Russell, Cathy Ltr re: baseballPage 1 of 2
Juanita Hilkin
From: Dubuque City Manager [ctymgr@cityofdubuque.org]
Sent: Monday, November 03, 2003 4:23 PM
To: 'Russell, Cathy'
Subject: RE: baseball in Dubuque
Dear Ms. Russell,
Thank you for your input on the new ball park and your suggestion that it be built at the
former Dubuque Pack site.
One major problem with the Smithfield site is they have advised that it is no longer for
sale. They are purchasing the assets of Farmland Foods and are not willing to sell this
property until they analyze their capacity needs. Apparently this could take quite some
time. Acquisition and demolition of this site, if it was available, could cost $7 to $10
million more than the Port of Dubuque site. It also would add significantly to the time to
complete this project.
Secondly, the owner of the ball team and the Feasibility Consultant believe that the ball
park must be an integral part of downtown to be financially successful. They advise this
is a national trend, and ball parks not in downtown struggle.
In addition, the Port of Dubuque is a vacant site owned by the City and Dubuque
Initiatives, who have agreed to make it available. This will save a significant amount of
time and money. Time is important here because now that the owner of the team has
announced he is leaving Battle Creek, Michigan, he says he will be losing $500,000 a
year while he plays there. He will be playing in Battle Creek in 2004, but site
acquisition and demolition for an alternate site could add one of two years to that
schedule.
Finally, this is a perfectly compatible use with downtown and the Port of Dubuque. It
will cause some visitors to stay another night in the hotels and people who visit the
museum and the water park will have an activity to do in the evening. Also,
conventioneers will enjoy the ball games and be more inclined to hold their meetings in
Dubuque. There also is a great synergy with the 1,900 parking spaces available in the
downtown in existing parking garages and on the street, all within three blocks. This
will save millions of dollars in cost to build parking and increases revenues to the City
parking system. The rubber-wheeled trolley system that will start in 2004 also can serve
all these entertainment venues at no extra cost.
The baseball stadium is the highest and best use of this Port of Dubuque site and will be
a catalyst for further riverfront and downtown development, with 175,000 more people
visiting this area each year, shopping and eating in restaurants.
If you would like to discuss this further, please give me a call at 589-4110.
Michael C. Van Milligen
Dubuque City Manager's Office
11/10/20O3
Page 2 of 2
City Hall
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
563-589-4110 - Telephone
563-589-4149 - FAX
..... Original Message .....
From: Russell, Cathy [mailto:Cathy_Russell@mcgraw-hill.com]
~emt: Monday, November 03, 2003 1:18 PM
To: rbuoll@mchsi.com; aeml0@mchsi.com; danielenicholson@mchsi.com;
jmarkham@cornerenergy.com; jconnors63@mchsLcom} patriciacline@mchsLcom;
jschneid@cityofdubuque.org; ctymgr@cityofdubuque.org
Subject: baseball in Dubuque
I know evewone thinks the best place for the new baseball
stadium would be in the Port of Dubuque, but have other sites
been considered? l: think a good place would be the old pack
facility. It's a huge space and it would clean up an incredible
eyesore. Zt would also revitalize an area in desperate need of
revitalizing. Then the Port of Dubuque would have more space
for restaurants, shops and that sort of thing. ,Tust sending
you one citizen's opinion. Thanks for all your hard work.
Cathy S. Russell
McGraw-Hill Higher Education
Account ~anagement - Projects Team
2480 Kerper Bivd,
Dubuque, IA 52001
800-553-4920 Ext. 2579
FREEDOM.....appreciate it.....cherish it.....protect it.
