URBAN RENEWAL

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URBAN RENEWAL. Cities are continually changing. Wayne Andrew Norman, Sr. credited Dubuque with having so many styles of architecture because of the growth of its many industries. (1) As captains of industry rose, they constructed their homes in the style popular at the time. Often industries developed so quickly that one style of architecture might be seen right next to another.

Urban renewal, however, can come at the cost of the past. Some buildings are the objects of such continual neglect that they eventually cause safety concerns and the need to remove them. Dubuque's unusually rich architectural heritage has allowed the belief to persist that the loss of a landmark could be afforded. In 1932 Dubuque's first OCTAGON STYLE ARCHITECTURE home was torn down. The demolition contractor remarked that he had never seen a building so well constructed--eight inch thick concrete walls reinforced in the corners with oak branches embedded in the mortar. (2)

The list of significant landmarks lost in Dubuque would include the Illinois Central Railroad passenger depot; ELEVENTH STREET ELEVATED RAILROAD; DUBUQUE CUSTOM HOUSE AND POST OFFICE; "Ridgemount," the James Langworthy House; the James Marsh residence; James BEACH home; William H. PEABODY house; MILWAUKEE RAILROAD SHOPS; Old Central Engine House; Turner Hall; John Emerson house; Bissell-Babbage-Andrew McDonald house; GREYSTONE, CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL; and most recently the ODD FELLOWS TEMPLE. (3) In 2014 the condition of the DUBUQUE BREWING AND MALTING COMPANY building led to doubts it could be saved. Some of these landmarks were demolished for parking. At least one was added to and then removed from the list of historic buildings because of the regulations of maintenance the owner would need to follow.

In 1965, a 15-square bounded by Fourth, Ninth, Locust and Central was proposed for urban renewal. (4) In August Cyril FERRING met with a group of members of the Chamber of Commerce to urge "a retention--but a modern one--of what you have." (5) Ferring, a resident of Chicago, had participated in that city's refurbishing of the Old Town Triangle.

    "Practically no one has what you have here, most of it has been
    destroyed." (6)

Locally he pointed to the loss of "Ridgemount," the Langworthy house at Third and Alpine as an example.

Tom Loosbrock, an architect, agreed with Ferring. "Too often there is a tendency to look at the lower floors and solve the immediate problems and not pay attention to the upper floors. Loosbrock listed six qualities of Dubuque architecture: masonry, simple, people oriented, no large expanse of glass windows, lots of vertical elements, and arched openings. (7)

Robert Sullivan, a downtown businessman, suggested that new buildings and remodeling in the renewal area and surroundings should have a general motif or theme. (8)

City Planner Clyde Cook said it would be possible to ensure an architectural style for the area. Specifications or qualities could be set out in an ordinance for the renewal area and the sections surrounding it. (9)

In August 1965 Gent WITTENBERG, then the deputy director of urban renewal in Toledo, Iowa, was hired as Dubuque's first director of urban renewal. The city had just received federal approval for its fifteen-block central business district urban renewal. The city council had also enacted a new housing code. (10)

Between 1959 and 1984, an estimated 136 cities in the United States constructed a pedestrian mall. This area would be defined as a site of at least partial closure of a commercial street to vehicles. (4)

By 1969 ORPHEUM THEATER, was scheduled for demolition as part of Dubuque's 12 block downtown urban renewal program.

Those opposed to the demolition believed the theater was an irreplaceable treasure. Led by such community activists as Wayne Norman, this group officially launched its fund drive in December 1971 to renovate the Orpheum and build an adjoining arts arcade and exhibition hall on the block bordered by Fourth, Fifth, Main, and Locust STREETS. Architects were hired in July 1972 to design the facility. In November, 1972, the Orpheum was placed on the NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. The theater was restored in 1975, renamed the FIVE FLAGS THEATER and reopened March 13, 1976. (11)

On August 17, 1976, a bond referendum was held for the construction of the FIVE FLAGS CIVIC CENTER, to be attached to the existing theater. An overwhelming 70% majority voted yes. (12)

Besides the arena, which covers 27,000 square feet of floor space and seats up to 4,000, the new plan called for badly needed theater support rooms, as well as locker rooms, storage space, and administrative offices. The complex was connected to and designed to complement the restored theater. The new civic center opened in 1979. (13)

In the 1970s, the "Your Town Clock Committee" was organized to have the TOWN CLOCK moved from its current location at 825 Main Street to the new TOWN CLOCK PLAZA. The city council approved. The $70,000 cost for the move was raised through donations raised over a 14 month period. (14)

The Durrant Architecture firm of Dubuque designed a pre-cast four-column pedestal that was then placed in the plaza. The actual tower was brought to the site on Feb 12, 1971, and bolted to the pedestal. The faces of the clock were placed at the new location on Feb 16, 1971. Afterwards the cupola was placed at the new site, which completed the move. After the reassembly was complete, the clock stood about 108 feet above the street, which was about two feet taller than at its previous location. (15)

The move helped increased the visibility of the Town Clock which became the centerpiece at special events held at Town Clock Plaza. (16)

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Source:

1. Interview of Wayne Norman, August 1980

2. Sommer, Lawrence J. "The Heritage of Dubuque: An Architectural View," East Dubuque, IL: Tel Graphics, 1975, p. 14

3. Ibid., p. 14-28

4. Patterson, Steve. "North America Cities That Have (or Had) a Pedestrian Mall," UrbanReview STL. Online: http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/2009/11/north-america-cities-that-have-or-had-a-pedestrian-mall/

4. Thompson, Dave. "Chamber Told to Keep Dubuque Style, Charm," Telegraph Herald, August 20, 1965, p. 1

5. Ibid.

6. Ibid.

7. Ibid.

8. Ibid.

9. Ibid.

10. "Gent Wittenberg to Head Urban Renewal in Dubuque," Toledo Blade, August 30, 1965, p. 1. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19650830&id=bD0xAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZgEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2108,1333947

11. "Theater at Fourth and Main: A Rich and Vivid Tradition," Online: http://fiveflagscenter.com/AboutUs/History.aspx

12. Ibid.

13. Ibid.

14. "Urban Renewal," Geocaching, http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC54QDA_town-clock?guid=06b67970-c538-4f60-b857-397569764c59

15. Ibid.

16. Ibid.