Susanne Knutsen, economic development manager for the City of Davenport, (left) and Davenport Alderwoman Marion Meginnis look over an abandoned, city-owned home at 1216 Warren St. That home could be renovated under the new Extreme DREAM Project. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Some abandoned, trashy homes in Davenport – homes that have been boarded up for years and have become eyesores – may soon undergo massive renovations, and bring families back to the community. That’s the goal of a new City of Davenport program called the Extreme DREAM Project. “We want people to make these properties shine. […]
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Some abandoned, trashy homes in Davenport – homes that have been boarded up for years and have become eyesores – may soon undergo massive renovations, and bring families back to the community.That’s the goal of a new City of Davenport program called the Extreme DREAM Project.“We want people to make these properties shine. We don’t want the minimum done to them. We want more. … A lot of these homes have a long way to go,” Susanne Knutsen, the city’s economic development manager, said during a news conference Monday, March 27, to introduce the project.This city-owned home at 1216 Warren St., Davenport, could be fixed up under the Extreme DREAM Project. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSONThe city has allocated $2.1 million for the Extreme DREAM Project that could potentially help renovate dozens of vacant houses on or near Gaines Street in the central city.Here is how the program is expected to work:
The city will provide up to $100,000 in matching funds per project in the Gaines Street corridor. (That corridor is Gaines Street from Locust to West Fifth streets, and from Warren to Scott streets. There are about 32 properties in this area that may be eligible, according to information provided by the city.)
The properties must have been vacant for at least six months and have severe code violations. Following renovations, the house must either be owner occupied or sold to an owner occupant. This means the project is open to people who have the goal of living in the house and developers who intend to sell the property.
The property must be a single-family home or duplex.
The application process for the project is now open. The first review of applications is scheduled to begin in late June. Renovation work on the old homes could begin later this year.
The project is being funded by the sale of the Heritage building in 2021.
For more information, go to davenport.com/extremedream. (Scroll down to the “Extreme DREAM Downloadable Fillable Application” bar.)
“Extreme DREAM builds on the previous success of the Davenport DREAM project, DREAM Plus and Commercial DREAM. The City of Davenport is committed to investing in our heritage neighborhoods to ensure their continued vitality,” added Ms. Knutsen.This is the interior of the city-owned home at 1216 Warren St., Davenport, that could benefit from the new Extreme DREAM Project. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSONThe city’s economic development manager said she doesn't know how many homes might be fixed up as part of the project, but added she hopes the number is in the dozens.“If we can do 21, I think we’d be pleased as punch,” she added.Third Ward Alderwoman Marion Meginnis said the “exciting” project could do more than just renovate a few dozen eyesore homes. It could also spur more home projects because once neighbors see an old home being fixed up on their block, they could be encouraged to make improvements to their own homes.The project may also help the city because it is now responsible for cutting the lawns and other expenses for abandoned properties.“There is a cost to the city for not doing anything to these properties,” added Ms. Meginnis, whose ward includes the targeted area.The city currently owns three properties – 823 Warren St., 1006 Warren St. and 1216 Warren St. – that are in the Gaines Street corridor and may qualify for the project and be renovated in the coming months. Susanne Knutsen is the economic development manager for the City of Davenport. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSONAs part of Monday’s new conference to introduce the project, city officials gave a brief tour of the empty home at 1216 Warren St. That two-story, brick home, built in 1912, appears to have four bedrooms, and to have been the subject of some recent renovation efforts. The home's front room is painted a bright shade of yellow, and there are signs of other repair projects throughout the home. But it also appears to still be in extreme disrepair with broken windows, foundation problems and trash tossed around many parts of the house.“These are the kind of houses that people look away from,” said Ms. Knutsen.But with help of the Extreme DREAM Project, the house could be turned into a showcase for the neighborhood, she added.
