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Dubuque Five Flags Civic Center Reporty t ». R � ��� a� � ., 4: 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. ry LU 101 M. 01 z' H d h h d ��II4lill�illi'I�i4��li'h����ll�l9��llq, � � I IN r� s � H i x n 7-73 �I -73 X I < < � �I � � • ` d `� d d t — w h F F U ♦- O a a , 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