Kyle Carter, executive director of the Downtown Davenport Partnership, gives an update during the group’s annual meeting Wednesday morning, June 11, at the Hotel Blackhawk. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Downtown Davenport should celebrate some “huge wins” and get ready for more big projects in the coming years that could attract thousands of people from around the world. That’s the word from Kyle Carter, executive director of the Downtown Davenport Partnership (DDP), an affiliate of the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce. “The Quad Cities is […]
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Downtown Davenport should celebrate some “huge wins” and get ready for more big projects in the coming years that could attract thousands of people from around the world.That’s the word from Kyle Carter, executive director of the Downtown Davenport Partnership (DDP), an affiliate of the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce.“The Quad Cities is a weird, but wonderful place. … We have punched way above our weight class,” Mr. Carter said Wednesday morning, June 11, during the organization’s annual meeting at the Hotel Blackhawk in downtown Davenport. That breakfast meeting attracted about 200 people from the business community and downtown stakeholders.Mr. Carter used the meeting to celebrate the many success stories, new businesses, new projects and new investments in downtown Davenport.He also used the annual gathering to highlight the big and small planned and in-progress projects coming to the downtown area. He told the crowd that there are eight projects currently under construction. Those projects total more than $36 million in investments in the downtown area. There also are 12 projects – totaling $74 million – that are moving forward in the planning stages.One of those major projects will be Riverwatch Place – a new hotel and mixed-used building project planned at 227 LeClaire St. That site is where the former Howard Johnson’s Hotel, and originally The Clayton House, used to stand. (One of the two proposed buildings in the project will be a TownePlace Suites by Marriott Hotel. The other will be a four-story building that will include office space, a restaurant and retail shops.)Guests listen to a presentation made during the Downtown Davenport Partnership’s Annual Meeting on Wednesday morning, June 11, at the Hotel Blackhawk. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSONMr. Carter told the crowd that construction should begin on Riverwatch Place early next year and could be completed in a couple of years.“This will be a spectacular way to build a gateway for Davenport," he added.The Riverwatch project is going “full steam ahead” and developers are happy with the progress being made, real estate professional Pete Stopulos, who represents project owner, 227 LeClaire LLC, told the Quad Cities Regional Business Journal, shortly after the annual meeting.Mr. Stopulos, who was in attendance, said he liked what he heard from Mr. Carter. “It was inspiring. … Kyle tells us about the reason we do what we do,” he added.Another project in the works is the city’s Main Street Landing – a 10-acre park that will span between Main Street and the roller dams and will feature play areas, water features, a multi-use space for sports and much more. That project, also currently under construction, could be done by late next year.On Wednesday, Mr. Carter praised Main Street Landing, and called it a project that will bring thousands of visitors to downtown Davenport.Many of those visitors are visiting the downtown region because of a project that was just completed. That project is the lighting of the Figge Art Museum exterior. Those lights are part of a $4 million project called “Evanescent Field” — the largest public art installation in Iowa. Designed by internationally acclaimed artist Leo Villareal, the permanent light installation is now transforming the Figge and the Quad Cities skyline into a vibrant new Midwest landmark, according to Figge leaders.When the light project was unveiled on the night of Saturday, May 17, Mr. Carter said he was at the ceremony. “The community needs to be proud of it,” he said.He added that the Evanescent Field project – and many other projects in the downtown area – happen because: “We gave a damn and worked on it.”In addition to new business, museum and park projects that will help the downtown area, downtown Davenport is also making great strides in new housing. In fiscal year 2024, some 138 new apartment units opened in the downtown area. Currently, there are about 2,300 people living downtown, and the housing stock in the area has doubled since 2010.Some of the other housing stats Mr. Carter showed to the crowd include:
There is about a 95% occupancy rate for downtown housing units.
About 40% of renters are under the age of 34.
The median downtown income is $43,000. (The city-wide median income is about $61,000.)
The market will support 300 additional units over the next five years.
Mr. Carter said that stats show the downtown area isn’t just for one group of people. Many people from all levels of income are choosing to live in the region.“There is more diversity in downtown than in most of the Quad Cities. … There is everybody in this downtown,” he added.“Additionally, we’re sharpening recruitment of market-ready retail and commercial businesses, ensuring the right people are matched with the right spaces. A new branding campaign that captures the heart of who we are is in development, and we’re further building our clean and safe partnerships, too,” Mr. Carter said in a news release ahead of Wednesday’s event. Some of the other topics discussed at the annual meeting included:
New Investment
In FY25,Downtown Davenport saw $29 million invested in 11 completed projects highlighted by Apartments on Main, Bucktown Lofts and the Figge’s Evanescent Field art installation.
Eight major public and private projects are under construction downtown representing $37.7 million of investment, as well as 12 planned projects in the pipeline, including the proposed Riverwatch project in downtown’s eastern gateway corridor.
Downtown also saw 27 new, retained or expanded businesses including Micky’s Irish Pub, dPhilms, Style District 220, Delf’s Pro Gym, Envied Vintage and Café San Lorenzo.
Business and Economic Growth
DDP utilized Placer.ai, an industry-leading location analytics software to track downtown foot traffic and economic trends. Results showed:
Stable population of employees, visitors and residents year-over-year. Return to office with an 8.4% increase in workers downtown (3,700 total downtown workforce). A significant population increase in the evening hours as residents and out-of-market visitors used amenities and patronized restaurants, bars, etc.
DiSalvo Development Advisors’ Market Report highlighted that Downtown Davenport's infrastructure, walkability and pricing make it an ideal place for next-generation workspace models - blending lifestyle, flexibility and collaboration.
The market report data further revealed downtown is an ideal location for a musical instrument store, ice cream shop, fine dining, optical store, florist and arcade bar with food.
Visit Quad Cities, the region’s destination marketing organization, through the software Datafy reported 289,000 total trips by visitors averaging 1.8-day stays.
Livability and Infrastructure
DDP Cleaning Ambassadors addressed over 26,000 cleaning issues, including removal of 832 cubic yards of trash, 600 graffiti/sticker removals, 350 hours of snow removal and 950 pet cleanups. DDP Ambassadors watered 864 flower baskets, pots and ground planters throughout the year.
DDP successfully launched the Downtown Safety Patrol pilot program in partnership with the Davenport Police Department and social service providers. DDP Safety Patrol logged 712 business and building checks, 53 hospitality encounters, 17 social service referrals and 8 arrests since March. Additional daily mental health and homelessness outreach services are provided downtown by community partners Humility Homes and Vera French.
Alternating Currents (AC) boasted record attendance and expanded programming in 2024, highlighted by the arrival of an America’s Got Talent producer to the event. An AC documentary produced by KWQC in Davenport will be released in 2025 and featured at the Last Picture House.
DDP hosted small business promotions and place activations including Deck the Downtowns, Lemonade Sip N’ Shop, Cookie Crawl, Between Two Bridges, QC Cribs and Holiday Pickle Hunt.
The DDP executive director encouraged the audience to continue to support downtown projects in the future.“We have to keep our foot on the gas. … We can brag and be proud of ourselves,” Mr. Carter added.
