1 17 00 Work Session Third St. Parking Ramp CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION
MONDAY, JANUARY 17, 2000
AGENDA
DESIGN FOR 3RD STREET PARKING RAMP
5:30 PM - 6:15 PM
Item
II.
III.
IV.
V.
Project Background
Review of Charrette Process
Review of stakeholder participation
Review of design
Council Comments and Directives
Person Responsible
Cindy Steh~auser, Parking Supervisor
Cindy Steinhauser
Cindy Steinhauser
Cindy Steinhauser
City Council
The following persons will be available to answer questions regarding the design of
the new parking ramp:
Cindy Steinhanser
Duane Pitcher
Mike Koch
P.S. Vedi
Ron Balmer
Parking System Supervisor
Finance Director
Public Works Director
Vedi Associates
IIW Engineers & Surveyors
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
MEMORANDUM
January 11, 2000
To: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
From: Cindy Steinhanser, Parking System Supervisor¢~[-~
Re: Design of new parking ramp
Introduction
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide you with information regarding the design
of the new parking ramp at 3rd & Iowa Street.
Background
On November 15, 1999 City Council approved the recommendation to hire Vedi
Associates and IIW Engineers and Surveyors for the desi~ of the new' parking ramp.
This recommendation was made by a review committee consisting of representatives
from city staff, Dubuque Main Street, Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce, Dubuque
County Historical Society and downtown businesses. On November 30, 1999 a
preliminary meeting was held by the Design Review Committee consisting of these same
representatives to outline a charetre process that would involve stakeholder input in the
design and function of the new ramp. A total of three charettes were held over the course
of two days and the following stakeholders were encouraged to participate in the process:
· Old Main Businesses and property owners from 1 st Street to Five Flags;
· Canfield Hotel, Kmmert Sports, Holiday Inn;
· GDDC, Chamber of Commerce, Dubuque Main Street, Historical Society;
· CIGNA;
Diamond Jo;
· John Allen - Allen & Urbain Architects;
· Ulstad & Associates - Gateway Design Architect;
· City Departments including: Police, Five Flags, Historic Preservation,
Community Development, Engineering and Leisure Services.
The City worked closely with Dubuque Main Street Ltd. to invite these representatives to
participate in the discussion.
Two charettes were held on December 7, 1999 to discuss the function of the ramp
including issues such as entrances & exits; traffic flow; daily vs. monthly parking, etc. A
third charette was held on December 14, 1999 to discuss the physical appearance of the
ramp and its compatibility in design to the surrounding envirmmlent. Tim Moerman and
myself facilitated the discussion at these meetings, with the consultants present to address
any questions. A summary of the issues that were raised regarding this facility is
attached. On December 14, 1999 the consultants also met with maintenance staff from
the Parking Division and the Park Department to discuss their needs, since it is
anticipated that this facility will also replace storage lost as a result of improvements to
the Plaza area.
On December 21, 1999 a sixth meeting was held with the design review committee and
the consultant to prioritize and summarize what the key issues were regarding the ramp.
This meeting was used to provide direction to the consultants on what should be
emphasized with regard to the design and function. It was at that time that we agreed to
try and hold a work session with City Council regarding design of the facility and
outlined a tentative schedule for bidding of the project. The bid schedule is as follows:
3rd & Iowa Street Ramp construction
March 6, 2000
March 10, 2000
March 24, 2000
March 28, 2000
April 3, 2000
April - December 2000
City Council set a hearing to receive bids.
Notice to bidders
Notice of public hearing
Receive bids
Public hearing and award of con,:act
Construction
Discussion
On January 11, 2000 another meeting was held and members of the design committee
were asked to attend to review the preliminary drawings of the parking ramp. The
purpose of the meeting was to review these drawings and provide the consultant with
information regarding the function, exterior appearance and any other unresolved issues.
This meeting was also held in anticipation of the work session with City Council on
January 17, 2000 so that the consultants and committee could provide feedback to City
Council on the status of the design. Copies of the drawings are attached for your review.
These drawings show a facility with the following features:
· Use of masonry, ornamental railing, historic light fixtures and glass materials to
simulate a design that is compatible with the surrounding neighborhood;
· Expansion of the upper levels only over Iowa Street;
· The location of elevators on the northwest and southwest corners of the ramp near
Five Flags and the Chamber of Cormnerce site;
· The location of stairtowers on the northwest, southwest and south east corners of
the ramp to provide connections to key locations dova~town;
· Entrances off of Main Street, Fourth Street and the alley parallel to Third Street;
Exits off of Fourth Street and the alley parallel to Third Street;
· 500 parking stalls for monthly and daily parking;
· Expansion opportunities for two additional tiers of parking and two tiers of office
space; and
· Maintenance facilities for the Parking Division and the Park Department.
Despite the high level of detail and ornamentation of the design, the consultants are
confident that this design can be incorporated into the budget established for this project.
Also shown is the potential to connect activities on the Ice Harbor to this ramp through
the use of the pedestrian walkway on the Third Street overpass. Indicated on the
drawings are a stairtower near the southeast comer of the ramp that connects directly to
the Third Street overpass and is compatible in design to the new ramp and the area.
During the meeting held on January l l, 2000 representatives from the Chamber,
Historical Society, Dubuque Main Street, Old Main businesses and city departments
including Five Flags, Finance, Community Development and Planning/Historic
Preservation reviewed the preliminary design of the ramp as presented by Vedi
Associates. No major modifications were discussed and the committee enthusiastically
endorsed the design concept.
