A couple things about the Hilltop Campus Village.
In the paper today, the Aldi and former Walgreens on Brady will be demolished, and replaced with a larger, nicer Aldi. The one out at 53rd and Elmore certainly has a different feeling than most Aldis or Save-A-Lots that I've been in. I'm sure city staff are trying valiently to convince them to build a non-suburban style store. It didn't work with Walgreens, so we'll see if it does with Aldi.
In the "thinking outside the box" category, the Hilltop district is competing in the Pepsi Refresh Project. This project consists of a Pepsi promotion to give away millions of dollars to good causes, based on people voting for their favorites. Hilltop is asking for $25,000 to buy metal trash bins to put around the neighborhood with the Hilltop logo on them. The top 10 projects seeking $25k get the money, and right now we're 96th. You can vote each day, and the contest ends at the end of the month. Vote for Hilltop here! I've probably spent that on Pepsi over my lifetime anyway...
And the other thing is an upcoming meeting. Here's what the city has to say about it:
The Levee Improvement Commission, Davenport Parks and Recreation and the Design Center want to know your ideas for developing the East Industrial Area (along the Mississippi River just up river from the Government Bridge).
Join us on Monday, February 8th from 5 - 7 PM in the Film Room at the Main Street Library in downtown Davenport for an Open House as we kick-off the planning process.
Be a part of history!
I kind of liked the suggestion that a casino take over the Clayton House/Clarion/HoJo/eyesore property and be connected via pedestrian bridge across River Drive to a restaurant and plaza along the river. There would still be a lot of room upstream for more uses if that happened, which seems about 1% likely anyway. I plan to go to the meeting and see what's happening. These are where these things are decided, after all, not the smoky back rooms that the negative folks picture.
20 comments:
Maybe I missed something, but isn't the Mayor and Malin looking for a new operator to take over the casino operations? If that is still the case, then why would the casino take over the Clayton House, spend money updating it, and then lose their right to do business here?
Most likely a new operator wouldn't want to be downtown, but out on 80 or 280 where they can get the most bang for their buck.
It certainly wouldn't be THIS casino operator doing anything. You must have missed the post and QCTimes article about the city pushing 3 different downtown sites to potential casino operators in Las Vegas.
Personally, I don't think a downtown site is all that bad, as it actually provides a different product than the surrounding casinos. Between Riverside to the west, IOC to the east, and Jumers in I-280, travelers will be seeing other casinos before our "highway" casino anyway.
I did not miss the post on the vacation that they took to Vegas. But I have not seen anything on results obtained from this trip. Were they successful in procuring a new operator?
Property values may be cheaper downtown over 80/280, part the building is already done and the RiverCenter/Adler is nearby. Those things may play a role in any decision. To me, either one would be fine as long as we get someone focused on making money with the place.
Nitrous55
I don't think any reasonable person could have expected one trip to a trade show to get us a new operator. No company big enough to do a good job is going to commit to something like that without a lot of meetings and due diligence. Then there's also the fact that there will almost certainly be a legal battle against Isle of Capri involved with any changes made. I'm just happy that city folks are at least talking to gaming industry folks about what our other options are.
Or jumping on the first offer.
Nitrous55
The meetings like those to decide riverfront planning are always dominated by people who get money from the City, either directly or indirectly. Everything is stacked. Why go.
Cuz, it is your money?
Nitrous55
Maybe the people who get money from the city because they always show up at meetings, rather than the other way around? If you participate in your community, it only stands to reason that you'll be more involved. Whether its the "in crowd" that gets the money, or the money crowd that gets to be "in" is up for debate.
What a concept. Getting like minded people together to change city politics.
Beats trashing the city.
Nitrous55
Just a bunch of City employees feathering their own nest. Bird shit.
Kieth alert
Genial brief and this post helped me alot in my college assignement. Thanks you on your information.
See, I think these posts are spam, not an actual student. I don't see a link though, so I don't know what the point is...
QCI,
I see that your a Beatles fan like me. Have you found beatlesradio.com? Great listening while blogging.
Anyone see the article about Davenport keeping its AA bond rating, and getting an interest rate that will save the city $2 million? http://tinyurl.com/yl672am
For all the hoopla, Davenport is a pretty darn fiscally responsible, conservative city. Well done.
I'm sure it will be spun in a negative light by some, but it does show that things are not as bad as some make the city out to be.
Nitrous55
QCI Your friends at the Times have seen the light on the double dispatch tax. Perhaps you also need to climb up out of the basement and repent.
Less witty put downs and more attention to the candidates and you won't hate where you live.
I just posted a new thread relating to the dispatch and bond rating topics.
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