EPA Smart Growth Achievement Award 2014Masterpiece on the Mississippi
Dubuque
bretri
All- America City
11111!
2007 • 2012 • 2013
CONTACT:
Roy D. Buol, Mayor
563 - 564 -5455
rdbuok cityofdubuque.orq
NEWS RELEASE
Jan. 30, 2014 — For Immediate Release
Dubuque Receives EPA Smart Growth Achievement
Award
DUBUQUE, Iowa — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has named Dubuque a
recipient of its 2013 National Award for Smart Growth Achievement. Dubuque Mayor Roy D.
Buol will accept the award at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 5.
"This year's winning projects show that smart growth approaches are having a visible impact
on communities across the country—large and small, cities and suburbs, towns and rural
places," said US EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. "They show that the choices
communities make about how they develop can protect people's health and the environment
while contributing to local economic growth. Most importantly, they show other communities
that the path to a sustainable future is just around the corner."
Competing in the "Corridor or Neighborhood Revitalization" category, Dubuque was selected
for revitalization efforts in the Historic Millwork District and Washington Neighborhood.
Winning entries were selected based on their effectiveness in creating sustainable
communities; showing innovative smart growth planning and implementation; establishing a
robust public involvement process; generating partnerships among public, private, and
nonprofit stakeholders; and serving as national models.
"I look forward to accepting this award on behalf of all the community partners who have and
continue to work together to improve these critical parts of our community," said Dubuque
Mayor Roy D. Buol. "The residents, property owners, and stakeholders in both the Millwork
District and Washington Neighborhood should be extremely proud that their efforts are being
recognized at the national level as an example for other communities to replicate."
Once considered the nation's largest millwork district, Dubuque's Historic Millwork District
housed dozens of companies, employed over 2,500, and connected downtown Dubuque to
surrounding neighborhoods. Efforts are underway to reclaim the abandoned district as a
regional engine of growth, with plans to locate over 1,000 new residents and more than 1,000
new employees to the area. A major revitalization initiative was also launched in Dubuque's
Washington Neighborhood, which contains some of the city's oldest housing stock and has
experienced years of disinvestment. Efforts in the neighborhood includes the Bee Branch
Creek Restoration Project to prevent stormwater flooding, create a community attraction, and
spur economic development in this neighborhood located adjacent to the Historic Millwork
District.
Award winners were selected by two separate panels. The first consisted of experts from the
planning and design professions, nonprofits, academia, and federal agencies. The second
was an internal EPA panel that provided additional comments. EPA's Associate Administrator
of Policy made the final award determinations. Four additional winning communities and two
honorable mentions will be announced on Tuesday, Feb. 4.
EPA created the National Award for Smart Growth Achievement in 2002 to recognize
exceptional approaches to development that respect the environment, foster economic
vitality, enhance quality of life, and provide new opportunities for disadvantaged communities.
Over the past 12 years, EPA has received 886 applications from all 50 states, Washington
D.C., and Puerto Rico. This year, EPA received 77 applications from 31 states, Washington,
D.C., and Puerto Rico.
For more information on the National Award for Smart Growth Achievement, visit
www. e pa . CI ov /sm a rtq rowth/awa rds. htm
# ##
The EPA produced a video featuring Dubuque's efforts related to smart growth. The video will be
shown at the awards ceremony and Zink is available at: www. cityofdubuque .orq /smartgrowthaward
A Message from...
EPA Administrator
Gina McCarthy
Gino McCorthf
Adminisnvtor
U.S. Environmental Protection ABenc€
As the 13th Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it is my pleasure
to congratulate the 2013 winners of the National Award for Smart Growth Achievement. This
year's winning projects show that smart growth approaches are having a visible impact on
communities across the country —large and small, cities and suburbs, towns and rural places.
They show that the choices communities make about how they develop can protect people's
health and the environment while contributing to local economic growth. Most importantly,
they show other communities that the path to a sustainable future is just around the corner.
One of my major commitments at EPA is to make a visible difference in America's
communities. We want to support communities that are fostering healthy local economies
and strong neighborhoods through strategies including using green infrastructure to
manage stormwater, prioritizing cleanup and redevelopment of hazardous brownfield sites,
providing transportation choices that reduce air pollution, and considering the impacts of
development decisions on all community members. I am proud to say that our 2013 winners
have masterfully employed these techniques and more. They have developed and implemented
creative, flexible, and sustainable smart growth solutions that will curb carbon pollution,
protect public health, and safeguard the environment.
President Obama and I know that smart growth strategies are smart for the environment, smart
for our economy, and smart for our communities. Please join me in once again congratulating
the winners of the 2013 National Award for Smart Growth Achievement and the communities
they represent.
CITY OF
DUBUQUE
DUBUQUE, IOWA
Partners:
Community Foundation of Greater
Dubuque
Dubuque Ma Chamber of
Commie
Dubuque Main Street
East Central Intergovernmental
,Association
HUD-DOT-EPA Partnership for
Sustainable Communities
Four Mounds HEART Program
Greater Dubuque Development
Corposn,tion
Gronen Reistorotion
Iowa Economic Development
Authortt?
