Revitalization plan will be ‘game-changer’ for East Moline

Many people who have businesses in downtown East Moline say they are hopeful for the future. That future will include a massive $30 million project that aims to make the community a better place for visitors, residents and businesses. “We’re hoping that project helps. Anything will help. … It can be pretty empty in the […]

Many people who have businesses in downtown East Moline say they are hopeful for the future. That future will include a massive $30 million project that aims to make the community a better place for visitors, residents and businesses. “We’re hoping that project helps. Anything will help. … It can be pretty empty in the downtown right now,” Faye Casimir told the QCBJ as she helped customers create pottery works of art in  CM Potteramics shop at 826 15th Ave. on Tuesday, June 17. Ms. Casimir, whose mother bought the pottery business a few months ago, added that business is fine, but she hopes it will get a lot better. Community and business leaders say that the downtown revitalization plan in progress will help bring in more customers to local businesses, such as CM Potteramics, and make East Moline a better place for residents.

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“Downtown East Moline is already a treasure. … We can make it better with this project,” Illinois State Sen. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, said during a ground-breaking ceremony Tuesday morning to welcome the latest phase of the Greater Downtown East Moline Revitalization Project. That ceremony attracted more than 100 people from the business community on a sunny, hot morning to Runner’s Park in downtown East Moline to praise and help usher in the project. The ceremony was held under a banner with the project’s slogan: “Catch the Energy and Momentum."  The project’s goal is to make East Moline’s downtown more walkable, bike-friendly and beautiful.  The project began construction this spring and could be complete in 2027. In April, the first phase of the project started at The Bend on the city’s riverfront. It includes constructing new sidewalks, a multiuse path, and landscaping improvements. “It’s pretty much on schedule. … We’re happy the way it’s going,” East Moline City Administrator Mark Rohert told the Quad Cities Regional Business Journal at the event. The ground-breaking ceremony was held to welcome the next phase of the revitalization. That phase, which is set to start later this summer, will focus on the west half of 15th Avenue. (Work on the east half of 15th Avenue begins next year.) “It’s not just construction; it’s progress. … This will give new life to the heartbeat of downtown East Moline,” U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen, D-Moline, told the crowd. Mr. Sorensen added that “new life” for the community could be seen in the many businesses that will be helped by the downtown revitalization plan. “If you want to start a small business, East Moline is the place for you,” he added. The revitalization project includes:

• Full reconstruction of 15th Avenue with wider pedestrian zones to provide ample room for strolling downtown.
• Decorative landscaping, lighting, and wayfinding signage to enhance the downtown experience.
• A new flexible-use festival zone on 15th Avenue between 7th and 9th streets to support community events.
• Multiuse paths and redesigned crossings to improve access to the riverfront, The Bend, and the Rust Belt.
• Ongoing streetscaping work along The Bend and future connectivity improvements along the Rust Belt.
• Funding: Most of the multi-year project will be funded by a $23.7 million federal Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant. It also received $2 million from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s Rebuild Downtowns and Main Streets program. The City of East Moline will kick in $5 million for the work as required by the terms of the federal grant. The City also received a $200,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for streetscaping enhancements at The Bend through the Bicycle Path Grant Program.
• Project team: The teams includes: the City of East Moline; Crawford, Murphy & Tilly (CMT) engineers; Image, Inc.; SWT Design; Hutchinson Engineering, Inc.; Terracon; and American Surveying & Engineering, Inc. Other partners include  contractors Valley Construction and McCarthy Improvement.

Other political and community leaders on Tuesday made the point that businesses will be helped by the plan. They added that even though there might be some disruptions during work on 15th Avenue, “our downtown will be open for business,” said Tim Kammler, the city’s engineering director. Mr. Kammler also called the downtown work a “game-changer” for the community. “This will transform a street into a community gathering place,” he added. That’s good news to downtown community leaders, such as Michelle Horton, founder of Respect Abilities, Inc., at 834 15th Ave. (Respect Abilities, founded in 2015,  focuses on helping people with special needs by offering a wide range of services, including direct support and work opportunities. It has partnerships with area organizations and businesses.) “This project is huge for us.  It’s going to be very exciting,” Ms. Horton said shortly after the ceremony. She added that her hope is that the revitalization plan will help many East Moline businesses, which will in turn help Respect Abilities and its clients. In addition to supporting businesses and attracting visitors, several officials said the project will give a great boost to the city by creating more jobs. “We are sending a message that we believe in East Moline. … This is what community investment looks like when done right,” said Illinois State Rep. Gregg Johnson, D-East Moline. East Moline Mayor Reggie Freeman added that the project will be the "cornerstone" to creating a more beautiful downtown district. “With so much energy and momentum behind this effort, we know this is just the beginning of what’s possible for East Moline,” he added.