[Note: Normally I try to reproduce the formatting, and live links, when reproducing material from the Iowa Pork Forest. There is so much this time -- both reproduction from journalistic sources and commentary -- that you're on your own to make your way through it and figure out which is which. Better still, if it's still available (search the Iowa Pork Forest "archives" for these dates) go to the Iowa Pork Forest Blog for the site's original entries: http://iaporkforest.blogspot.com/ .]

Leave rain forests to the tropics

From the Daily Iowan:
As far as ridicule goes, an indoor rain forest in eastern Iowa has proven an inviting target, drawing denunciations and jibes from a variety of sources (this page included), including its hosts in the city of Coralville. City councilors may yet opt to stick with the Iowa Environmental Project - a plan to build a 4.5-acre indoor tropical rain forest, 1 million-gallon aquarium plus a theater and educational facility - but we hope they will finally opt to reverse course before the beleaguered proposal ceases to be funny.

In one sense, the group's Wednesday selection of Grimshaw Architects to oversee the rain forest construction places the project in competent hands: Grimshaw was also in charge of the Eden Project in Cornwall, England, a spectacular series of biodomes that encloses tropical climates and is a model for the Coralville project. Yet while project developers understandably feel that the choice has brought the project one step closer to delivering its dream of the dome, increasingly, that dream seems to be doomed for disaster.

To our minds, the developmental costs of this project do not outweigh the likely benefits. Estimates predict a $180 million price tag for the construction of the dome alone, and despite $50 million in federal funds, delivered thanks to Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, the project has so far had difficulty clearing the $90 million mark. (The $180 million figure is only an estimate - actual costs are almost always higher.) To say nothing of the land that can't be used for other developments - regardless of our personal feelings on the woes of Dolls, the "gentlemen's club" that found its desired property swallowed up by the project, that establishment had a rather more sound business plan.

Moreover, the project's location just doesn't seem right. Coralville, Iowa? A tropical forest surrounded by cornfields? Even ignoring the joke potential, logistics are a serious concern. The Eden Project was built in an already flourishing tourist area and a warmer climate; in Coralville's case, just imagine the energy bill of a tropical biodome while the air outside is 20 below zero. Worse, the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Neb., already features the 1.5-acre Lied Jungle - not quite the same sort of facility, we admit, but how many indoor rain forests can a single region support?

Promoters of the Coralville rain forest argue that the immense tourist attraction will draw not only Iowans but out-of-staters to the site, thanks to the 30,000 square-foot convention center planned to neighbor the dome. They had best hope so - visitor projections are estimated at more than 1 million per year, nearly a third the population of Iowa. And will organizations from out of state really sit down at their meetings and decide that eastern Iowa is the happening place to be?

Conferences held in this area are already well-accommodated by the UI and Iowa City - and with the nearest major airport (if you can call it that) almost a half hour away in Cedar Rapids. Larger conferences will not warm to the Coralville location when they could take place in metropolitan areas, where numerous prominent attractions lay, not simply one. Unless you would consider Coral Ridge Mall a tourist attraction.

And what about the rain forest's educational benefits? Indeed, a field trip to the tropical rain forest is an atypical and adventurous excursion for Iowa's younger students. But with all the shortages in educational funding, perhaps the hundreds of millions of dollars invested in this educational endeavor could be better spent if invested directly in Iowa's educational facilities: public schools.

With Wal-Mart moving through our city and leaving vast, empty boxes in its wake, we can understand the appeal of a preserved bit of nature. Yet, despite its infusion of pork-barrel largesse and the host city's willingness to let no exotic dancers get in its way, the Iowa Environmental Project will do very little for Coralville and for Iowa when the vast amounts of money being spent are taken into consideration. Imagine the ridicule should Coralville find itself with an abandoned 4.5-acre glass dome to find a use for.

posted by Editor @ 7:34 AM

Thursday, September 01, 2005
Using the D-Word

From today's Iowa City Press-Citizen:

CORALVILLE -- A proposed $180 million rain forest project is in danger of extinction in Coralville.

The project has been controversial, with leaders saying it will bring 500 construction and 200 permanent jobs, attract 1.1 million to 1.5 million visitors annually and add $187 million to the state every year. But critics have said project leadership has been lacking and question where the final funding from the project will come from.