11/10/2003
Page 1 of 3
Juanita Hilkin
From: Russell, Cathy [Cathy_Russell@mcgraw-hill.cam]
Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2003 9:42 AM
To: Dubuque City Manager
Subject: RE: baseball in Dubuque
Thanks for the information. I don't think many people realize that the Dubuque
P~ck site is not for sale now or when Wo~ Mart was looking at it. Hopefully they
are still paying their property tax! I think the baseball stadium will be a great
addition to the Port of Dubuque. We went to a .qt. Paul Saints game this summer
and it wes a bt of fun. Keep up the good worki cr
..... Original Message .....
From: Dubuque City Manager [mailto:ctymgr@cityofdubuque.org]
Sent: Monday, November 03, 2003 4:23 PM
To: Russell, Cathy
Subject: RE: baseball in Dubuque
Dear Ms. Russell,
Thank you for your input on the new ball park and your suggestion that it be built at the
former Dubuque Pack site.
One major problem with the Smithfield site is they have advised that it is no longer for
sale. They are purchasing the assets of Farmland Foods and are not willing to sell this
property until they analyze their capacity needs. Apparently this could take quite some
time. Acquisition and demolition of this site, if it was available, could cost $7 to $10
million more than the Port of Dubuque site. It also would add significantly to the time to
complete this project.
Secondly, the owner of the ball team and the Feasibility Consultant believe that the ball
park must be an integral part of downtown to be financially successful. They advise tiffs
is a national trend, and ball parks not in downtown straggle.
In addition, the Port of Dubuque is a vacant site owned by the City and Dubuque
Initiatives, who have agreed to make it available. This will save a significant amount of
time and money. Time is important here because now that the owner of the team has
announced he is leaving Battle Creek, Michigan, he says he will be losing $500,000 a
year while he plays there. He will be playing in Battle Creek in 2004, but site
acquisition and demolition for an alternate site could add one of two years to that
schedule.
Finally, this is a perfectly compatible use with downtown and the Port of Dubuque. It
will cause some visitors to stay another night in the hotels and people who visit the
museum and the water park will have an activity to do in the evening. Also,
conventioneers will enjoy the ball games and be more inclined to hold their meetings in
Dubuque. There also is a great synergy with the 1,900 parking spaces available in the
11/10/2003
Page 2 of 3
downtown in existing parking garages and on the street, all within three blocks. This
will save millions of dollars in cost to build parking and increases revenues to the City
parking system. The rubber-wheeled trolley system that will start in 2004 also can serve
all these entertainment venues at no extra cost.
The baseball stadium is the highest and best use of this Port of Dubuque site and will be
a catalyst for further riverfront and downtown development, with 175,000 more people
visiting this area each year, shopping and eating in restaurants.
If you would like to discuss this further, please give me a call at 589-4110.
Michael C. Van Milligen
Dubuque City Manager's Office
City Hall
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
563-589-4110 - Telephone
563-589-4149 - FAX
..... Original Message .....
From: Russell, Cathy [mailto:Cathy_Russell@mcgmw-hill.com]
Sent: Monday, November 03, 2003 1:18 PM
To: rbuoll@mchsi.com; aeml0@mchsi.com; danielenicholson@mchsi.com;
jmarkham@comerenergy.com; jconnors63@mchsi.com; patriciacline@mchsi.com;
jschneid@cityofdubuque.org; ctymgr@cityofdubuque.org
Subject: baseball in Dubuque
I know everyone thinks the best place for the new baseball
stadium would be in the Port of Dubuque, but have other sites
been considered? I think a good place would be the old pack
facility. It's a huge space and it would clean up an incredible
eyesore. It would also revitalize an area in desperate need of
revitalizing. Then the Port of Dubuque would have more space
for restaurants, shops and that sort of thing. ~Tust sending
you one citizen's opinion. Thanks for all your hard work.
Cathy S. Russell
McGraw-Hill Higher Education
Account Managemerrt - Projects Team
2460 Kerper Blvd.
Dubuque, iA 52001
800-553-4920 Ext. 2579
11/10/2003
Page 3 of 3
FREEDOM.....appreciate it.....cherish it.....protect it.
11/10/2003