QC mayors discuss progress, new projects

The leaders of the five largest cities in the region touted progress and new projects Friday morning in the Mayors Breakfast Forum, presented by the Quad Cities Chamber at the Rhythm City Casino Event Center.

Many projects revolve around QC downtowns and the riverfront, including a major unveiling scheduled Saturday, Feb. 10 at Moline’s Mercado on Fifth.

From 3-5 p.m., 423 12th St., there will be a Moline Riverfront “Love the River” celebration, which will present three recommendations for riverfront development. “That’s been a huge project to get off the ground,” Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati said Friday. “We’re thankful for our partner, Renew Moline, which has helped us with so many pieces of that. That’s going to be a big reveal on Saturday.”

The city has acquired the riverfront land needed to build for the future.

The Saturday celebration will be fun for all — featuring family-friendly activities and attractions including free professional Valentine’s-themed photos, a Valentine-inspired decorating station, and local sweet treats and refreshments.

The project team will give a quick presentation — covering the project background, community vision, and design concepts — starting promptly at 3:10 p.m.

The construction of the new I-74 bridge presents a unique opportunity to redevelop areas of Downtown Moline that once laid under the existing interstate highway. This process, building on years of planning and input, will result in a thoughtful and creative integration of development, open space and associated infrastructure, according to the city’s riverfront website.

This planning and design process will embrace engagement and aspires to both community and ecological resilience, improving health and wellness for all ages and catalyzing future investment within downtown Moline and along the Mississippi River.

“In the city of Moline, we are trying to present a balanced vision — around preserving our history and also innovating, doing things outside the norm, beyond what cities our size have done,” Mayor Rayapati said at Friday’s breakfast. She likened the city to a racehorse, bursting out of the gate.

“It is very exciting and challenging at the same time,” Rayapati said. There’s a growing arts district downtown, with the Sound Conservatory in the old Moline library at 504 17th St., and Ballet Quad Cities’ future home on 5th Avenue. A residential project converting the old JC Penney building at 17th and 5th is nearing completion, the mayor said.

An area of Moline that hasn’t received much attention is the Eastgate TIF district, working with Parr Industries to revamp that part of the city, she said. “It will be really exciting to see what we can get accomplished in that area,” Rayapati said.

The cities are also ensuring they can pay for these plans, from a variety of funding sources, she said. “Activating the downtown is really the goal,” Rayapati said. “We are the center of everything in Moline. We have access to the amazing bridge, the walkway there.”

The nearby Spiegel building on River Drive is crumbling quickly and the city is trying to find someone to redevelop that four-story structure next to the bridge, she said. “It’s very exciting to see the synergy of these projects happening.” 

The Riverside Riverslide (3300 5th Ave., Moline) is expected to open this May. The $6.8-million project includes three new water slides, a lazy river, splash pad, new shade structures, updated concessions, nighttime lights, a shared park shelter and family restrooms.

Davenport

Like each of the mayors, Davenport Mayor Mike Matson said his city works to create more opportunities for business and residents. He highlighted state-funded plans to light the entire Figge Art Museum and create the nearby Main Street Landing, with many recreational areas.

“It will be the thing to go see in the Midwest along our biggest asset, the Mississippi River,” the mayor said. “There will be ice skating rinks, and sand volleyball, pickleball. There will be an iconic walkway, a children’s tower, many other things, including a water feature.”

“All of this will be flood resilient,” Matson said. The area around Heritage Park is being improved to boost flood protection and keep River Drive open, Matson said.

He emphasized the booming Motor Row district downtown, which will include a rebuilt Great River Brewery, across from the new Last Picture House.

Matson noted the QC cost of living is very affordable, but there remains a need for 6,000 more rental units of affordable housing in the region. Each mayor explained the steps they’re taking to boost such housing, and how each city’s partnerships with state and federal governments are important.

