Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
URBAN RENEWAL: Difference between revisions
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This entry is in the process of being written. | This entry is in the process of being written. | ||
URBAN RENEWAL. Cities are continually changing. [[NORMAN, Wayne | URBAN RENEWAL. Cities are continually changing. [[NORMAN, Wayne Andrew Sr.|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) | 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 ELEVATOR]]; [[DUBUQUE CUSTOM HOUSE AND POST OFFICE]]; "Ridgemount," the James Langworthy House; the James Marsh residence; [[BEACH, James | The list of significant landmarks lost in Dubuque would include the Illinois Central Railroad passenger depot; [[ELEVENTH STREET ELEVATOR]]; [[DUBUQUE CUSTOM HOUSE AND POST OFFICE]]; "Ridgemount," the James Langworthy House; the James Marsh residence; [[BEACH, James|James BEACH]] home; [[PEABODY, William H.|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 [[FERRING, Cyril|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. | In 1965, a 15-square bounded by Fourth, Ninth, Locust and Central was proposed for urban renewal. (4) In August [[FERRING, Cyril|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. | ||
Revision as of 01:57, 28 September 2014
This entry is in the process of being written.
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 ELEVATOR; 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)
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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. 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.