West 11th Street Stairs ProjectPlanning Services Department
City Hall
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, IA 52001-4864
(563) 589-4210 phone
(563) 589-4221 fax
(563) 589-6678 TDD
planning@cityofdubuque.org
THE CITY OF
DUB E
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
December 21, 2007
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
City of Dubuque
City Hall - 50 W. 13t" Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
RE: Reallocation of HDPIP Funding to W. 11t" Street Stairs Project
Dear Mayor and City Council Members:
The City of Dubuque Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) has reviewed the above-
cited request. The staff report and related materials are attached for your review.
Background
In 2005, the HPC and the City Council approved $90,000 in Historic District Public
Improvement Program (HDPIP) funds to install historic street lights and bury utility lines
along Grove Terrace and Lower Grove Terrace in the W. 11t" Street Historic District.
Planning Staff reported that the Historic Bluffs Neighborhood Association has not raised
the necessary local match, and has not provided documentation on the project status
despite repeated contacts by City staff.
Discussion
Planning Staff noted that for the W. 11t" Street Stairs Project, the City Engineering
Department has proposed removing the street pavement on Grove Terrace around the
upper portion of the W. 11t" Street stairs, excavation above the existing arch, installation
of a reinforced concrete bridge with ties to hold the existing arch in place, reshaping of
the existing roadway subgrade to correct drainage deficiencies, installation of new curb
and gutter and limestone barrier wall, installation of new concrete pavement and
installation of new decorative fencing. Staff reported that the existing retaining walls
along the W. 11t" stairs will be repaired using native Dubuque limestone and properly
tuckpointed. Staff noted that existing materials will be used as much as possible with
new materials matching the existing materials in size, color and material type.
Planning Staff stated that the City Engineering Department understands that the project
plans are subject to HPC advisory design review before they are presented to the City
Council to authorize initiation of bidding on the project.
Reallocation of HDPIP Funding to W. 11tH Street Stairs Project
Page 2
Planning Staff stated that the W. 11tH Street Stairs Project will provide needed
improvements to a well-used pedestrian connection between the Downtown and the W.
11tH Street Historic District. Staff noted that the W. 11tH Street Stairs Project also will be
able to utilize HDPIP funds in a timely manner. Staff added that the Historic Bluffs
Neighborhood Association can continue to seek and/or raise the required match for the
W. 11tH Street Historic Lighting Project to the point where a commitment of future HDPIP
funding can made.
The HPC discussed the reallocation. They noted that the W. 11tH Street Historic Lighting
Project cannot move forward until the Historic Bluffs Neighborhood Association has
raised the required match. The HPC further noted that W. 11tH Street Historic Lighting
Project remains as an approved HDPIP project, and future HDPIP funds can be
committed for the lighting project when the match is raised.
Recommendation
By a vote of 5 to 0, the Historic Preservation Commission recommends reallocation of
$90,000 in HDPIP funds from the W. 11tH Street Historic Lighting Project to the W. 11tH
Street Stairs Project, subject to HPC advisory design review.
A simple majority vote is needed for the City Council to approve the request.
Respectfully submitted,
,~
~~ _,.
L
Christine Olson, Chairperson
Historic Preservation Commission
Enclosures
cc Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
THE CITY OF Dubuque
-1
DUB E "~'~~~~
~ -
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
2007
TO: Historic Preservation Commission ~,~-/
FROM: Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager ~`"
SUBJECT: Reallocation of HDPIP Funding to W. 11~' Street Stairs Project
DATE: December 12, 2007
Introduction
Staff is requesting reallocation of $90,000 in Historic District Public Improvement Program
(HDPIP) funding from the W. 11t" Street Historic Lighting Project to the W. 11t" Street Stairs
Project in the West 11th Street Historic District.
Background
In February, 2005, the Historic Preservation Commission recommended approval of $90,000 in
HDPIP funds to install historic street lights and bury utility lines along Grove Terrace and Lower
Grove Terrace in the W. 11th Street Historic District. The Historic Bluffs Neighborhood
Association has not raised the necessary local match, and has not provided documentation on
the project status despite repeated contacts by City staff.
Discussion
For the W. 11'" Street Stairs Project, the City Engineering Department has proposed removing
the street pavement on Grove Terrace around the upper portion of the West 11th Street stairs,
excavation above the existing arch, installation of a reinforced concrete bridge with ties to hold
the existing arch in place, reshaping of the existing roadway subgrade to correct drainage
deficiencies, installation of new curb and gutter and limestone barrier wall, installation of new
concrete pavement and installation of new decorative fencing. The existing retaining walls
along the 11th Street stairs will be repaired using native Dubuque limestone and properly
tuckpointed. Existing materials will be used as much as possible with new materials matching
the existing materials in size, color and material type. A staff report is enclosed.
