Planning services

Plans that move from possibility to progress.

Backstreets Planning helps public agencies, developers, nonprofits, and neighborhood leaders shape clear, practical strategies for the places they care about.

Work built around real places

Every engagement starts with local context. We pair thoughtful research, direct conversation, and implementation-minded planning to help partners make informed decisions and build durable momentum.

Visitors outside a community market in Cedar Rapids

Vibrant places

Strategies that turn public spaces, commercial corridors, and cultural assets into places people choose to spend time, invest, and belong.

Placemaking and public-realm strategies
Downtown and corridor revitalization
Economic development planning
Public-private partnerships

Person walking a dog alongside Cedar Lake

Quality of life

Plans that connect everyday needs with long-term opportunity—supporting healthy, safe, and welcoming neighborhoods for residents of all ages.

Parks, trails, and open-space planning
Neighborhood investment strategies
Community health and livability
Public safety and access planning

Brick apartment buildings in a neighborhood

Affordable housing

Housing strategies grounded in market realities and community priorities, from neighborhood stabilization to development-ready action plans.

Housing needs and market analysis
Redevelopment and reuse strategies
Neighborhood stabilization plans
Affordable housing implementation

Community gathering at an outdoor amphitheater

Community investment

Clear frameworks for directing resources where they can make the greatest difference, while linking capital projects to broader community goals.

Capital improvement planning
Infrastructure investment strategy
Community asset planning
Funding and implementation roadmaps

How we work

A grounded, collaborative process

Listen and learn

We begin with the people, history, conditions, and ambitions that make each place distinct.

Frame the choices

We turn research and input into clear priorities, practical scenarios, and decisions partners can act on.

Build the path forward

We define phased next steps, partnerships, and implementation tools that keep progress moving.

Have a place-changing idea?

Let’s talk about the opportunity in front of your community or organization.

Start a conversation