Action
The requested action is to review the process used to obtain input on the design and
function of the new ramp with City Council and receive direction regarding how City
Council would like to proceed.
Cc:
Duane Pitcher, Finance Director
Pauline Joyce, Administrative Services Manager
Tim Moerman, Assistant City Manager
ISSUES REGARDING 3RD & IOWA PARKING RAMP
DECEMBER 7, 1999
Skywalk to hook up to 3rd street overpass via a pedestrian
walkway from the ramp and a stair tower at Iowa Street. The
stairtower should be open for security purposes.
Stair tower on southside available to everyone - not just for use by
parking ramp.
Smaller pedestrian connections on west wall of parking ramp to
connect to businesses on Main Street.
Pedestrian connection along Chamber of Commerce south
walkway. This walkway could be an open arcade with arches or
windows to match fenestration of the Chamber of building.
If upper levels of ramp go over Iowa - United Rental has large
equipment issues and so we need clearance to allow access by a
semi.
Stair and elevator towers should be on the corners and have
windows or other visuals along the way to help close the distance.
Ramp should have lots of amenities to make the walkways seem
shorter.
Ramp should have pedestrian and vehicular access close to 5
Flags on 4th Street.
Access to the ramp off of Main Street should be for vehicles only
and pedestrians should be guided to us the walkway on the south
of the building.
Where daily parking and how many stalls will be devoted for this
use? Daily parking should be easily accessible and should be on
same level as Main Street driveway. This would put the monthly
parking in the basement & roof.
Make ramp enticing to get into and closing the distance
Alley becomes a pedestrian concourse.
Reasonable monthly rental fee is a factor. This includes Monday
through Saturday.
5 Flags needs daily parking for patrons 8 - 5 _Monday through
Friday. Currently their parking flows over to Cable Car Square
stalls. Easy access on evenings and weekends valuable.
Entrance / exit on 4th Street is key along with good directional
signage. Need to try to accommodate parking somewhere for RVs
or other Vans.
Cost analysis needs to be done to determine whether daily parking
is metered stalls or there is an attendant on duty.
CIGNA. - employees have flexible schedules and so security and
adequate lighting are key issues for safety.
GDDC - ramp serves for redevelopment of Old Main and therefore
access from Main Street to ramps is key. Appearance is critical as
the parking ramp 1st to see of coming off of highway.
DMSL - daily parking should be on Main Street level.
Chamber - Ingress off of Main a necessity, egress off of Main -
desirable.
MVM - ramp needs to have more than 1 elevator, one near
northwest corner of ramp and another near the Chamber building.
Research skywalk opportunities to Holiday Inn property.
Park & Rec. needs maintenance storage to service TCP double
car garage.
DESIGN ISSUES REGARDING 3RD & IOWA PARKING RAMP
DECEMBER 14, 1999
Color of ramp should blend in with surrounding area, not be the
same look at the Holiday Inn.
· Ramp should not be higher than buildings on Main Street so that
from the river you can still see the back of the buildings.
· The ramp should have lots of windows with a soften effect such as
arches or keystones to give the design character.
· The ramp should reflect the buildings in the neighborhood,
perhaps look like and old warehouse or industrial building.
The height of the top floor of the ramp (if the ramp spans over
Iowa) will be 15' plus an additional 4' for the parapet wall. This will
also allow for additional vertical expansion without overshadowing
the buildings on Main Street. Most of these buildings rise to a
height of 55'.
East side of the ramp may not be as visible from the highway or
peninsula at this point, but may have added exposure if the rental
building is gone.
· All the entrances and exits have direct connections to heritage trail
and bike rakes should be placed along the exterior of the ramp.
Driveway from Main Street should accommodate pedestrians
because they will use it as a walkway. This should be on the
south side. Divide pedestrian and vehicles with some decorative
railing or bollards. The driveway should be a compact cut that
doesn't detract from the design of the buildings.
The design should incorporate a sense of safety, which can be
contrary to accomplishing a historic design with lots of masonry
and brick. The stair and elevator towers need to be glass and
open to address the security issues.
The building should have a good design that can relate to the rest
of the buildings, however, the design should not attempt to
replicate/replace a historic building. The design should blend with
the historic district but also reflect the time in which it was built -
not do "fake" historic preservation. The building can relate through
the use of same materials. Materials that "say" Dubuque are the
rough-hewn limestone. Perhaps we can reuse the limestone on
the current retaining wall. If not, this limestone should be
preserved for riverfront or trail projects.
· The building is a ramp not a commercial/office building and it is not
a high building and so the design should reflect that.
The top level will be significantly visible and so the lighting on the
top level should match the period lighting on the overpass. If it
can be accommodated, this level also presents an opportunity to
have planters and scenic overlooks to help break up the space.
· Good signage like Fifth Street ramp is key.
The Iowa Street ramp is heavy concrete and enclosed the Locust
Street ramp is open and more inviting. The new ramp should have
the same kind of feeling.
The design should consider a connection to the 3rd Street
overpass pedestrian walkway. A third stairtower should be located
on South East corner to help make this connection and provide
access to the ice harbor.
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THIRD STREET PARKtNG FACILITy
DUBUQUE
IOWA
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SEC~ONS
MAIN BIREEF (+20)
+643
+633
ALLEY
+623
-603
598
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