The $180 million project has been at about the halfway mark on funding since a $50 million Department of Energy grant in January 2004. Oman indicated for the first time Wednesday that the board has considered taking on debt for part of the funding to get the project started and avoid rising construction costs.

"I don't know if we're going to need to take on some debt or not," Oman said. "The board would prefer that we not."

Schnake said that would be a breaking earlier promises from project leaders.

"The commitment all along was that not a shovel would be turned until it was fully funded," she said.

Is this really a surprise?

Take a look at this article from back in December:

Oman also said that in a few months, several million more dollars should come into the project, which reached the halfway mark at $90 million in January.

He said project officials hope want to at least have a ceremonial groundbreaking in mid-2005, even if not all the money is secured. Oman said a groundbreaking could encourage the last of the funding to come through.

"You don't need to have every dollar in the drawer before you ... begin construction," he said.

They have planned all along to begin construction before the project was fully funded.

Want more fun quotes? Try this article:

Quellhorst said the project has $90 million to $10 million from project founder Ted Townsend, $10 million from an energy deal, $20 million in land and infrastructure from Coralville and, most recently, $50 million from the federal Department of Energy earmarked in January 2004.

Oman has said that funding would be coming through in several months.

Quellhorst said project officials continue to work with businesses and individuals for funding and said most of the process involved building trust.

"You really have to do some friend-raising before you can do fund-raising," she said.

Fundraising to fund fundraisers. I think we've got a new tongue-twister.

Or how about this quote from back in July 2004:

"'Without question, you have to have clarity on almost all the financing by the end of this year to unfold the timetable that I talked about for next year,' Oman said. 'In a design-build scenario, you don't have to have everything, every detail, designed when you start work, but you certainly have to have your scope, your budget and a pretty good idea of what you're going to build.'"

Hm. We just switched architects, we're redesigning the thing, and we had . . . oh . . . zero new financing on board by the end of 2004.

I think it's time to wake up and see the iceberg, 'cause this Titanic is about to sink.

UPDATE:
Gotta love this morning's editorial by the Press-Citizen, taking no real stance whatsoever:

As David Oman, executive director of The Environment Project, told us in a meeting Wednesday, the project's goal is "inspiring generations to learn from nature."

That lofty goal, however, now appears to be threatened by the more practical concerns of local government.

Oh, so your opinion is that the rainforest is an inspiring project threatened by petty local concerns? Well, maybe not so much:

Why has this project changed architects at such a crucial time in its fund-raising efforts? And will the new plans still match the requirements in the draft land-transfer agreement, which the Coralville City Council has given a make-or-break Sept. 20 deadline? As City Council member Jean Schnake told our reporter, "To me it's just more spin. ... So they've got an architect. They had an architect. They had a project that was supposed to be outstanding." She later added, "How many times can we start over?"

Okay, so you mean it's a boondoggle that's only getting worse and we're better off ditching it. Right?

There is still a chance this project will be completed, and there is little doubt that Grimshaw Architects, if the funds are there, will erect an impressive structure. Either way, our local leaders should be applauded for keeping the public interest at the forefront of their thoughts and deliberations.

I see. The answer is C, all of the above. Way to take a stand. Maybe we should pitch in and buy them this?

posted by Kris @ 9:40 AM

"How many times can we start over?"

From this morning's Iowa City Press-Citizen:
A proposed $180 million rain forest project is in danger of extinction in Coralville.

Leaders of The Environmental Project announced Wednesday the hiring of London-based Grimshaw Architects, which was not the city's expressed preference, to design the enclosed 4.5-acre rain forest planned for about 20 acres southeast of Interstate 80 and First Avenue.

The project has been controversial, with leaders saying it will bring 500 construction and 200 permanent jobs, attract 1.1 million to 1.5 million visitors annually and add $187 million to the state every year. But critics have said project leadership has been lacking and question where the final funding from the project will come from.

The selection of an architect led city councilor John Lundell to say Wednesday he will form a majority with councilors Tom Gill and Jean Schnake in removing city support from the project. He said he would not favor transferring city-owned land to the project unless two conditions are met.