The W. 11t" Street Stairs Project will provide needed improvements to a well-used pedestrian
connection between the Downtown and the West 11th Street Historic District. The W. 11 t" Street
Stairs Project also will be able to utilize HDPIP funds in a timely manner. The Historic Bluffs
Neighborhood Association can continue to seek and/or raise the required match for the Street
Historic Lighting Project to the point where a commitment of future HDPIP funding can made.
Recommendation
I recommend that the HPC recommend reallocation of $90,000 in HDPIP funds from the W. 11t"
Street Historic Lighting Project to the W. 11t" Street Stairs Project, subject to HPC advisory
design review.
Enclosures
cc Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
THE CITY OF ~ Ub Ugt2 E'
DAB E
Maste iece oil the Mississi i
rP PP ~
MEMORANDUM
September 27, 2007
TO: Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
FROM: Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager ~~~
SUBJECT: Historic Preservation Commission Advisory Design Review- West 11t"
Street Stairs Project
Civil Engineer Jon Dienst presented the West 11t" Street Stairs Project to the Historic
Preservation Commission on September 20, 2007. The Commission tabled the
Advisory Design Review for the repair and reconstruction of the West 11t" Street stairs
to a future meeting and requested Engineering evaluate the following options to be
presented to the Commission at a later date:
Excavate the fill under the arch, remove the north facing stair, and consider a
straight run of stairs.
2. Limestone coursework to run horizontal.
3. Up-light the arch instead of the pedestrian light fixture at the stair landing at the
base of the arch.
4. Combine the proposed decorative hoop railing with the existing style of handrail
on the stair.
5. A trash container be located at the bottom of the stairs.
Please contact Assistant Planner Dave Johnson with any questions and to schedule the
next HPC review.
LC/mkr
'll 1E CCTY OF
DUB E
~~~
PLANNING APPLICATION FORM
City of Oubuqu
Planning Services Departmer
Dubuque IA 52001-486
Phone: 319-589-421
Fax: 319-589.414
a Variance ^ Rezoning ^ Simple Site Plan ^ Annexation
^ Conditional Use Permit ^ Planned District ^ Minor Site Plan ^ Temporary Use Permit
a Appeal o Preliminary Plat ^ Major Site Plan ^ Certificate of Appropriateness
^ Special Exception ^ Minor Final Plat ^ Major Final Plat ^ Certificate of Economic Hardship
^ Limited Setback Waiver ^ Text Amendment ^ Simple Subdivision 7~ Other. lQt~ 15Ga7 ~ES,~.~v ~~v~~w
Pt_EASE TYPE OR PRINT LEGIBLY IN INKT
Property Owners}: ~j,-y ~>,~ / J~au~ u~ -- ~ Phone:
Address: S'o G~/. /3 '`~ ~r City: v u ~ Stater Zip: S`Z~a/
Fax Number: f- Mobile/Cellular Number:
Appficant/Agent: ~-- ~S ~51Y/Dz~c~S , ~~~ ~ji~.a'' Phone: 589-`~Z~lS
Address: ~ ~. ~~' ~ City: ut?_State: ~~ Zip: 5?-F~/
Fax Number: ~~- ~2o_S-
MobilelCellular Number:
Site location/address: ~ ~~~ S~~ /`~avs-r'e
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Existing zoning: ~e - Z Proposed zoning: A Historic district: ~ Landmark: ~~_
Legal description (Sidwell Parcel ID/number or lot number/block n/um/ber/subdivision}: __ ~~c ~-0- ~/
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Total property (lot) area (square feet or acres): .U~ Number of lots: ~/~
Describe proposal and reason necessary (attach a letter of explanation, if needed}: ~ /~~
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CERTIFICATION: I/we, the undersigned, do hereby certify that:
1. The information submitted herein is true and correct to the best of my/our knowledge and upon submittal
becomes public record;
2. Fees are not refundable and payment does not guarantee approval; and
3. All additional required written and graphic materials are attached.
Property Owner(s): Date:
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ApplicantlAgent: lruo ~~ Date: 9i~-"'
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FOR OFFICE USE ONLY -APPLICATION SUBMITTAL CHECKLIST
Fee: '--~ -- Received by: ~ ~- Da,,,: q 7i Docket:
W. 11th Street Stair Project
Project Description -
The 11th Street Retaining Wall and Stair Repair project will include the following: The
work will involve the removal of the street pavement on the Grove Terrace around the
upper portion of the 11th Street stairs, excavation above the existing arch, installation of
a reinforced concrete bridge with ties to hold the existing arch in place, reshaping of the
existing roadway subgrade to correct drainage deficiencies, installation of new curb and
gutter and limestone barrier wall, installation of new concrete pavement and installation
of new decorative fencing. The existing retaining walls along the 11th Street stairs will
be repaired using native Dubuque limestone and properly tuckpointed. Existing
materials will be used as much as possible with new materials matching the existing
materials in size, color and material type. A historic pedestrian light is proposed to
placed along the sidewalk below the arch to provide illumination for the lower portion of
the stairs as well as illuminate under the arch itself.
