Felderman, B. 12th St Close obj
JOJANARO
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1179 Iowa Street, Dubuque, IA 52001
(563) 557-1465 Voice; (563) 588-4214 Fax
WHKS, Tony Zelinskas
470 Central Avenue
Dubuque, 1A 52001
August 1,2004
RE: Attempt to close 12th Street
When are Dubuquer's ever going to learn from past mistakes? We just corrected
a 3D-year mistake last year with the opening of the "Town Clock Plaza" for vehicular
traffic. It's taken many years to get close to a reasonable downtown traffic pattern (by
eliminating many one-way streets, adding signage), and now you are proposing to kick
all of those efforts in the teeth.
You can be assured that our real estate partnership will fight any attempt to close
or modify the current use of 12th Street between Central Avenue and White Street (two-
way traffic with meters). This would be taking a step back to an era that does not
understand how important "linkage" is to the many area businesses.
Not only will the closure impact the day-to-day traffic flow, which will then
negatively affect all of the businesses in the area, but this street is located between the
north and south leg of the major downtown arterial- HIGHWAY 52.
Having been a member of the elementary school selection group, I know that this
was determined to be a less than desirable location, specifically due to the location along
the two legs of Highway 52. Using that same concept, your proposal does not hold
water. There is adequate space, on the area of proposed condemnations, to design
parking for employees across the street from the new school.
We specifically purchased our real estate at 1169-1179 Iowa Street to take
advantage of the future trends noted in the downtown. Significant improving trends
include Dubuque Main Street, L TD expanding its area of coverage to 17th and 22nd
Streets, Main Street opened offering linkage from "Old Historic Main Street District" to
the Jackson Park District at the north end of Main Street, property owners have taken new
pride due to this improving trend and have completed numerous improvements in the
area (specifically noted are the Heartland Financial multi-million dollar renovation, Kwik
Stop Gas Station expansion, numerous business and real estate improvements, new
signage has been put in place at great cost to insure tourists to the area are able to locate
attractions, and the growing Hispanic Community in the immediate area. Why would the
citizens of Dubuque support the closure of a street that will definitely have a negative
influence on all of these recent improvements?
~~~
Bob Felderman
CC: Dubuque City Council, Dubuque Main Street, Dubuque Chamber of Commerce