"I just think this is one in a long list of issues where they've been unresponsive to our concerns and our suggestions," Lundell said of the selection of Grimshaw. "So I've lost confidence in the leaders of this project to successfully complete this project."Lundell's first demand was that project leaders respond to a draft land transfer contract by the city-set Sept. 20 deadline. The draft agreement would hold project leaders to basic specifications of the project, fund-raising and timeline requirements and stipulations on a $50 million Department of Energy grant.

Environmental Project executive director David Oman said the group was committed to meeting the Sept. 20 deadline so the land could transfer and has met twice with city leaders.

"The project board and the city are clearly interested in resolving issues over the transfer of land," he said. "That's the field of play. It's time to move on it, and we will."

Lundell's second condition was the complete removal and replacement of the project's decision-making leadership. Lundell said that while he thought the original project would be good for Coralville, the present management had proven incapable of moving it forward.

Oman said it would be premature to comment on Lundell's second condition until he heard something from Coralville officials.

But City Administrator Kelly Hayworth said if Lundell forms the third member of a majority, it would be the death of the project in Coralville.

"It's a sad situation," Hayworth said. "I think the project and the concept has been very good. It was a very difficult and far-reaching project to begin with, and I think people's frustrations are coming out now."

Gill said he was pleased to see Lundell take the stance. Gill has called for an end to city support since November.

"I made my decision not to transfer the land, and I'm going to stick with it," he said.

And Schnake said the choice of a new architect would in no way change her stance.

"To me it's just more spin. It's more nothing," Schnake said. "So they've got an architect. They had an architect. They had a program that was supposed to be outstanding.

"How many times can we start over?"

Project leaders dropped Chermayeff, Sollogub and Poole of Boston in June after project architect Peter Sollogub left the company to return to his previous firm, Cambridge Seven Associates in Cambridge, Mass. A letter from Coralville Mayor Jim Fausett sent to the project board members expressed the city's desire to retain Sollogub.

But instead the board voted 19-0 to choose Grimshaw, with director Andrew Whalley heading up the design team.

Oman said Whalley's work on projects such as the Eden Project in Cornwall, England -- a primary inspiration for The Environmental Project -- helped to set Grimshaw apart from the other six firms that had expressed interest.

"If you want to build a world-class project, you need a world-class team," Oman said. "And we're assembling that team."

Hayworth said that Grimshaw was not a bad choice, just that Sollogub, who also is working on a nearby intermodal transportation center for the city, was preferred. Hayworth said Sollogub has plenty of experience with buildings similar to the Environmental Project proposal.

Project leaders met with Hayworth and Fausett on Wednesday morning to explain the decision, Oman said, asking them to communicate the decision to councilors.

"Obviously I was disappointed with their decision," Hayworth said. "There was no question that the city representatives who were involved felt strongly that the existing architectural firm of architect Peter Sollogub was an important face and leader to the project, and I think it's a huge loss to the project."

Oman said the decision of architect should help to rally public support as well as encourage grant funding.

The $180 million project has been at about the halfway mark on funding since a $50 million Department of Energy grant in January 2004. Oman indicated for the first time Wednesday that the board has considered taking on debt for part of the funding to get the project started and avoid rising construction costs.

"I don't know if we're going to need to take on some debt or not," Oman said. "The board would prefer that we not."

Schnake said that would be a breaking earlier promises from project leaders.

"The commitment all along was that not a shovel would be turned until it was fully funded," she said.

While he said it's too early to tell, Whalley also indicated that the design of the project could change. Whalley said Grimshaw's design of the rain forest is going to grow out of considerations of how people should best experience the rain forest, and that could affect the ultimate look of the project. Whatever the final design, Whalley said it was important for these type of projects to be eye-catching.

"It's not just kind of a nice thing to do," he said. "It's necessary for them to survive."

Fausett said it wouldn't have to be the caterpillar-shaped structure that was proposed, as long as it visually was attracting and met minimum size restrictions.

"We have to be involved in whatever changes are made," he said.

As for Lundell, he said even if the rain forest doesn't become a reality in Coralville, he was sure the city could find a great use for the land.

"This is not the end of the road at all, this is just a change in the path," he said. "I'm still very excited that with a little bit of creativity, we will be able to put together a very exciting project down there."

Oman wants to go into debt to get the project started?!?!?!?!

That means Oman isn't raising any money whatsoever!

