Facade Design Work_Central Avenue, Washington Neighborhood
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Fagade Design Work on Central Avenue
DATE: October 30, 2012
The City of Dubuque was contacted by Lisa Fontaine, an Associate Professor of
Graphic Design at Iowa State University. One of her graphic design classes was
looking for a community that would be interested in having about 20 students work with
businesses to design a graphic identity for the business, as well as proposing a
makeover of the storefront. The only cost to the City for participating in this program
would be transportation costs of bringing the students to Dubuque and printing costs,
estimated at less than $2,000 (actual cost is $1,850).
Economic Development Director Dave Heiar recommends City Council approval to
utilize $1,850 of available UDAG funds to assist property owners on Central Avenue in
the Washington Neighborhood with conceptual design work for the facades on their
commercial buildings.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
David J. Heiar, Economic Development Director
THE CITY OF
DUB
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: David J. Heiar, Economic Development Director
DATE: October 29, 2012
RE: Facade Design Work on Central Avenue
Dubuque
All- America City
1111r
2012
PURPOSE
The intent of this memorandum is to share information on an opportunity to work with
ISU students to assist property owners on Central Avenue with conceptual design work
for the facades on their commercial buildings.
BACKGROUND
With the help of David Lyons, the City of Dubuque was contacted by Lisa Fontaine, an
Associate Professor of Graphic Design at Iowa State University. One of her graphic
design classes was looking for a community that would be interested in having about 20
students work with businesses to design a graphic identity for the business, as well as
proposing a makeover of the storefront. In 2010, another class did a similar project for
Marshalltown. The only cost to the City for participating in this program would be
transportation costs of bringing the students to Dubuque and printing costs, estimated at
less than $2,000 (actual cost is $1,850).
Upon hearing of this opportunity, we contacted Dan LoBianco at Dubuque Main Street
since Dan has worked with the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) and the
Iowa Main Street program to do similar work for downtown businesses (and even some
in the Washington Neighborhood). Dan consulted with Tim Reinders at IEDA who has
been the Iowa Main Street consultant on this previous work. They agreed that this new
opportunity with ISU graphic design students would be a great way to add value to this
Central Avenue corridor.
Coincidently, the 2013 budget also includes $285,000 for facade grants to stimulate
private investment on the Central Avenue storefronts. About a month ago, the
Washington Neighborhood Development Corporation in cooperation with the City's
Economic Development Department began to take applications for this facade grant
program. The assistance of the ISU graphic design students could enhance the quality
of potential facade improvements with this incentive program.
RECOMMENDATION
This offer for student assistance on facade design work for Central Avenue seems very
timely. I recommend that the City utilize $1,850 of available UDAG funds to pay for the
transportation and printing costs associated with this ISU student project, to assist
commercial property owners with the design work needed to provide a facelift on
Central Avenue in the Washington Neighborhood.
F: \USERS \Econ Dev \Washington Neighborhood\20121029_Council Memo Facade Design Work ISU Students.docx