22
Feb
2005
The more one delves into the misinformation that abounds relative to the proposal by Isle of Capri (IOC) to build a 10-story hotel and five-story parking ramp on downtown Davenport's scarce riverfront, the more outrageous the whole concept becomes.
Mayor Charlie Brooke, the IOC, and its supporters have stubbornly refused to consider publicly evaluating any expansion locations save docking on the waterfront between Perry and Brady streets. What does the general "man on the street" think of such a proposal? Find out for yourself and ask your friends and family or the person standing in line next to you at the coffee shop. We've been hard-put to find anyone excited about such a prospect other than IOC officials, the mayor, the RDA, and a handful of staff members of DavenportOne. The citizens we've heard from find the proposal short-sighted, risk-laden, and inappropriate for Davenport's waterfront.
Because the IOC has been unresponsive to the community's concerns, a grassroots effort is underway to communicate the public's wishes, and to insist on a planning process to consider alternative development of this particular riverfront. Hardly an unreasonable request considering the magnitude of the consequences to one of our most unique and marketable assets.
This grassroots, volunteer effort is a Web site and petition campaign called SmartRiverfront.com. This Web site is a resource for learning about the issues relative to the proposed casino hotel, for the public to weigh in with their thoughts for or against the project, and to participate in a petition demanding a more thorough public process in deciding what occurs at that riverfront location. Go to the Web site, whether you support a more public planning process or not. All voices are afforded an opportunity to weigh in there via postings of comments, submission of news items, and voting in online surveys. Signed petitions will be collected and presented to Davenport's city council as evidence of the public's broad desire for a more thorough planning process about Davenport's waterfront and more public evaluations of additional casino-expansion opportunities.
The opposition to the proposed casino hotel on downtown Davenport's riverfront concerns itself with two main issues: (1) the inappropriate location, and (2) the unneeded financial assistance from taxpayers. This opposition is not about gambling, or about IOC's expansion, or about what IOC has or has not done for the community. And it is not about losing revenues for the city or not-for-profits. Davenport's gaming license will, at a minimum, continue to generate current revenues because it is stipulated in IOC's contract and because it is the law.
It is time for citizens to include in their consideration what Davenport has done for the IOC, not just what IOC has done for Davenport. In terms of giving away our riverfront, there are many businesses that have done just as much for our community and are more deserving of such a bestowment. But none has had the temerity to ask for it.
In the more than 10 years that gambling has been on our riverfront, exactly what has been its contribution, other than 4 percent of its revenues given to the Riverboat Development Authority to grant to not-for-profits? What has been the financial benefit to operators such as the IOC for the privilege of operating on Davenport's riverfront? Do the math and see who is benefiting the most. And keep in mind the old saying: "Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered."
Don't Take Our Word for It
Recently principals in a start-up business looking to locate in a cost-effective and resourceful community visited the Quad Cities and evaluated Davenport, specifically. This area was being suggested by one of the partners, who grew up here and has family here, as a possible good town to establish their business, rather than where they currently reside, out East where the cost of doing business is much higher. On a whim they came out to visit last weekend. They figured if they experienced Iowa on a cold, gray day in February and still found it an interesting place to be, then the rest would be all downhill.
Besides wondering how much an aerospace engineer's salary would be in this area, they were mildly surprised with how much more dynamic the area was than they had imagined. The Mississippi River, Figge Art Museum, sky bridge, and the MidCoast Fine Arts Bucktown renovation all caught their attention and helped to dispel their previous perception of Iowa as flat and boring farmland. They even caught the sight of several eagles soaring on the waterfront, as well.
Even in mid-February, on a cold, gray day, this place wasn't looking as bleak as they had imagined. But when told about the casino-expansion proposal for a five-story parking ramp and 10-story hotel right by Lock & Dam 15, the couple was aghast that such a project was being considered, let alone had any traction. "Are you kidding?!" they said. They observed that Davenport has "all these streets that run right down to the riverfront, and you want to lead them right down to a casino/hotel?!"