DESIGN REVIEW STAFF REPORT Meeting Date: September 20, 2007
Property Address: W. 11th Street Elevator/Stairs
Property Owner: City of Dubuque
Applicant: City of Dubuque
Project: To repair and reconstruct the W. 11th Street Elevator/Stairs.
Historic Preservation District: W. 11th Landmark: No Funding: No
Date Built: 1883 Present Land Use: Public
Physical Characteristics: A massive stone vaulted tunnel marks the point where the West
11'h Street Elevator passed through the wall. Today a recessed shaft located at the center of
Grove Terrace and on the West 11'° Street right-of-way, marks the point where the Elevator
continued up and out of that tunnel and above grade up to Highland Place to the west. The
West 11'" Street Stairs, of concrete construction, now parallel the former course of the Elevator.
They extend from Bluff Street to the east, up the bluff front, through the tunnel and along the
south side of the retaining wall that defines the bluff that fronts east behind the houses along
Grove Terrace.
Narrative Statement of Significance:
The City of Dubuque West Eleventh Street Historic District takes its name from the Eleventh
Street Elevator. In 1877, it was noted that it was becoming increasingly desirable to build and
live on the Bluffs and many downtown people were moving to the bluffs. The trend inspired the
establishment of the Julien Avenue Railroad Company, which, despite a 25 year charter from
the city, never ran a car up the bluff. The real success and inspiration to those who resided on
the Eleventh Street Hill was that of Jesse Farley's private inclined railway service. Farley started
his own service in 1883 and then started letting neighbors ride for a quarter. By the mid-1880s it
was a success and survived numerous fires. In 1887 the Eleventh Street Elevator Company
was established, began service in 1888, and began to use electrical power in 1890. The
Eleventh Street Elevator differed structurally from the 4`" Street model because it was elevated
high above the ground surface. The upper station was at Highland Place. The wealthy residents
on Grove Terrace were less than pleased with the noise from the operation and in mid-1895 the
company put rubber tires on the cars. The Herald reported at least temporary success, "the
noise is hushed, neighbors satisfied and babies sleep sweetly and undisturbed again." Already
by 1889 the elevator was being hailed as "a great convenience to residents on the hill" with a
magnificent view that made it "a place of public resort not only by residents but for strangers
visiting the city". Due to financial difficulties, the elevator was finally abandoned in 1927 and
concrete steps now pass through the surviving arch.
Staff Analysis: The Historic Preservation Commission serves as an advisory design review
body for review of public works projects which have historic preservation implications in historic
districts that would result in material change in appearance or be visible from the public right of
way. The 11th street retaining wall and stair repair project will include the following: The work
will involve the removal of the street pavement on the Grove Terrace around the upper portion
of the 11th Street stairs, excavation above the existing arch, installation of a reinforced concrete
bridge with ties to hold the existing arch in place, reshaping of the existing roadway subgrade to
correct drainage deficiencies, installation of new curb and gutter and limestone barrier wall,
installation of new concrete pavement and installation of new decorative fencing. The existing
retaining walls along the 11th Street stairs will be repaired using native Dubuque limestone and
Advisory Design Review - W. 11th Street Elevator
Page 2
properly tuckpointed. Existing materials will be used as much as possible with new materials
matching the existing materials in size, color and material type. A historic pedestrian light is
proposed to be placed along the sidewalk below the arch to provide illumination for the lower
portion of the stairs as well as illuminate under the arch itself. The estimated project cost is
approximately $250,000 and the estimated completion date is the summer of 2008. Enclosed
are photographs which depict an example of what the fencing and limestone columns will like
surrounding the stair entrance at the intersection of W.11t" and Grove Terrace. Also enclosed
are detailed drawings of the W. 11th Street Elevator/Stairs project and photographs of the
existing conditions.
Compliance with Guidelines: Please refer to fhe Architectural Guidelines for additional
information.
Prepared by: ~ ~V1h~7M ~ Reviewed:
Date: ~~J