ABOUT
EXPERIENCE THAT MOVES PROJECTS FORWARD
For more than three decades, Dale Todd has worked at the intersection of community development, public policy, economic development, housing, public safety, and neighborhood revitalization.
Backstreets Planning and Development provides strategic leadership for projects that require vision, relationships, and the ability to navigate complex public and private processes.
WHAT WE DO
DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY SERVICES
- Project feasibility
- Development strategy
- Public-private partnerships
- Government relations
- Community engagement
OWNER'S REPRESENTATION
- Project oversite
- Budget and schedule management
- Consultant Coordination
- Risk Mitigation
COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
- Neighborhood revitalization
- Corridor redevelopment
- Affordable housing
- Economic development strategy
- Placemaking
NON-PROFIT & INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- Capital project planning
- Facility development
- Strategic partnerships
- Board and stakeholder engagement
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
“In my experience, it is relatively rare to work with person who has the capability of future visioning and persistent detail- orientation to see that vision through to completion. Dale Todd has those attributes. Dale is incredibly competent, intelligent and accomplished. He is a community builder in the very sense of the term.”
LEE CLANCY
Former Cedar Rapids Mayor
“When I had the idea for the Newbo City Market, Dale was the first person I called. He became one of the earliest champions for the project and helped me make the vital connections that ultimately led to our success. I called Dale because I knew him to be a person of vision, intellect, and know-how. Without Dale, I question whether the Newbo City Market would be here today.”
SARAH ORDOVER
Founder, NewBo City Market
“It’s rare that a single person possesses the determination, intellectual strength, personal commitment to helping people, and the ability to solve complicated problems, but Dale has all of these characteristics. His leadership and knowledge of complicated federal, state, and local requirements is one of his most important attributes.”
JACK HATCH
Principal, Hatch Development Group
WHY
BACKSTREETS?
Backstreets Planning and Development takes its name from Bruce Springsteen’s classic song Backstreets. The song celebrates friendship, resilience, and the overlooked places where people build community and find hope. Those same values guide our work.
We focus on neighborhoods, organizations, and projects—both large and small—that others may overlook, helping communities reconnect, reinvest, and move forward. We believe that lasting change is built through relationships, trust, and a shared commitment to place.
We enjoy the challenge of complicated projects and work with communities to fulfill their vision by turning underutilized properties into affordable housing, community assets, and neighborhood investment.