Dbq Main St. Trustees Award, letter of support
February 17, 2005
Board of Trustees Preservation Committee
National Trust for Historic Preservation
1785 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036
Re: Nomination of Dubuque Main Street LTD.
Trustees' Award for Organizational Excellence
To the Board of Trustees' Preservation Committee,
On behalf of the City of Dubuque, I am happy to provide a letter of support for the
nomination of Dubuque Main Street, Ltd. for the National Trust for Historic
Preservation's Trustees' Award for Organizational Excellence.
When formed in 1985, Dubuque Main Street, Ltd. was one of the first Urban Main
Street programs established in the United States. In fact, it is one of the oldest
operating Urban Main Street Programs in the country devoted to preservation,
economic development and creating experiences in downtown! This is a true
testimony to the strength behind the Dubuque Main Street program and the
extraordinary achievements they have made in our downtown.
When Dubuque Main Street was established in 1985, downtown Dubuque was
experiencing significant obstacles. We had high vacancy rates, major retail
anchors had moved to the west-end leaving abandoned buildings downtown,
property values were depressed, and the employment base was shrinking.
Working in partnership with property owners, retail and commercial businesses,
government agencies and hundreds of volunteers, Dubuque Main Street has
helped to turn our downtown around.
By using the four-point approach to downtown development, Dubuque Main
Street has helped to create the energy and excitement to make it a new
downtown of commerce, entertainment, preservation, and livability. Today, we
have a downtown with an employment base of over 7,000 working in buildings
that have been carefully renovated and restored to bring out their unique, historic
features that showcase our downtown. Mixed-use housing is now prominent
throughout the downtown district, creating unique live-work spaces that create a
24/7 atmosphere. Downtown has become the hub of culture and entertainment
featuring live musical events nearly every weekend from May to November.
It is no small feat to have accomplished this turn-around and it could not have
been done without the leadership of the Dubuque Main Street program. They
are a program truly deserving of the Trustees' Award for Organizational
Excellence.
Sincerely,
Terry Duggan
Mayor
cc: Dan LoBianco, Executive Director, Dubuque Main Street, Ltd.