Iowa Finance Authority
National Endowment for the Arts
National Trust for Historic
Fr servaiion
U.S. Deportment of the Interior
U.S. Economic Development
Administration
Wathington Neigh�rhood
Dewlopment Corpwrrtion
For More Information:
Teri Goodmann
Assistant City Manager
City of Dubuque
(563) 589 -4110
tgoadma n @cityaddu buq ue.org
Corridor or Neighborhood
Revita Iization
Historic Millwork District and
Washington Neighborhood
Once a bustling center of regional economic activity, Dubuque, Iowa's Millwork District
sat vacant for decades after it fell victim to the economic shifts that touched much of the
Midwest in the mid- 1900s. The adjacent Washington Neighborhood was affected by the
Millwork District's decline, facing disinvestment and neglect when the mills began to
shutter their doors and residents moved away from dosamtown. Today, thanks to strong
community partnerships, public engagement, and an overarching citywide commitment
to sustainability, Dubuque is successfully restoring both the Millwork District and
Washington Neighborhood to the vibrant neighborhoods they once were.
In 2006, Mayor Roy D. Buol and the Dubuque
City Council identified sustainability as their
top community priority, prompting a citizen
task force to create a new sustainability
initiative — Sustainable Dubuque. Reinvestment
in Dubuque's historic Millwork District and
neighboring Washington Neighborhood were
key to the community's plan.
The Millwork District covers 11 city blocks,
including more than 1 million square
feet of formerly vacant warehouse space,
and sits prominently between Dubuque's
downtown core and the Mississippi River.
Its redevelopment builds upon the city's
sustainability vision and capitalizes on the
districts existing assets to create a compact,
walkable environment where over 1,000
new residents will inhabit the refurbished
warehouses. The rehabilitation of the anchor
building —the old Caradco factory —is already
complete. The building incorporates a variety of
retail, commercial, social, art, and civic spaces,
which has brought culture and vibrancy back to
the area. This type of multi-use development is
the model for the district's future growth. The
district includes innovative green infrastructure
and energy- efficiency technologies to improve
environmental quality and public health for the
neighborhood's residents and Dubuque as
a whole.
The Millwork Districts success directly affects
the revitalization of another central Dubuque
neighborhood. The adjacent 128 -acre residential
Washington Neighborhood, one of the city's
oldest and most economically challenged areas,
has used the progress made in the Millwork
The arts community has been a catalyst for
redevelopment. A rehabilitated warehouse hosts
rotating art €.hibits, live performances, and other
cultural events, bringing new energy to downtown.
District to catalyze its own redevelopment.
No longer geographically cut off from
downtown by vacant factories, Washington
Neighborhood residents can now easily walk,
bike, or ride the bus to Dubuque's central
business area, including the retail and social
services in the Caradco Building. As part of the
citywide sustainability initiative, community
groups in the Washington Neighborhood,
many of which have office space in the
Millwork District, have restored dozens of
homes, providing downtown housing options.
Other projects in the neighborhood, including
community gardens, parks, and public art,
have improved quality of life for residents.
The community has also reduced the flood
risk to over 1,100 flood -prone properties by
"daylighting" Bee Branch Creek, uncovering
and redirecting the creek so that it now
flows above ground. By restoring the creek
to its native path, the city avoided having to
spend millions of dollars to build new storm
sewers because the creek performed the same
The Millwork District contains affordable and
market -rate apartments, retall apace for snail
businesses, ort studios, and many of Dubuque's
nonprofits.
function in a natural way. Daylighting the
creek not only saves money but provides
residents of nearby neighborhoods an
attractive community park.
The goals of Sustainable Dubuque have
come alive through these revitalized central
neighborhoods. The converted Caradco
Building and surrounding streetscape combine
environmentally friendly technologies and
complete streets with the reuse of existing
assets —an inherently sustainable approach. A
renewed feeling of community has emerged
as a result of the Millwork District's focus on
the arts through festivals, classes, and gallery
space. The mixed- income apartments and
single -family homes in both neighborhoods
bring people from all socioeconomic
backgrounds together downtown. By
catalyzing redevelopment of these great
places, Dubuque demonstrates that nothing is
more sustainable than strengthening existing
neighborhoods.
Original elements afthe old mill buildings, such as
open staircases, south-facing 'windows, and thick,
insulating ederior walls, showcase the district's
chowderwhilecreatirng energy- efficient seams.
"I have lived in this
neighborhood since I
was 8 years old.
I have seen what it
was, and I can honestly
say that with the
programs and projects
in place, I have never
seen the homes and
neighborhood look
so good."
