Two possible sites for new Hancher-Voxman-Clapp; some concerns about UIMA

UI officials narrowed possible sites for a new Hancher-Voxman-Clapp complex from eight to two at a public forum last Thursday.

The "west site," just north of the current flood-damaged Hancher and near the Levitt Center, received the most support from those who spoke when the floor was opened to comment during the second half of the two-hour event.

The “east site," located south of Burlington Street and bordered by Clinton, Court and Madison streets, had a few supporters, notably the two recent UI graduates who spoke. But most said they do not want a new performing arts center downtown, citing concerns about parking, aesthetics, and loss of taxable property.

Loren Keller of CorridorBuzz.com notes that some of the approximately 200 attendees wondered about the UIMA's future.

Shirley Wyrick, an Iowa City artist married to UI Foundation president emeritus Darrell Wyrik, asked about the UIMA, which officials did not discuss at the forum.

“The Museum of Art does not get FEMA funds but its entire function has been wiped out,” she said. “It needs a home.”

In Monday's Daily Iowan, reporter Claire Perlman writes:

"While the public heard two viable locations for the Hancher/Voxman/Clapp complex July 9, the Museum of Art’s future is smudged with budget problems.

"For one thing, neither the Art Museum nor Art Building West will receive federal disaster funding because they didn’t sustain damage of 50 percent or more of the property’s value.

"Art Building West will be renovated, but some see an opportunity to improve the Art Museum.

“ 'This is a chance not only to replace what we lost but to really look into the future and see how we can be better than ever,' said Pat Hanick, the museum director of development at the UI Foundation."

Read the full artilce here.

Those who would like to comment on the HVC site selection can send an e-mail to hvc-site@uiowa.edu. More information about the process, including video of the forum and documents that were presented, is available here.

Click here to read the Gazette article about the forum, here for the Press-Citizen article, and here for the Daily Iowan article.