.bodytext {float: left; } .floatimg-left-hort { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right: 10px; width:300px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 12px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} tr.d0 td { background-color: #ccccff; color: black; }
Now that the Historic Court District Association has formalized into a nonprofit organization, it is seeking businesses, residents and other parties with stakes in the downtown area to join the group.

“Our group started as a grassroots neighborhood association,” said Mike Utley, the organization’s president. “It was just some business owners putting their heads together. … But with this area growing, we have a lot more neighbors now and a lot more things going on and a lot more interest in the area, so we decided to try to get that information and awareness out to more folks that might be interested.”

Currently the Historic Court District Association has 20 members, including the Science Center of Iowa, the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines, Hubbell Realty Co. and most bars and restaurants on Court Avenue and Fourth Street. The group came together more than a year ago to share ideas, stay apprised of new developments and collaborate on events. So far, it has finalized a logo and marketing materials and is working on a Web site that will be connected to the Downtown Community Alliance’s site.

The group also is working on a large New Year’s Eve party for as early as this year, which will include a ball drop at the Polk County Courthouse at midnight.

Association members meet once a month, usually on the first Tuesday of the month. The cost is $100 for a voting membership or $25 for a nonvoting membership. For more information, call Mike Utley, president, at 282-2739.