McGregor-Marquette will be focus of Mending/Bridging Our Town project
By Audrey Posten | Times-Register
McGregor and Marquette will be the focus of a Mending/Bridging Our Town grant project funded by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and Iowa Department of Transportation, in partnership with Iowa State University.
The communities were pinpointed through their recent participation in the Iowa Living Roadways Community Visioning Program, according to Julia Badenhope, a professor with Iowa State University’s College of Design.
“We—being Iowa State and the DOT—asked if we could return to McGregor and Marquette to re-think a bit of our planning process for the community visioning program we did for both towns. The reason to do this is I think we missed the unique sense of place both towns have. Our process didn’t capture that,” said Badenhope, who spoke at the April 16 McGregor city council meeting. “Also, we wanted to go more in depth on the typical challenges of planning and designing with all the jurisdictions that are there. Our process didn’t unearth all the nuances of that.”
The process plans to engage local artists and photographers in capturing a sense of place—thus its connection to NEA. Design work will ensure proposals fit the context and what people value.
Mending/Bridging Our Town will also try to connect various projects and groups in both communities that are working on similar interests.
“Doing a little investigation of how people are presently using the bluffs and the riverfront. Then looking for opportunities to enhance the transportation system,” Badenhope said. “When we leave, we hope the planning will connect to the comprehensive plans that are already in place, but leverage new technologies and have more of a sense of connection between all the efforts. Basically, we want to go a little deeper.”
The work will have an estimated $203,000 value, all at no cost to McGregor and Marquette. Along with the NEA funding, Iowa DOT is cost sharing through the Visioning Program and providing technical support and background research and forging connections with agencies. Through the university, Badenhope wrote grants to help with an exhibit component.
According to Badenhope, work is underway now to form a local steering committee that will provide feedback on what is being done and how the project is being facilitated.
In June, an exhibit space will open in one of the commercial units in the Masonic Block in McGregor. Badenhope said this “home base” will limit meetings and make the project more accessible.
“We want to have an exhibit space where all the pieces are present. You can show up and look at everything,” she explained. “People can come in and out and explore the things they are interested in and be engaged in more of a workshop. It’s more accessible and has an opportunity for various working groups and committees and residents to come see us.”
Kiosks will also be located in several locations, such as the Marquette Depot Museum and Information Center, Marquette Community Center or Driftless Area Wetlands Centre.
Project facilitators will solicit input from community members and working groups, as well as area artists and photographers, between June and September.
“During that time, we’ll also be sharing the technical stuff we’re uncovering. We’re going to go stage by stage, first dealing with the river and waterfront. We’ll work with the road corridors and town infrastructure and then we’ll look at the bluffs. It won’t be everything at once,” Badenhope detailed.
Between September and December, Badenhope will involve her studio class. Based on community feedback, they will focus on different areas, applying the latest technologies, and be in conversation with people from various agencies.
“We’ll be pinning those ideas up in the exhibit space for feedback,” she said. “Then, in January and February, we’ll be asking residents and working groups what direction you want to go, and my colleague and I will be formalizing the plans in March and April. We hope to have everything up in May, so there will be a whole month people can visit and celebrate. Maybe you want to link fundraisers to it.”
“It should be fun,” Badenhope added, “but it’s going to be busy.”
In other items on the meeting agenda, the council approved issuing nuisance letters to the Sullivan Opera House and Alexander Hotel properties, citing the buildings’ long-time vacancy, weeds and dead animals outside and potential danger to neighboring structures or the public. “We’re going to work with the property owner to get the process rolling,” said mayor Russ Crawmer.
The council, however, declined to take up a citizen nuisance complaint about smoke emitting from Backwoods Bar and Grill. A resident submitted a petition with 14 signatures to shut the restaurant down, but the council stated a series of meetings over similar issues several years ago showed community support for Backwoods.
Additionally, the council approved final readings of property maintenance and demolition of buildings ordinances. The first establishs minimum requirements for maintenance of existing structures and property within the city, in an attempt to protect the health, safety and welfare of residents and visitors. The latter ordinance allows the city to regulate the demolition of buildings, specifically historic structures.