The Chamber hosted a delegation of private- and public-sector leaders to the Iowa State Capitol earlier this week and will take similar trips next month to Washington, D.C. and Springfield, Ill.

Rock Island

Rock Island Mayor Mike Thoms emphasized the city partnerships — with the Chamber, Downtown Association of Rock Island, Rock Island Downtown Alliance, with Rock Island Arsenal, local Friends organizations that support key attractions, and the other main cities.

“We work well together, across the river in all directions,” he said. Thoms noted major new construction downtown, with the YWCA and federal courthouse nearing completion, and a new downtown parking lot across from City Hall, with $7.8 million in streetscaping improvements due to start this spring, taking 18 months.

It will make the area more pedestrian-friendly, including narrowing 1st Avenue to one lane each direction (with turn lanes), to make it easier for people to get to Schwiebert Park from downtown.

Bettendorf

Bettendorf Mayor Bob Gallagher noted his city is growing substantially, averaging 150 single-family home starts each year.

The I-80/Middle Road area is exploding with the TBK Bank Sports Complex expansion phase 2 underway and the Iron Tee Golf to open around Memorial Day. Gallagher said that area has exceeded the city’s expectations.

Iron Tee Golf is billed as a high-tech three-tier driving range with top-of-the-line equipment and real-time ball tracking technology, making it easy to perfect your swing and track your progress. There will be an indoor mini-golf arcade and a full-service kitchen and bar, including takeout.

There are tournaments at the TBK sports complex 50 weeks of the year, which benefits area hotels, like Rhythm City and the Hyatt at The Bend.

Bettendorf is looking to develop just west of the new 74 bridge, and revamping the Leach Park area. “We do have great opportunities in Bettendorf,” Gallagher said.

He said the QC’s greatest resource and asset is the people.

“We have to continue to attract others to come to our area, so they become interested in those jobs that are open, moving their business here, moving their family here,” Gallagher said. “We are a wonderful area full of great people and we need to do a better job of celebrating our greatest physical asset — the Mississippi River.”

“We all have riverfront projects and we’re working on coordinating them, working to get visitors here,” he said. The old 74 bridge pillars will come down this summer, Gallagher said.

East Moline

East Moline Mayor Reggie Freeman (who joked Moline is the suburb of his city) said he partners with neighboring cities. Moline helped recruit a new water treatment manager for East Moline, and the city is looking to hire a new community development director.

East Moline is partnering with MetroLink to extend the bike trail along the river, to connect to downtown, as part of an ambitious revitalization project.

The Greater Downtown East Moline Revitalization Project – which includes design and construction – was launched in June 2023 and is funded partly through a $23.7-million federal RAISE grant. The project builds on continuing investments in East Moline’s riverfront, including redevelopment between 12th Avenue and the Mississippi River.

On Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024 will be the first public meeting to discuss proposed downtown improvements — specifically for The Bend, as well as overall branding for the greater downtown.

The meeting will be 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at The Bend Event Center, 910 Bend Boulevard.

First public event for new CEO

The Feb. 9 breakfast meeting was the first public QC Chamber event for its new president/CEO, Peter Tokar.

“I’ve gotten a warm welcome in the Quad Cities so far, and my wife and I have really enjoyed our time here so far in the community and the region,” he said at the start of the event, noting he’s about a month into the job.

Tokar moved with his family after serving as president & CEO of the McKinney Economic Development Corporation (Texas); that city north of Dallas has a population of 211,937.

Tokar brings over 17 years of experience serving economic development organizations and municipalities in large markets where regionalism has been a key component of success, according to the Chamber. He has worked closely with chambers, state and local economic development practitioners, site selectors and elected officials, as well as raised funds from public and private sector sources.

Previously, his positions included:

• Economic Development Director, City of Alpharetta, Ga.
• Founder & President, Tech Alpharetta
• Economic Development Director, Town of Davie, Fla.
• Director of Business Development, Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance (Florida)
• Director of Business Development, City of Miramar, Fla.