Communication_John and Barbara Tranel
September 26, 2007
Dear City Council Members:
The following is not something that either makes or breaks the City of
Dubuque as a destination city, business community or nice place to live. It
does, though, have something to do with culture and a city's general
standard of living and good taste.
As one drives north into Dubuque proper along Locust Street on Highways
52, 61, 151, or as one turns north on Locust from Highway 20, one is
confronted at about First Street with a huge, bright, blinking billboard that
truly dominates the South end of Main Street and the buildings located
there.
We understand that the area in question is some sort of Historic District
emphasizing Dubuque's "South end". What a crass, low-brow, out-of-
character method of introducing people to Dubuque's old South End
District. The big, flashing billboard cheapens and overwhelms the entire
area. Can you imagine anything like that anywhere near Galena's
downtown district?
Dubuque is filled with history and tradition, but the gigantic, lighted,
flashing billboard screen belongs out near some sprawling mega parking lot
near a big shopping area---not as the main distraction to Dubuque's historic
South End area.
A billboard of any kind seems out of place at that location, but this type of
billboard is crass, loud, bright and so vi,yr out of place. Other people we've
talked to have noticed and commented on the same thing. Surely you must
have noticed the problem.
Can't you do anything about it?
YQUrs, y,
J and Barbara Tran~l
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