LeClaire plans $2M downtown makeover -QCTimes
Consider the population difference, that would equal $68 million in streetscaping and beautification. I'm not advocating anything like that, and honestly, Davenport has been doing streetscaping for years. Right now street lamps and other sidewalk features are being expanded into the loft district, and 2nd street is well-lit through most of downtown.
I'm just impressed that a smaller town like LeClaire can propose spending that much to improve their image. Now if only the QC could promote LeClaire, the East Village, downtown Moline, RI, and Davenport all together as a regional destination area.
13 comments:
LeClaire has benefitted from an expanding tax base and significant increase in median home value, the city knows it has the cash flow to pay for this project. To many it is New Bettendorf.
Dittoes, QCI. The equivalent $68 mil is about the price paid for the struggling RME. Or imagine what it could have done to rehab housing - a thousand homes at $75K each! I do think the downtown has greatly improved with the various pots, faux brick, real brick walks, planters, and most importantly, artwork on the street
Although I also agree with 7:12 that LeClaire is 'Dorf North. Not really a pretty sight. I miss the river town feel of yore.
God, I sound like Wundrum!
How did LeClaire manage "an expanding tax base and significant increase in median home value" to acquire this available money?
In the past ten years many developments have gone up within the city limits with homes that started at $250K. Many of the new residents would have a hard time telling you the last time they were in downtown LeClaire. you might think these homes are Pleasant Valley or Bettendorf, but not so.
Did the city offer incentives to these developers -- tax breaks?, loosened zoning laws? Waive fees? What price is LeClaire paying to build this tax base? Will it be a net gain, or a net loss for the town?
LeClaire has grown at Davenport's expense.
LeClaire has utilized Tax Increament Financing (TIF) when Davenport refused too (because the against crowd screamed NO).
Davenport said NO to 53rd/Eastern golf course and housing development.
LeClaire said Yes to the same project.
Davenports population is stagnet, LeClaire grows...
HMMMM..... See a trend here
Also don't forget white flight. Not much diversity in LeClaire or PV.
How do you get individual communities behind an effort to promote all venues in the QCA? I've been involved with a celebration called Riverway 2006 scheduled for September. The purpose of the celebration is to highlight EXISTING attractions like the RME, the Figge, the Botanical Center, Putnam, John Deere Commons, LeClaire's riverfront, the Village of East Davenport, as well as EXISTING restaurants and entertainment venues. Two big "hooks" - steam train excursions and a huge water screen on the Mississippi will draw out-of-towners. The Quad City Convention and Visitors Bureau recognizes the value of the event and is willing to aggressively promote it. But Rock Island is the only community that has committed to this effort which seems tailor-made for promotion of downtown Davenport, Moline and LeClaire. I can't figure out why other cities aren't jumping all over it.
Is it still possible without the other cities participation? It sounds like a great event.
I hope the other communities jump on. We'll keep trying!
A bit hypocritical, Quad City Images seems to have only a focus on downtown Davenport. Kind of easy to lose sight of the all for one approach.
I don't really hide the fact that I am a big downtown supporter, but I don't believe in ignoring the rest of the city either. I think the Fairmount library and Southwest park should be good examples that the city is not ignoring the west side (anymore?) either. Now if only 20 million bucks would fall out of the sky for that diversion tunnel...
Our city clearly ignored SOLO NORTH of 5th Street. It ignores he West end big time.
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