Historic Millwork District Development_DCSD Global Strategy06 October 2010
Mr. Michael Brannon, President
Dubuque Community School Board
2300 Chaney Road
Dubuque, IA 52001
Re: Historic Millwork District development & DCSD Facilities Global Strategy
Mr. Brannon:
I would like to thank you for taking time last week to meet and discuss DCSD's current
proposed strategies for collectively meeting the needs of our students, community, and
school district in the next twenty years in the face of increased enrollment and aging
facilities. I subsequently met with the major property owners in the Historic Millwork
District (HMD) in order to gather their comments, concerns and suggestions; and I am
writing to convey those thoughts to you and the entire School Board.
Initial discussion with the property owners focused on the anticipated demographic for
the HMD. Based on the residential offerings currently planned for the existing buildings,
and knowledge of other urban living environments, we envision higher numbers of
adults than school -aged children living in the HMD. However, we identified a potential
need for daycare and preschool offerings in the area as households with very young
children will likely reside in these buildings.
We also discussed the need for flexibility from the DCSD in the coming years, should our
demographic predictions prove inaccurate. Located adjacent to the HMD, Prescott
Elementary would theoretically absorb any grade school -aged children living in the HMD.
Prescott's current status as a charter school, with an enrollment cap and a building
designed as a two- section school, would preclude any more than a handful of additional
neighboring students from attending. One solution offered in our meeting was to
consider creating an additional downtown school, potentially at a location no longer
utilized by the Holy Family School System.
In any case, all in attendance expressed the need for quality, neighborhood schools, as
this helps to maintain surrounding property values and promotes quality of life.
Finally, the major property owners have been working closely with the City of Dubuque
to make sure the redevelopment of the HMD aligns with the City's sustainability model
which calls for a balance of environmental, economic, and social concerns. The reuse
and energy retro- fitting of existing buildings in walkable neighborhoods keeps down the
"cost" of all three of these. New energy - efficient buildings take up to 60 years to "save"
the amount of energy "spent" to construct them; and remote buildings increase
transportation needs while decreasing social cohesiveness in neighborhoods.
It is for these very reasons that the major property owners are committed to revitalizing
the HMD, and they encourage the Board to join them in leading by example —by
considering the preservation of its neighborhood schools and its existing buildings.
These building owners /developers have extensive knowledge of the comprehensive
rehabilitation and repurposlng of buildings and would be glad to work with the DCSD to
help identify additional resources and consultants who specialize in this field and may be
able to offer more accurate budgetary numbers for the Board's consideration.
The Fischer Companies, Gronen Restoration, Warehouse Trust, and Wilmac Property
Companies appreciate having the opportunity to express these views, and on their
behalf I thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely, k/J■—_
Resource Development M. C�ors, Res ment Director p
Gronen Restoration
Cc: Michael Van Milligen
Larie Godinez