MILLWORK DISTRICT REVITALIZATION

MILLWORK DISTRICT REVITALIZATION. The "historic millwork district" encompassed an area shaped like a right-triangle. On the north it ran ran east-west along 12th Street. It ran north to south from 12th to 5th streets and than at an angle along Highways 151/61. At the beginning of the 20th century the area contained dozens of businesses employed an estimated 2,500 people. (1) By the end of the same century, most of the companies had closed leaving unoccupied buildings blighting the downtown environment. In 2005 a community visioning process identified the desire of citizens to remedy the problem with positive development. Following this decision, the city established city revitalization as its primary priority (2) One of the largest renovation projects ever undertaken in Dubuque, the Millwork District Revitalization program was aimed at returning the building historically associated with the lumber/millwork business in Dubuque to useful condition.

The first city support came in the form of a $7.7 million investment in the infrastructure. In a two-year project, the city updated the sanitary sewer, water main, storm sewer, residential water system, fiber optics and other tele-communications. New installations included bike racks, new STREETS and sidewalks, lighting, bus shelters and signage. The city also supported the construction of the 415.7 million Intermodal Transportation Center with its improved access to The Jule, other transportation services, and a 292-space parking garage. (3)

In 2013 the Caradco Building had been transformed into the Schmid Innovation Center, a mixed-use, anchor property for the Millwork District Revitalization. The building, the first project of the revitalization program, included "high-end work-force and market-rate apartments, commercial and retail space and space for the arts. Among the first tenants were Eagle Point Solar, Pilates Fundamentals, and Zazou's Bridal Boutique. The 72-apartment complex called the Caradco Lofts occupied the upper two levels of the building. Large support beams throughout the building, original brick walls, and salvaged doors, signs, and millwork equipment were placed as decorative pieces.

The NOVELTY IRON WORKS building was once part of the CARADCO and then the headquarters of EAGLE WINDOW AND DOOR. In 2005 developer Bob Johnson purchased the building and assisted with the city's development plans. Repeating the theme of the Caradco Building, the Novelty Iron Works building was planned as a mixed-use commercial and residential center. The first phase of development planned for completion in the fall of 2013 was the construction of 76 apartments units and about half of the commercial space. The Gym was the building's first commercial tenant. Nearly all of the Novelty Iron Works apartments were scheduled to be market-rate with one, two or three-bedroom units available.

The DUBUQUE LINSEED OIL PAINT COMPANY also known as the Betty Building was scheduled for renovation by 2014 into 16 loft-style apartments on four floors. Tim McNamara, the building's owner, also planned a rooftop garden. In 2017 Linseed Lofts had each of its 16 apartments filled with a waiting list for potential tenants. (4)

The 185,000-square foot warehouse, known as the Voices Building, since about 2004 has been the home of the Voices of the Warehouse art show. Annually in September, local, national and international artists participate in juried shows and exhibitions. Eventually the building was planned as a 68-unit apartment complex with space for commercial and arts tenants.

The ROUSE, DEAN AND COMPANY foundry and Power Plant building each having about 5,000 square feet were likely to become commercial properties.

The goal of the reconstruction and repair of the streets was to return the roads to "complete streets." The $7.7 million project was named the Project of the Year in Transportation in the greater than $5 million but less than $25 million category by the American Public Works Association in 2012. In 2013 city employees were scheduled to begin shifting 9th, 10th, and 11th streets from one-way into two-way. In 2014 Elm Street was planned for reconstruction and White Street to be resurfaced.

In addition to private funding, public options were used:

Federal $5.6 TIGER grant, U. S. Department of Transportation, used to overhaul streets, infrastructure, and underground utilities. $100,000 grant, National Endowment for the Arts to support local arts initiatives

$8 million intermodal grant, Federal Transit Authority, for the Intermodal Transit Center and parking garage and other public transit needs.

