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FIVE FLAGS CIVIC CENTER
For many years Dubuque has had a great need for a Civic Center to serve
the cultural, recreational, entertainment and convention needs of the
City and surrounding area.
With the historically significant Orpheum Theater and adjacent area
becoming available through the Urban Renewal project, the possibility of
having a Civic Center facility was recognized, and an Exhibition Hall-
Orpheum Feasibility Task Force of the Chamber of Commerce, after a study
of the possibilities, recommended the project on April 20, 1970.
To further document the need and evaluate the idea of incorporating the
Orpheum Theater into such a project a consulting firm than. specializes
in such feasibility studies was retained. This firm, the Real Estate
Research Corporaticn of Chicago has submitted Phase II of their study,
the substance of which is 1) the Dubuque area needed a Civic Center;
2) the Orpheum Theater and adjacent area would be an excellent location;
3) an exhibition hall -theater combination would be the right type of
facility for a city of this size; and 4) such a facility could be self-
supporting. Copies of this report are available.
A few of the uses for the facility include:
Exhibition Hall -- antique, automobile, boat, sport, flower and home
shows; convention exhibits, dances and a variety of public uses.
Art Galleries -- housing a permanent art collection, possibly attracting
gifts of other collections to the gallery, and having gallery space for
arts and craft shojis and individual workshops for art, craft and hobby
classes. This would be a great asset to the exhibition hall -theater
combination.
Theater -- conventions, symphony, ballet, concerts, opera, stage plays,
movies, educational films, lectures, tri-college functions, etc.
We have found a very successful center exemplifying the objectives of the
Five Flags Civic Center which has been operating in Waterloo for six years.
The Waterloo Recreation and Arts Center has a 350 seat theater, a large
hall which can be divided into several meeting rooms, an arts and crafts
exhibition area and activity studios for public participation in the arts
and crafts. We would encourage you to see this facility in action.
The following pages depict a version of what the Five Flags Civic Center
could look like, a cross-section diagram of the Orpheum Theater, and a
site plan of the proposed Center. While an architectural firm has not yet
been retained, local firms have contributed these interesting conceptions.
Here is our opportunity to enhance the cultural, recreational and enter-
tainment potential of Dubuque, and to balance the fine industrial, commer-
cial and academic growth.
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ABOUT THE FIVE FLAGS CIVIC CENTER
DOES DUBUQUE NEED A CIVIC CENTER?
The need has been evident for many years and has been documented in a
recent Real Estate Research study which is available for review.
IS THE PROPOSED LOCATION A SUITABLE ONE?
According to Real Estate Research Corporation the urban renewal land on
which the proposed convention center is to be located is well suited due
to the following reasons:
a. The compact form cf the Dubuque urban area places the majority of
the city's population within three miles of the site.
b. The location at the south end of the urban renewal area will benefit
from the rejuvenation of the downtown area and the interest generated
by the pedestrian mall which will terminate at the site of the Civic
Center.
c. The location of the proposed Civic Center is readily accessible to
all areas of Dubuque in that the major traffic arteries serving the
city and its market region converge and cross in the vicinity of
the site.
d. The site is well located with regard to the supply of transient
accommodations.
e. The site adjoining the Orpheum Theater is also well positioned In
regard to existing parking facilities. In addition to proposed
on -site parking provisions, there are 750 parking spaces in the
municipally operated ramps, both located within a four -block walk
of the subject site.
IS THE ORPHEUM THEATER WORTH SAVING?
Architects and restoration consultants report that not only is the Orpheum
structure a sound one but that,"The building has great potential as a pre -
outstandingly attractive interiorservable example of its period. It is an ornament to the city and has an
. Most important, it has a potentially
viable future as a theater and concert hall of historic importance in
connection with the proposed civic center, since there is a large legiti-
mate stage and the accoustics are reported to be excellent."
WHAT IS THE COST OF THE RENOVATION OF THE THEATER?
The cost of renovating the Orpheum is estimated at $165,000.
the theater today would take well over $1To replace
,000,000 even assuming that the
craftsmanship of architectural detail could be duplicated. Therefore, the
Five Flags Civic Center as proposed not only preserves a building of
historic and architectural distinction but eliminates the cost of construc-
ting a new auditorium -theater type facility.
