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When John Gronen (second from left in the photo to the left) was informed that he had been selected to receive the 365 Impact Award by his wife Mary, his first response was immediate and clear. He said the award would have to include all of those people who made it possible. He is very much aware that his success is tied directly to the people who surround him. The Gronen Restoration team consists of John and his wife Mary. With the help of Jolene Kingeter, Administrative Manager, they oversee the necessary paperwork and administration of their many restoration projects taking root in Dubuque. The team's Project Manager is Steve Behr, Assistant Project Manager is Tom Richard, and Jeff Morton is the Architect. A dozen or more construction personnel work on the various projects. John wants to share the Dubuque365 Impact Award with this team. The process of determining who should be considered for this award is an analysis of the obvious. The 365 group looks to the Dubuque community and asks this key question: Who has made a significant positive impact on Dubuque? Our answer to that question this year was unanimous in naming Gronen Restoration, Inc. as the recipient of the 365 Impact Award. John has demonstrated a passion for creating significant changes and improvements to the city in which we live. The most recent project John and his development group are tackling is the rehabilitation of almost an entire city block of Main Street between 11th and 12th streets, home to the North and South Cooley Buildings, the Rolling Building, the Curtis Building, and the Burden Building. When the restoration team walked into the buildings for the first time, they were transformed back to a world of 1959. Steve Behr, Project Manager of Gronen Restoration, shared a story about what he saw when he walked into one of the apartments. On the kitchen table was a coffee cup and lying next to it was a pay stub from 1959. Nothing had been touched since there was a fire in this building - it has been left vacant ever since. When asked about other unusual things he has found during restoration, Steve said they discovered an 1850 muzzle-loading shotgun inside one of the walls. After removing part of the facade of the Curtis Building, located next door to the popular downtown restaurant Salsa's, they revealed the original beauty underneath. These buildings have remained 'shrink-wrapped' since the days of urban renewal in the late 50's and early 60's. Steve is anxious for everyone to see the finished product. There will be 30 living spaces consisting of one- and two-bedroom apartments. All will have the latest energy saving appliances, central air conditioning, and hook-ups for washer and dryer. Rent will be $375 for one bedroom apartments and $475 for a two bedroom apartments. All will have off-street parking provided. Additionally, there will be fourteen new storefronts on Main Street that will look like they did when the buildings were new over 100 years ago. For starters, Dubuque Main Street Limited has plans to relocate here, and preliminary talks are aimed at bringing a Mexican grocery store, a European deli, a catering business and a new restaurant to the block. |
