TZL 1535 (web)

TRANSACTIONS MIDWEST ENGINEERING ASSOCIATES JOINS FEHR GRAHAM Midwest Engineering, a 34-person engineering firm based in East Peoria, merged with Fehr Graham. Midwest Engineering co-owners, Robert Culp, PE, CFM, and David Horton, PE, chose Fehr Graham because the two firms share a focus on providing value and innovative solutions to clients’ problems. “We wanted a partner with similar values and business acumen,” Culp said. “Fehr Graham has grown over the years but has maintained a small firm feel by being attentive to clients, which resonated with our approach to client business.” For Fehr Graham, Midwest Engineering’s established structural and transportation engineering services combined with expertise in mechanical and electrical engineering align with strategic growth objectives. Fehr Graham President Mick Gronewold, PE, appreciates how well the strengths of the people from both firms complement each other.

“When we saw the level of services and expertise Midwest Engineering brought to the table, we knew they would be a perfect addition to our team,” Gronewold said. “Their culture fits seamlessly with ours, and together, we’re stronger.” During the transition, Midwest Engineering will be known as Midwest Engineering Associates, a Fehr Graham company. Together with 235 employees, the merger promises clients a broader spectrum of professional resources. “Joining Fehr Graham opens doors to a large pool of expertise that will significantly benefit our clients,” Horton said. “It’s about providing a richer, more comprehensive service experience.” Staff at Midwest Engineering Associates, a Fehr Graham company, will continue to operate from their respective offices in East Peoria and Peoria, Illinois, and Coralville, Iowa, ensuring uninterrupted service for clients. Having served the Peoria region for 14 years, Midwest Engineering

specializes in civil/site transportation, hydraulic, structural, construction engineering, mechanical, electrical, plumbing engineering, professional land surveying and landscape architecture services. Midwest Engineering Associates, a Fehr Graham company remains committed to its clients and community from its offices at 140 E. Washington St., East Peoria, Illinois; 1904 NE Monroe St., Peoria, Illinois; and 2000 James St., Suite 213, Coralville, Iowa. Fehr Graham is a premier provider of engineering, environmental and funding solutions for commercial, industrial, institution and government clients with Midwest office locations in Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa. Midwest Engineering believes that excellence in engineering starts with treating people right and creating solutions that make a difference in the lives of their neighbors and the communities in which they live.

The NIMBYs also complain that rent is too high for local downtown retail businesses to survive. What is the cure for that? More people living downtown and more customers is how to make that rent that business owners pay more affordable! “As long as we keep silent and don’t explain the benefits of smart development, the NIMBYs will command the stage and control the messaging. If we are really going to help our clients, this kind of marketing has to round out our firms’ full range of service offerings.” I really think those of us in the AEC business who work with and serve developer clients need to do a better job educating the general populace about this stuff. As long as we keep silent and don’t explain how it all works and the benefits of smart development, the NIMBYs will command the stage and control the messaging. If we are really going to help our clients, this kind of marketing and PR has to round out our firms’ full range of service offerings. The ignorance has to be combatted for the benefit of all. Mark Zweig is Zweig Group’s chairman and founder. Contact him at mzweig@zweiggroup.com.

MARK ZWEIG, from page 5

divided by 30 apartments is $133K land cost per apartment. Which one do you think will result in lower rental prices? If you want viable public transit, you have to have density. Enough people in one spot makes a bus stop there viable. Vertical height supports that. If you want the least amount of paving and lowest impact on drainage, you want taller buildings. If you want “better” design that is more compatible with our existing older buildings, it will raise the cost of the building. That makes rent prices go up. Not to mention, you should see some of the homes and yards of those design “critics.” To say they need work is a tremendous understatement! If you want people to be less dependent on automobiles and to be able to walk to work and school, you need to let them live where they can actually do that. If you want better parks, schools, bike paths, and police, that takes property tax revenues. Which do you think generates more annual property tax revenue – a seven-story 60,000-square-foot new building, or a dusty, dirty surface parking lot? The money has to come from somewhere. Then there are those hand-wringing about the fact that this city is not the same as it was 10, 20, 30, or however many years ago. Of course it isn’t! What city is? What city that isn’t on the decline, that is?

THE ZWEIG LETTER APRIL 29, 2024, ISSUE 1535

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