Rock Island downtown ‘on cusp of new era of revitalization’

The wheels are in motion to create a special service area (SSA) in Rock Island that supporters say will help drive the rebirth of a downtown “on the cusp of revitalization.” 

But the road to creating a Greater Downtown Rock Island SSA is long and riddled with potholes.

It may help smooth the way, backers say, that many property owners –…