Letters of Support for Ham House Interior Restoration & Preservation ProjectCity of Dubuque
City Council Meeting
Consent Items # 016.
Copyrighted
March 4, 2024
ITEM TITLE: Letters of Support for Ham House Interior Restoration & Preservation
Project
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending City Council approval of letters of support
and authorization for the Dubuque County Historical Society (DCHS) to
apply for two grants for interior restoration and preservation at the Mathias
Ham House.
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Approve
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
MVM Memo
cover memo
Itr of authorization
Woods Mitchell Itr of support
Favrot Itr of support
Type
City Manager Memo
Staff Memo
Staff Memo
Staff Memo
Staff Memo
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TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Letters of Support for Ham House Interior Restoration & Preservation
Project
DATE: February 29, 2024
Assistant City Manager Cori Burbach is recommending City Council approval of letters
of support and authorization for the Dubuque County Historical Society (DCHS) to apply
for two grants for interior restoration and preservation at the Mathias Ham House.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
v
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
CC' Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Marie Ware, Leisure Services Director
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DUUB-.'&--FE
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
DATE: February 28, 2024
Dubuque
AI•AMINCI City
2007.2012
2013.2017
RE: Letters of Support for Ham House Interior Restoration & Preservation
Project
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memo is to request Council approval of letters of support and
authorization for the Dubuque County Historical Society (DCHS) to apply for two grants
for interior restoration and preservation at the Mathias Ham House.
BACKGROUND
The City of Dubuque and the DCHS have an owner and lessee agreement that guides
our partnership in caring for this historic property. The Mathias Ham House, a National
Register of Historic Places property, is owned by the City of Dubuque. The DCHS
maintains and programs the interior of the Ham House, and the two organizations work
collaboratively on exterior and grounds restoration and preservation.
DISCUSSION
The DCHS requested two letters of support from the City of Dubuque for grants that
would fund restoration and preservation at the Mathias Ham House. The grant
programs are the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Fund for Historic Interiors program and the
Johanna Favrot Fund for Historic Preservation program. All funding secured will
support a $1 million interior restoration project outlined in the Mathias Ham House
Historic Structure Report. Grant funds would provide a match to the secured Jeffris
Family Foundation Challenge Grant of $500,000. Consultants on the project include
Stickley-Morton Architects, Duane Hagerty, Gronen Restoration, and the Iowa State
Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). The grant requests also require the attached letter
of authorization indicating the DCHS has the authority to perform work on the City -
owned facility.
BUDGETIMPACT
No City funds are associated with these letters of authorization and support.
REQUESTED ACTION
I respectfully request City Council approval of the attached letters of authorization and
support for the DCHS to apply for two grants for interior restoration and preservation at
the Mathias Ham House.
Cc: Marie Ware, Leisure Services Manager
THE CITY OF
Ur B TE
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
Kurt Strand, President & CEO
Dubuque County Historical Society
350 E. 3rd Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
Dubuque City Managers Office
50 W 13" St
AII•Anerici My Dubuque IA 52001
Office (563) 589.4110
1®' www.cityofdubuque.org
2007-2012.2013
2017*2019
February 26, 2024
SUBJECT: Letter of Authorization for Dubuque County Historical Society's Mathias Ham House Interior
Preservation and Restoration Project.
Dear Mr. Strand,
I am pleased to provide this letter of authorization on behalf of the City of Dubuque in support of the
Dubuque County Historical Society's forthcoming Mathias Ham House Interior Preservation and
Restoration Project.
The City of Dubuque and the Historical Society have an owner and lessee agreement that guides our
partnership in caring for this historic property. The Mathias Ham House, a National Register of Historic
Places property, is a designated as a City Landmark Site.
In our long collaboration with the Dubuque County Historical Society, stewarding the historic
architecture as well as the historic site, we've recognized the power of working partnerships and the
fundamental significance of the Ham House and its' site structures as representative of our cultural
heritage. The City's Historic Preservation Commission has the responsibility to promote the protection,
enhancement, and perpetuation of such landmarks through outreach, education, and design review.