$400,000 Environmental Protection Agency Brownfield Assessment

$11.2 million: Historic tax credit

$27.5 million: New market tax credit

State $10.2 million Community Development Block Grant, Iowa Economic Development Authority to renovate the Caradco Building (Schmid Innovation Center)

$2.2 million Community Development Block Grant, IEDA to renovate the Linseed Oil Paint Works Building $150,000 Iowa Great Places Grant, Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs to install park benches, trash receptacles, and streetscape amenities

$14 million: Historic tax credit

$1 million: Brownfield/Grayfield tax credit

City $2.17 million in local funds applied to the Complete Streets project

$1.48 million: The city can provide $10,000 per-unit development incentive for new apartment complexes downtown. A total of $720,000 was set aside for the Caradco Lofts in the Schmid Innovation Center and $760,000 for the Novelty Iron Works Building, based on the number of planner apartments. Future projects would also be eligible for this incentive. $70,000 Architecture and Engineering, Facade Improvement and Financial Planning grants: Both the Schmid Innovation Center and Novelty Iron Works Building received grants to assist with project management and facade improvement. Each requires an equal or great contribution from the developer.

$2.5 million: Gronen Properties received a 15-year Tax Increment Financing Incentive from the city for renovations to the former Caradco Building. The total value of the incentive depended on unknown variables including tax rates, assessed value of the property and future tax law that could affect rollback rates.

$2.5 million: The Warehouse Trust, LLC., received a 15-year TIF incentive from the city for renovations to the Novelty Iron Works Building. The TIF incentive would be affected by the same variable as those applied to the Gronen Properties.

In November 2016 the Dubuque Historic Preservation Commission unanimously approved design changes for a four-story hotel in the millwork district. Gary Carner and Tom Kelzer, owners of SR Jackson Real Estate LLC, purchased the former SPAHN AND ROSE LUMBER COMPANY warehouse at 1100 Jackson St. for $900,000 in June. Their plans called for the construction of a 54-room Marriott TownePlace Suites extended-stay hotel. (5)

In the spring and summer of 2017 Backpocket Brewing Company opened a new taproom in the Novelty Iron Building, the first retail development in the 250,000-square-foot building. 7 Hills Brewing Company, a restaurant and brewery, was scheduled to open at 1085 Washington with Blue Elements Salon & Spa nearby. Marriott TownePlace Suites, an 84-room, extended-stay hotel was scheduled to begin construction for a 2018 opening. Tenants began occupying Caradco Lofts at 955 Washington in September 2012. SCHMID INNOVATION CENTER, the main level of the Caradco building has had as tenants Brazen Open Kitchen + Bar, Inspire Cafe, Namaste, RF2 Furniture Warehouse, and Zazou's Bridal Boutique. By April 2017 all 72 units in the Caradco Lofts were occupied with a waiting list established for new tenants. The Novelty Iron Works building opened 76 apartment units and in 2017 only two were vacant. (6)

The development was not without its setbacks. DUBUQUE FOOD CO-OP opened for business in May 2014, but closed in 2017. Voices From the Warehouse District officials in 2016 announced that the annual arts festival would end after eleven years. (7)

In 2017 many of the largest properties in the area remain vacant. These included the five-story VOICES building at 10th and Jackson, property associated with FARLEY AND LOETSCHER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, and the former Jeld-Wen facility. (8)

See: GRONEN PROPERTIES/GRONEN RESTORATION

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Source:

1. Montgomery, Jeff. "Recent Developments Spur Sense of Progress in Downtown Neighborhood," Telegraph Herald, May 7, 2017, p. 1A

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid.

4. Ibid.

5. Barton, Thomas J "Panel OKs Revised Hotel Plan," Telegraph Herald, November 18, 2016, p. 1

6. Montgomery

7. Ibid.

8. Ibid.

Jacobson, Ben. " Windows of Opportunity," Telegraph Herald, July 14, 2013, p. 1a and 8a.

LoBianco, Dan. "Historic Millwork District Funding," Julien's Journal, January 212, p. 36