— Gary Carner
Washington Neighborhood Resident
ARIZONA
• City of Tempe —Smart Growth and
Green Budding (2009)
CALIFORNIA
• City of Pasadena Planning and
Development Department— Poiides
and Regulations (2005)
• Sacramento Area Council of
Governments — Community
Outreach and Education (2004)
• City and County of San. Francisco —
Civic Places (2010)
• San. Francisco Housing Authority
and Merry Housing California —
Equitabie Development (2008)
• City/County Association of
Governments of San. Mateo
County — Policies and Regulations
(2 002)
• City of Santa Cruz Department
of Housing and Community
Development — Policies and
Regulations (2004)
• Department of the Navy —SW
Division (San Diego) —Built Projects
(2 003)
• City of Lancaster— Overall
Excellence (2012)
• Metropolitan Transportation
Commission (Bay Area)— Programs
and Poiides, Honorable Mention
(2012)
COLORADO
• Town of Breckenridge Planning
Department—Built Projects (2002)
• Denver UrbanRenewal
Authority— Overail Excellence (2005)
• City of Lakewood and Lakewood
Reinvestment Authority—Built
Projects (2005)
• Denver Housing Authority —
Equitable Development (2012)
Past Winners
CONNECTI OJT
• Town. of Redding — Smarr
Communities (2005)
FLORIDA
• City of Orlando— Military Base
Redevelopment (2005)
• The Housing Authority of the
City of Fort Lauderdale— Equitable
Development, Honorable Mention
(2 012)
GEORGIA
• Atlanta Regional Commission -
Poiicies and Regulations (2008)
• Georgia Department of Community
Affairs-Office of Quality Growth —
Community Outreach and Education
(2 003)
ILLINOIS
• Chicago Department of Planning
and Development— Equitable
Development (2006)
• Chicago Housing Authority —Built
Projects (2009)
• Town of Normal —Civic Places
(2011)
KANSAS
• City of Wichita —Built Projects
(2 006)
MAINE
• Gateway 1 Communities and Maine
Department of Transportation —
Rural. Smart Growth (2010)
MARYLAND
• Baltimore City Department
of Housing and Community
Development— Smart Growth and
Green Thdding (2010)
• Silver Spring Regional Center —
Overall Excellence (2008)
MASSACHUSETTS
• Town. of Barn stable — Waterfront and
Coastal Communities (2007)
• Massachusetts Office for
Commonwealth Development —
Overall Excellence (2006)
• Massachusetts Executive Office of
Enviraunental Affairs — Community
Outreach and Education (2002)
• Urban Edge Housing
Corporation — Built Projects (2 008)
MINNESOTA
• Metropolitan Council (Minneapolis -
St. Paul)— Ovemii Excellence (2003)
MISSOURI
• City of St Louis and the Old North
St. Louis Restoration Group —
Overall Excellence (2011)
NEW MEXICO
• City of Albuquerque —Smart
Growth and Green Building (2011)
• San. Juan Pueblo Office of the
Governor —Smarr Communities
(2 004)
NEW YORK
• Borough of Manhattan— Equitable
Development (2007)
• New York City Departments of
Transportation, Health, Design. and
Construction, and City Planning —
Overall Excellence (2010)
• University at Buffalo School of
Architecture and Planning —Main
Street or Corridor Revitalization,
Honorable Mention (2012)
NORTH CAROLINA
• Charlotte Department of
Transportation— Poiides and
Regulations (2009)
• Town. of Davidson Planning
Department— Overall Excellence
(2 004)
• City of Greensboro Department
of Housing and Community
Development— Built Projects (2 004)
• City of Raleigh and Wake County
Public School System— Pubiic
Schools (2003)
OHI 0
• Cuyahoga County Treasurer's
Office — Policies and Regulations
(2 003)
OREGON
• Housing Authority of Portland —
Overall Excellence (2007)
• Metro (Portland) — Programs,
Policies, and Regulations (2010)
PENNSYLVANIA
• Lancaster County Planning
Commission —Ovengi Excellence
(2 009)
• Pennsylvania Department of
Community and Economic
Development — Policies and
Regulations (2006)
SOUTH DAKOTA
• Muter County Development
Corporation and the Rural Learning
Center —Rural Smart Growth (2011)
TEXAS
• City of El Paso — Programs, Policies,
and Regulations (2011)
VERMONT
• City of Winooski— Small
Communities (2006)
• State of Vermont — Policies and
Regulations (2007)
• Vermont Housing and
Conservation Board —Main Street or
Corridor Revitalization (2012)
VIRGINIA
• Arlington County— Overall
Excellence (2002)
• City of Portsmouth— Programs and
Policies (2012)
WASHINGTON
• Seattle Housing Authority —Built
Projects (2007)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Sustainable Communities (1807T)
EPA 231 -F -14 -001
www.epa.gov /smartgrowth
February 2014
NATIONAL AWARD FOR
Smart Growt
ACHIEVEMENT
For more information about the
National Award for Smart Growth Achievement
and EPA's other smart growth activities, visit:
www.epa.gov /sma rtg rowth
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