The interior restoration and preservation, guided by the Mathias Ham House Historic Structure Report,
will ensure the house's preservation for years to come.
The Dubuque County Historical Society's dedication to preserving and interpreting the history of the
Mathias Ham House offers enriching and engaging experiences to visitors and residents, furthering the
social and cultural vibrancy of our community. The City of Dubuque supports your continued initiatives
to care for the interior of the Mathias Ham House. We look forward to the collaborative process of
enhancing and preserving this historic landmark.
Sincerely,
Michael Van Milligen
City Manager
THE CITY OF
Ur B TE
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
Kurt Strand
President & CEO
Dubuque County Historical Society
350 E. 3rd Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
Dubuque City Managers Office
50 W 13" St
MI-Americi My Dubuque IA 52001
Office (563) 589.4110
1®' www.cityofdubuque.org
2007-2012.2013
2017*2019
February 28, 2024
SUBJECT: Letter of Support for Cynthia Woods Mitchell Fund for Historic Interiors Grant Application for
Mathias Ham House
Dear Mr. Strand,
I am pleased to provide this letter of support on behalf of the City of Dubuque in support of the
Dubuque County Historical Society's (DCHS) application to the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Fund for Historic
Interiors grant program in support of your Mathias Ham House interior restoration and preservation
project, as outlined in the Mathias Ham House Historic Structure Report.
In our long collaboration with the Dubuque County Historical Society stewarding the historic
architecture as well as the historic site, we've recognized the power of working partnerships and the
fundamental significance of the historic site on our cultural heritage. The City's Historic Preservation
Commission has the responsibility to promote the protection, enhancement, and perpetuation of such
landmarks through outreach, education, and design review.
The Dubuque County Historical Society's dedication to preserving the Mathias Ham House and
interpreting its' historic site provide engaging learning experiences to visitors and residents, furthering
the social and cultural vibrancy of our community. The City of Dubuque supports your initiative to seek
funding to support this $1 million dollar preservation initiative. The success of the Jeffris Family
Foundation Challenge Grant Match and DCHS's Preserve the Wonder Capital Campaign reflect both the
community's and the region's support of your historic preservation endeavor.
We look forward to the collaborative process of enhancing and preserving this historic landmark.
Sincerely,
Mike Van Milligen
City Manager
THE CITY OF
Ur B TE
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
Kurt Strand
President & CEO
Dubuque County Historical Society
350 E. 3rd Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
Dubuque City Managers Office
50 W 13" St
MI-Americi My Dubuque IA 52001
Office (563) 589.4110
1®' www.cityofdubuque.org
2007-2012.2013
2017*2019
February 26, 2024
SUBJECT: Letter of Support for Johanna Favrot Fund for Historic Preservation Grant Application for
Mathias Ham House
Dear Mr. Strand,
I am pleased to provide this letter of support on behalf of the City of Dubuque in support of the
Dubuque County Historical Society's (DCHS) application to the Johanna Favrot Fund for Historic
Preservation grant program requesting support of your Mathias Ham House interior restoration and
preservation project, as outlined in the Mathias Ham House Historic Structure Report.
In our long collaboration with the Dubuque County Historical Society stewarding the historic
architecture as well as the historic site, we've recognized the power of working partnerships and the
fundamental significance of the historic site on our cultural heritage. The City's Historic Preservation
Commission has the responsibility to promote the protection, enhancement, and perpetuation of such
landmarks through outreach, education, and design review.
The Dubuque County Historical Society's dedication to preserving the Mathias Ham House and
interpreting its' historic site provide engaging learning experiences to visitors and residents, furthering
the social and cultural vibrancy of our community. The City of Dubuque supports your initiative to seek
funding to support this $1 million dollar preservation initiative. The success of the Jeffris Family
Foundation Challenge Grant Match and DCHS's Preserve the Wonder Capital Campaign reflect both the
community's and the region's support of your endeavor.
We look forward to the collaborative process of enhancing and preserving this historic landmark.
Sincerely,
Mike Van Milligen
City Manager