Carnegie-Stout Public Library SignsMasterpiece on the Mississippi
Carnegie -Stout Public Library
360 West 11th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001 -4697
(563) 589 -4225 office
(563) 589 -4217
www.dubuque.lib.ia.us
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
DATE:
Background
Dubuque
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All- America CilY
111/11
C%ecx WC/ 716,Jsst6 v 94 (
2007
Carnegie -Stout
PUBLIC LIBRARY
Mayor Roy D. Buol and Members of the Dubuque City Council
Susan Henricks, Library Director
Carnegie -Stout Public Library Exterior Sign Review
March 23, 2012
The Friends of the Library and the DRA awarded a grant to Carnegie -Stout Public
Library in 2010 for new exterior signage. Issuing of the permit for the installation took
longer than anticipated because the signs were in an historic district and required
additional research. The contractor, Lange Sign, installed the signs in September,
2010, based on a design previously approved by the Library Board of Trustees.
Several months after the installation of the signs it was learned that Lange Sign did not
receive a permit to installs the signs, and as part of this process the Historic
Preservation Commission would have reviewed the proposed design. The Historic
Preservation Commission determined the signs were not compliant with Historic District
Design Guidelines and recommended that the pillars be removed; that the sign sit on a
12" base, and the color painted to one more compatible with the building.
The Library Board of Trustees agreed to change the color of the signs, but believed the
height of the signs necessary for visibility — particularly when trucks are parked in front
of the building, which can obscure the view — therefore, did not agree with the removal
of the pillars. The Historic Preservation Commission could not support this decision and
the matter was brought to the City Council at their meeting on December 20, 2011. The
City Council requested the Historic Preservation Commission and the Library Board of
Trustees conduct a joint meeting in an effort to resolve the matter, and to report back to
the City Council by April 2.
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Discussion
The Library Board of Trustees and the Historic Preservation Commission members met
on February 9, 2012. Dan Lange, from Lange Sign was also present. Agreement was
not reached as to which new design elements would be acceptable. The Historic
Preservation Commission did not have a quorum, but concurred with the Library Board
of Trustees to review additional designs proposed by Mr. Lange.
Lange Sign created four designs and Mr. Lange was also in touch with some of the
Historic Preservation Commission members during this time. The four new designs
were presented to the Library Board of Trustees for their meeting on March 22, 2012.
They are briefly described below with associated costs:
1. the existing sign, re- painted (no charge)
2. similar sign with smaller pillars, darker color ($2200)
3. pillars replaced with 2 limestone -faced legs ($5440)
4. pillars replaced with a solid, limestone -faced base ($7384)
After review and discussion, the Library Board of Trustees voted 6 -0 in favor of
repainting the signs with a color that matches the limestone of the building. Although the
other designs were aesthetically pleasing, and the Board of Trustees regrets that the
process had not been followed, they believed the associated costs too high for further
consideration.
Recommendation
The Library Board of Trustees recommends leaving the design of the signs as is, but
repainting them with a color that is more compatible with the limestone of the building.
CC: Mike Van Milligen, City Manager
Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager
Historic Preservation Commission
Library Board of Trustees
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Planning Services Department
City Hall
50 West 13th Sheet
Dubuque, IA 52001 -4864
(563) 589 -4210 phone
(563) 589-4221 fax
(563) 589 -6678 TDD
planning@cityofclubuque.org
The Honorable Mayor and City Council
City of Dubuque
50 W.13th Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
RE: Carnegie Stout Public Library Signs
Dear Mayor and City Council Members:
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
March 23, 2011
Introduction
Members of the Historic Preservation Commission discussed the two new signs installed at the
Carnegie Stout Public Library without a permit at the Library Board of Trustees special meeting
on February 9, 2012, as directed by the City Council. I appreciate the Board's willingness to
work with the Commission on this exterior sign issue.
Background
The Library Board of Trustees requested HPC concurrence for two, free - standing, internally
illuminated, aluminum signs that were installed by Lange Sign Group without an approved
building permit and without HPC review. The signs replaced two, free - standing, internally
illuminated, aluminum signs as part of the Library renovation project.
The Commission is comprised of an architect, historians, designers, and historic property
owners. It serves in an advisory role to the City Council for the review of public projects in
historic districts. However, in this case, the Commission feels that allowing the current sign
design would establish a negative precedent for the City not following its own processes and
Architectural Design Guidelines. These are rules with which the City expects citizens and
businesses to comply.
Discussion
Considerable City resources went into the Library's grand makeover. However, the overly
casual approach to the sign design process greatly suppresses the resulting splendor of this
iconic structure —and ultimately diminishes the project's return on investment.
The City of Dubuque's Architectural Design Guidelines for Historic Districts are based on the
Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines. As noted on the National Park Service
website, "The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties are
common sense historic preservation principles in non - technical language that promote historic
preservation best practices.
The Standards are a series of concepts about maintaining, repairing, and replacing historic
materials, as well as designing new additions or making alterations. The Guidelines offer
general design and technical recommendations to assist in applying the Standards to a specific
property. Together, they provide a framework and guidance for decision - making about work or
changes to a historic property.
Carnegie Stout Public Library Signs
Page 2
The Standards and Guidelines can be applied to historic properties of all types, materials,
construction, sizes, and use. They include both the exterior and the interior and extend to a
property's landscape features, site, environment, as well as related new construction."
Standard No. 9 may be most applicable in the case of the Library signs:
New additions, exterior alterations, or related new construction will not destroy historic
materials, features, and spatial relationships that characterize the property. The new work shall
be differentiated from the old and will be compatible with the historic materials, features, size,
scale and proportion, and massing to protect the integrity of the property and its environment.
In addressing the current sign design, the Commission identified several contradictions with the
City of Dubuque's Architectural Design Guidelines. Among them:
® Columns are out of proportion;
• Height obscures important architectural elements and is unnecessary for a prominent
public institution (especially where the traffic patterns and other obstacles in the area
prevent them from being viewed easily by vehicular and pedestrian traffic, even at their
current height); and
® Sign color is not a good match to the stone of the building.
Recommendation:
The Commission notes that the Library is individually listed in the National Register of Historic
Places and is also a contributing building to a National Register Historic District. The
Commission notes the building is a City Landmark in a local historic district as well, which sets
the standard above other buildings.
Therefore, by a unanimous vote at our February 17, August 18, and November 17, 2011
meetings, the Commission respectfully recommends that the City Council:
• Approve the sign design without the columns and instead with the use of a stone or
concrete base raised no more than 12 inches above the ground; and
• Change the color of the painted sign parts to match the color of the building.
The Commission believes its recommendations are readily achievable, and will make the signs
more historically sympathetic to the landmark structure in front of which they rest.
Respectfully submitted,
David Klavitter, Chairperson
Historic Preservation Commission
cc: Michael Van Milligen, City Manager
Susan Henricks, Library Director
Paula Connors, President, Library Board of Trustees
Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager
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