The two are purportedly considering this area for a possible location of their start-up business, but the prospect of an increased presence of gambling on Davenport's waterfront was decidedly not a selling point.
Mayor Charlie Brooke, the IOC, and its supporters have stubbornly refused to consider publicly evaluating any expansion locations save docking on the waterfront between Perry and Brady streets. What does the general "man on the street" think of such a proposal? Find out for yourself and ask your friends and family or the person standing in line next to you at the coffee shop. We've been hard-put to find anyone excited about such a prospect other than IOC officials, the mayor, the RDA, and a handful of staff members of DavenportOne. The citizens we've heard from find the proposal short-sighted, risk-laden, and inappropriate for Davenport's waterfront.
Because the IOC has been unresponsive to the community's concerns, a grassroots effort is underway to communicate the public's wishes, and to insist on a planning process to consider alternative development of this particular riverfront. Hardly an unreasonable request considering the magnitude of the consequences to one of our most unique and marketable assets.
This grassroots, volunteer effort is a Web site and petition campaign called SmartRiverfront.com. This Web site is a resource for learning about the issues relative to the proposed casino hotel, for the public to weigh in with their thoughts for or against the project, and to participate in a petition demanding a more thorough public process in deciding what occurs at that riverfront location. Go to the Web site, whether you support a more public planning process or not. All voices are afforded an opportunity to weigh in there via postings of comments, submission of news items, and voting in online surveys. Signed petitions will be collected and presented to Davenport's city council as evidence of the public's broad desire for a more thorough planning process about Davenport's waterfront and more public evaluations of additional casino-expansion opportunities.
The opposition to the proposed casino hotel on downtown Davenport's riverfront concerns itself with two main issues: (1) the inappropriate location, and (2) the unneeded financial assistance from taxpayers. This opposition is not about gambling, or about IOC's expansion, or about what IOC has or has not done for the community. And it is not about losing revenues for the city or not-for-profits. Davenport's gaming license will, at a minimum, continue to generate current revenues because it is stipulated in IOC's contract and because it is the law.
It is time for citizens to include in their consideration what Davenport has done for the IOC, not just what IOC has done for Davenport. In terms of giving away our riverfront, there are many businesses that have done just as much for our community and are more deserving of such a bestowment. But none has had the temerity to ask for it.
In the more than 10 years that gambling has been on our riverfront, exactly what has been its contribution, other than 4 percent of its revenues given to the Riverboat Development Authority to grant to not-for-profits? What has been the financial benefit to operators such as the IOC for the privilege of operating on Davenport's riverfront? Do the math and see who is benefiting the most. And keep in mind the old saying: "Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered."
Don't Take Our Word for It
Recently principals in a start-up business looking to locate in a cost-effective and resourceful community visited the Quad Cities and evaluated Davenport, specifically. This area was being suggested by one of the partners, who grew up here and has family here, as a possible good town to establish their business, rather than where they currently reside, out East where the cost of doing business is much higher. On a whim they came out to visit last weekend. They figured if they experienced Iowa on a cold, gray day in February and still found it an interesting place to be, then the rest would be all downhill.
Besides wondering how much an aerospace engineer's salary would be in this area, they were mildly surprised with how much more dynamic the area was than they had imagined. The Mississippi River, Figge Art Museum, sky bridge, and the MidCoast Fine Arts Bucktown renovation all caught their attention and helped to dispel their previous perception of Iowa as flat and boring farmland. They even caught the sight of several eagles soaring on the waterfront, as well.
Even in mid-February, on a cold, gray day, this place wasn't looking as bleak as they had imagined. But when told about the casino-expansion proposal for a five-story parking ramp and 10-story hotel right by Lock & Dam 15, the couple was aghast that such a project was being considered, let alone had any traction. "Are you kidding?!" they said. They observed that Davenport has "all these streets that run right down to the riverfront, and you want to lead them right down to a casino/hotel?!"
The two are purportedly considering this area for a possible location of their start-up business, but the prospect of an increased presence of gambling on Davenport's waterfront was decidedly not a selling point.
