.
Lower Fourth Street
People's Department Store on Fourth Street in Sioux City.
Lower Fourth Street
The Chelsea Theatre was located on Fourth Street in downtown Sioux City.
Lower Fourth Street
Sioux City Barber College and Del-Mar Grill on Fourth Street in Sioux City.
Lower Fourth Street
The Pink Pussy Cat was located at 901 Fourth St. in Sioux City. It closed in 1982 and this area of town was torn down in the mid-1980s to make way for the Sioux City Convention Center.
Lower Fourth Street
People’s Department Store operated on the northwest corner of Court and Fourth streets from 1937 to 1994.
Lower Fourth Street
Lower Fourth Street businesses included Albert's Shoe Repair and Oby's.
Lower Fourth Street
Lower Fourth Street businesses included A. Anderson & Sons Upholstering and K's Club.
Lower Fourth Street
Aalfs Manufacturing has occupied the Boston Block on Historic Fourth Street since 1929.
Harbor Inn
A photograph of the Harbor Inn on Fourth Street in Sioux City.
Lower Fourth Street
The Lexington Block building was originally occupied by the Dow Clothing Company (1891-95). Notable future occupants included a print shop (1895-97), the Henry A. Baker Company clothes manufacturing firm (1897-1916) and Max R. Mushkin’s clothing store (1917-28). Later, Zimmerman Furniture Company (1933-51) occupied the western half of the building while the Monarch Billiard Parlor (1934-56) operated the eastern half. The Sioux City Gospel Mission then owned the building until it was razed in 1987 to make way for the Sioux City Convention Center.
Lower Fourth Street
Dailey Antiques was located on Fourth Street in Sioux City.
Lower Fourth Street
Palm Tap and 4th St. Furniture on Fourth Street in Sioux City.
Lower Fourth Street
The Econ Optical and Hardware Hank stores are shown in this photo of the Call Terminal Building, which was renamed in 1930 after it was purchased by local financier and real estate developer George C. Call.
Lower Fourth Street
Sioux City businessman Fred T. Evans constructed the building that bears his name in 1890. In 1919 the building became a hotel and it functioned in that capacity until 1954. The building housed Robe’s Furniture and a motorcycle club until 2006 when it was renovated for the Heidman Law Firm.
Lower Fourth Street
The Major Block was built in 1889 and has been occupied by tenants including a hardware store and a hotel. During the early 1890s it served as the University of the Northwest’s (later Morningside College) College of Commerce. Currently the 21st Amendment and Francis Canteen are businesses in these buildings at the south side of Fourth Street near the intersection of Virginia Street.
Lower Fourth Street
This Romanesque building was constructed around 1895, but it is unclear who was its architect or builder. The building’s most notable occupant was People’s Department Store, which operated here from 1937 to 1994.
Lower Fourth Street
Lower Fourth Street businesses included The Harbor Inn, Chicago House and The Gospel Mission.
Dolly Butz
City Government & Features Reporter
Butz, a Drake University graduate, has been at the Journal since 2005, covering a variety of beats, including public safety, health care and city government. She has won state and national awards, primarily for coverage of addiction and mental health.
