Kyle Carter, executive director of the Downtown Davenport Partnership, talks about projects during the DDP annual meeting on Thursday, June 27, at Hotel Blackhawk. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Davenport Mayor Mike Matson shared a vivid memory of downtown Davenport with a crowd of business leaders Thursday morning, June 27. He said as a youngster he can remember visiting the downtown area and seeing a “dump burning.” Fortunately, the times and the downtown district have vastly changed. “The evolution of our city, especially the […]
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Davenport Mayor Mike Matson shared a vivid memory of downtown Davenport with a crowd of business leaders Thursday morning, June 27.He said as a youngster he can remember visiting the downtown area and seeing a “dump burning.”
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Members of the crowd listen to a presentation Thursday, June 27, during the Downtown Davenport Partnership’s annual meeting at Hotel Blackhawk. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Candy Pastrnak, president of the Downtown Davenport Partnership board, makes opening comments to members and stakeholders during the DDP annual meeting. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Kyle Carter, executive director of the Downtown Davenport Partnership, talks about projects during the DDP annual meeting Thursday, June 27, at the Hotel Blackhawk. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Fortunately, the times and the downtown district have vastly changed. “The evolution of our city, especially the downtown, is great. … and it’s because of you,” Mr. Matson told a crowd of about 170 people at the 2024 Downtown Davenport Partnership (DDP) Annual Meeting, held at Hotel Blackhawk in downtown Davenport.Kyle Carter, DDP executive director, gave the crowd a long list of downtown success stories, projects both completed and in the works, and future plans that he said will help the city and downtown area move forward.“We’ve had so many good things going on and so many good stories…. But if you think we need to lift off the gas pedal, you are wrong,” he said.A few of those projects he outlined at the breakfast meeting included:
The city has secured $60 million in funding to improve critical downtown, riverfront and west-end infrastructure projects. He said 84% of the costs are covered by grants and private investments. Some of those projects include flood mitigation work, the rehabilitation of Third and Fourth streets, and other riverfront improvements.
Downtown housing units hit 1,887 last year and an additional 175 market-rate units are under construction.
There are 17 planned projects in the works valued at more than $123 million.
“We are leaning into a bold vision and master plan for downtown, inspired by Davenport's historic $60-million public infrastructure investment on the horizon, and bolstered by the private sector’s firmly rooted commitment to its success,” Mr. Carter said in a news release before the annual meeting.At that gathering, he highlighted the opening of The Last Picture House movie theater, calling its opening as important and colorful as a spaceship landing in the community. “The fact that this spaceship landed in downtown Davenport is a testament to our hard work,” he added.In addition to business openings, the DDP leader also called attention to an upcoming event – Alternating Currents Festival – which will be Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 15-18. That music, film, art and comedy fest has a massive impact on the community. In 2023, the DDP celebration had a $355,000 economic impact on the Quad Cities; attracted 47,000 visitors to the downtown area; had 150 local vendors; and featured more than 200 acts and events, according to information provided by DDP.“This has the power to be the calling card for the Quad Cities on an annual basis,” Mr. Carter said of the festival, hosted by DDP, an affiliate of the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce.Other projects highlighted Thursday include:
Flood mitigation: There are $87 million in projects completed or in the works. Some of those projects include work on River Drive from Third Street to Carey Avenue ($4 million); River Drive at Marquette Street ($1.8 million); as well as road raising projects at River Drive and Mound Street; Third and LeClaire streets; Second and Gaines streets; and two sections of Rockingham Road.
YMCA development impact: There has been a total of $66 million in development on land owned by the YMCA of the Mississippi Valley. Projects include: Early Learning Education Center, $2.8 million; The Bittner YMCA building, $24 million; Federal Point Apartment complex, $38 million; and urban soccer complex, $1.2 million.
Housing: There have been 204 new apartments opened this fiscal year. There also are 175 market-rate units under construction and 327 market-rate units in the planning stages. Some underway are: 113 W. Third Street; Apartments on Main; Bucktown Lofts; and The Legacy.
Future beautification and street plans: Projects for next fiscal year include: Emerson Alley archway and lighting; streetscape repairs; grid work at Third and Ripley streets; Davenport Skybridge improvements; Main Street sewer; and streetscape design.
DDP Ambassadors’ work: In the past year, DDP workers have tackled these projects – removed 642 cubic yards of litter, which equals about three full semi-truck loads; spent 452 hours on snow removal; removed more than 200 gallons of dog waste; and removed 459 graffiti messages.
In addition to updating the audience on projects completed and in the works, Mr. Carter used Thursday’s meeting to praise the late Gene Meeker. Mr. Meeker died Friday, June 14, at the age of 87. He was a longtime community leader, including a former executive director of the Downtown Davenport Development Corp., and member of the Davenport City Council.Mr. Carter showed a quote attributed to Mr. Meeker in 1993 concerning downtown development that he said is still valid today: “I’m not riding in on a white horse. I don’t have all the answers. Downtown development is a process that takes public and private cooperation. I see myself as the glue that holds it all together.”The DDP leader also used the event to point out that many other local communities are also making economic development improvements. Some of those big projects are taking place in Bettendorf, Moline, Rock Island and East Moline. Mr. Carter said he is happy to see neighboring cities move forward, and the news should be further inspiration to keep downtown Davenport's improvement plans on track.“The Quad Cities will live or die together. … We have to push forward or other people will run past us,” he added.