Page 2
WHAT IS THE ESTIMATED TOTAL PROJECT COST?
The total estimated cost of the project is $1.3 million as itemized:
Public Use & Arts Building $ 700,000
Theater Restoration 700,000
Equipment
Site 110,000
Site Improvements 200,000
Administrative Expenses 65,000
65,000
TOTAL $I,300,000
WHO WILL OWN AND ADMINISTER THE CIVIC CENTER?
It is intended that the Center be built with private funds raised by total
community participation and upon completion will be deeded to the City of
Dubuque to be operated for the public good by a City Council appointed
commission.
WILL IT TAKE TAX DOLLARS?
Real Estate Research reports that the Center can be self-supporting, how-
ever, the City Council will decide in the future whether any tax support
would be available.
WHEN WILL CONSTRUCTION BEGIN?
Present plans call for construction to begin in late 1972 or early 1973.
An architectural firm will be retained when the fund raising has been
successfully completed.
DOES THE FIVE FLAGS CIVIC CENTER CONCEPT HAVE COMMUNITY ENDORSEMENT?
The Five Flags Council represents a cross-section of community leaders
who have endorsed the project and agreed to serve in an advisory capacity.
Key campaign leadership has been enrolled and is listed herein. The
concept has also been endorsed by the Dubuque Art Association, the Dubuque
Historical Society, the Dubuque Symphony and the Tri-College Cooperative
Effort Education Committee.
Further, City Council Resolution No. 363-71, December 6, 1971 declares as
follows:
Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Dubuque, Iowa:
Section 1. That the Five Flags Center Project is looked upon with favor
by the City Council of the City of Dubuque and is recommended to the entire
community as worthy of its support to provide a facility which would
enhance the cultural and citizen participation potential of the community
and surrounding areas to match and balance the current industrial,
commercial, academic and economic growth of the Dubuque Metropolitan area.''
FIVE FLAGS CIVIC CENTER
GENERAL CHAIRMAN
Wayne A. Norman
ADVANCE GIFT CHAIRMAN
Robert J. Dyer
ADVANCE GIFT COMMITTEE
Frank H. Bertsch
C. J. Buelow
Dr. Gaylord M. Couchman
George E. Deininger
George A. Freund
William R. Jansen
Roland E. Kennedy
Charles A. Kintzinger
William G. Kruse
Paul J. Laube, M.D.
Richard H. Ludwig
Duane J. Mortenson
Roger J. Rhomberg
LaVerne J. Schiltz
Joseph R. Schmitt
Nicholas J. Schrup
Arthur N. Trausch, Jr.
J. Allen Wallis, Jr.
George A. Welling
William Woodward
Marvin W. Whitlow
Harvey N. Zuckerman
SPECIAL GIFT CHAIRMAN
Norman R. Foreman
SPECIAL GIFT ASSOCIATE CHAIRMEN
Thomas E. Graham
Frank T. Hardie
Keith W. Sheehy
GENERAL GIFT CO-CHAIRMEN
Elaine Broadwater
Emil N. Stackis
PUBLICITY CHAIRMAN
Donovan 0. Leopold
ARRANGEMENTS COMMITTEE
Mrs. Henry B. Miller
Mrs. Ellen P. Brown
Mrs. F. Benjamin Merritt
TREASURER
William Woodward
ASSISTANT TREASURER
Mrs. Estelle Ahlers
AUDITOR
Ralph K. Brooks
NATIONAL CONSULTANTS
Richard P. Bissell
Raymond T. Forsberg
Charles Geroux
Denys Peter Myers
EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Msgr. Francis P. Fried]
Robert J. Giroux
Rev. Kevin O'Rourke
Walter S. Peterson
Rev. Harold Rigney, S.V.D.
Dr. W. Sibley Towner
Dr. William H. Weiblen
Garlyn H. Wessel
Wayne Drexler
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Robert J. Dyer
George A. Freund
Donald P. Grau
Mrs. F. Benjamin Merritt
Wayne A. Norman
Robert W. Runde
La✓erne J. Schiltz
Gent M. Wittenberg
William Woodward