Come on, Coralville, pull the plug on this disgusting game of String The Taxpayers Along by David Oman!
 

Update: From the Des Moines Register, this lovely bit at the end of the story:
The rain forest team spent two months looking for an architect. It faced a controversy recently when it terminated its contract with Chermayeff, Sollogub & Poole Inc. in June because Peter Sollogub returned to his previous firm, Cambridge Seven Associates.

At the time, a representative of CSP said the project owed the firm hundreds of thousands of dollars. Oman on Wednesday said lawyers are negotiating over a single Sollogub invoice.

The firm did not return calls Wednesday seeking comment.
That's kind of an important point, don'tcha think?

posted by Editor @ 7:50 AM

Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Majority Opposition In Coralville

A reader points us to this nugget in the Cedar Rapids Gazette:
City Council member John Lundell said today he will no longer support a proposed simulated rain forest unless there is a complete change in project leadership.

Lundell's decision means the majority of the city's five-member council are opposed to the project.

"I've now lost complete confidence in the Environmental Project's ability to complete the project," Lundell said today. "Unless there is a complete change in leadership, I will not be supporting the project."

Lundell said he still believes in the concept of the rain forest, but said The Environmental Project has enough time to make progress.

"It's just too bad they have been incapable of moving it forward," Lundell said.

Lundell now appears to join council members Tom Gill and Jean Schnake, who want the city to find another use for the land the city planned to give the rain forest.

Lundell's announcement came the same day The Environmental Project announced the hiring of a world-class architect who not only will design a prime facility but will help build donor confidence for the $180 million project.

Grimshaw Architects, of London, with offices in New York, is the pick, Environmental Project Board Chairman Robert Ray and other project officials announced.

"This is a red-letter day for us," project executive director David Oman said. "It's a significant announcement."

Andrew Whalley, head of Grimshaw's New York office, will redesign what had been billed as a 20-story indoor rain forest. Whalley, 43, said he won't be starting from scratch but will create an entirely new building design.

His selection, made by The Environmental Project's Board of Directors on a 19-0 vote last Friday, was controversial. Coralville city leaders wanted Peter Sollogub.

Sollogub, of Boston, had done most of the rain forest's design work to date while with the Chermayeff, Sollogub & Poole Inc. firm. But he left that firm. The Environmental Project then terminated its contract with the firm in June.

City leaders say Sollogub and local architects he could partner with have the experience and commitment to the community necessary to design the project.

Environmental Project leaders, who met with various media outlets individually today, had praise for Sollogub but said the project needed a team of designers to move forward with the project.

"It's not about just the lead architect. It's about the team," said board member Ted Stilwell, the project's director of learning.

John Best, the project executive from KUD International LLC managing construction of the rain forest, said, "The project needed to move ahead. And it needed to move ahead with an architect."

Whalley said the Iowa rain forest project is farther along than the most notable indoor environmental attraction worked on was when he joined that project. That was the famous Eden Project in Cornwall, England.

"This is in a much more advanced state and in a much better way," Whalley said.

Plans call for building the rain forest in Coralville Iowa River Landing District just south of Interstate 80 by the Iowa River.

Coralville is building a $58.3 million Marriott Hotel and Conference Center in the district, with an eye toward having the rain forest as the prime draw to the district.

Oman said today's announcement will not change plans to open the rain forest in 2009.

For an update on this story, see Thursday's Gazette.

We have also been told there will also be a similar story in the Iowa City Press-Citizen tomorrow morning.

posted by Editor @ 8:57 PM

Welcome British Architects

From the DMR:
Backers of the Coralville rainforest project have hired the architects who designed a similar, successful project in England.

The Environmental Project, the Iowa organization, has hired Grimshaw Architects, which has offices in London, New York and Melbourne.

The firm designed The Eden Project in Cornwall, England.

“We believe Grimshaw will bring an understanding of environmental sustainability that can be found with no other firm in the world,” said David Oman, executive director of the Environmental Project.

"Grimshaw had the best integrated team, had the most remarkable projects – including The Eden Project – and offered significantly lower fees than the competitors.”

Andrew Whalley, who heads Grimshaw's New York office, will lead the work in Iowa. The firm plans to open a Coralville office. It will collaborate with Iowa architecture RDG Planning & Design.

The clock is ticking...