Creative options exist for UI arts facilities

The clock is ticking on the decisions related to the Hancher Voxman Clapp complex. However, there is still time for creative, constructive input.

It is understandable that music students and faculty want good access to the main campus. However, they need to be adjacent to performance venues because large instruments cannot be carried back and forth.

Other big considerations are traffic and parking accessibility for patrons and big buses, freedom from outside noise and certainly the expenses involved.

The downtown option given at the Oct. 12 forum involves buying back land occupied by two banks, two apartment blocks and a gas station, and rehousing the engineering research facility. At what cost? A guess is $13 million. This block would be surrounded by Burlington Street traffic and near the train line. Not an ideal concert venue.

The westside UI-owned site is at flood level in most parts. However, what would the cost of raising the levels be in comparison to buying commercial property? Supposedly FEMA will pay for 90 percent of either choice.

The Museum of Art building is being used by music faculty. As the museum cannot return there, could it be rehoused in the light and spacious Levitt building? Perhaps consideration could then be given to moving the Hancher complex closer to the UI theater building to allow students a shorter walk to campus.

Visit http://facilities.uiowa.edu/hvc-site

Sonia Ettinger

Iowa City