26
Apr
2005
Consider this a call to action for all Quad Citians, and especially tax-paying businesses and residents of Davenport who wish to weigh in on the future of downtown Davenport's riverfront. The forum for influencing such a milestone development opportunity will take place next Monday and Tuesday, May 2 and 3, at the RiverCenter in downtown Davenport. The Public Facilitation Urban Design & Economic Feasibility Workshop, a.k.a. the Waterfront Workshop, is being facilitated by Chan Krieger & Associates and funded by your tax dollars via the City of Davenport, as well as the Davenport Riverfront Task Force, River Action, the Riverboat Development Authority (RDA), and DavenportOne (D1).
What is at stake is the 15.2 acres of publicly owned land adjacent to the Lock & Dam 15; the Rhythm City Casino (owned by Isle of Capri Casinos, or IOC) currently occupies half that land via various and complex leases with the city. This public planning forum is a much-needed community-wide effort to consider alternatives to the IOC's current proposal to build a 10-story hotel and five-story parking ramp along downtown Davenport's levee, which would permanently impede the public's access and view shed of our primary asset, the Mississippi River.
It is important to understand that there is only one overriding issue at stake relative to IOC's proposal: the location. It isn't a matter of whether it should expand its operation, but where it will expand it. Many Quad Cities residents strongly object to IOC's proposal to build its new facility between Brady and Perry streets, just south of River Drive, because doing so would consume a significant portion of downtown Davenport's publicly owned waterfront property. There is plenty of land downstream to accommodate its expansion, and because the casino will make money regardless of where it locates, it is essential that Davenport consider uses other than a casino hotel for its number-one asset.
For generations, downtown Davenport's river views have gone uninterrupted by floodwalls or permanent commercial development, maintaining the visual character and sense of place that contributes more to Davenport's unique identity than anything else.
The construction of a 10-story casino hotel, including an attached five-story parking ramp, will undo the well-fought preservation of this particular environmental asset. City leaders have claimed that the hotel project is the only proposal on the table, so its consideration is somehow compulsory. Nothing could be further from the truth. When did the rest of the community and potential additional proponents of riverfront development even know that the city was willing to sell off precious waterfront property? Thankfully, these public-planning sessions will allow for the envisioning of alternative usages appropriate for publicly owned land. Up to now, the community has not been allowed to dream or even envision what could be on our waterfront other than an expanded casino operation.
For example, what about an expansion of LeClaire Park and its concert facilities? The city could build a second stage with state-of-the-art technology, as well as upgrade the current stage. What about the River Renaissance Art Walk component? Wouldn't this be the perfect opportunity to integrate that required segment of the Vision Iowa contract? Such an effort could be inspired and informed by local, regional, and international artists, as well as programming with the new Figge Art Museum.
Some have said the Davenport riverfront has always been a commercial levy. Well, then what commercial activity could take place other than a hotel (which can be argued we do not need with occupancy rates as low as they are)? How about an expanded LeClaire Park that includes a large central concession, restrooms, offices, and exhibit halls that would facilitate larger outdoor festivals and events, such as Milwaukee has done? Or a docking marina could also be incorporated, along with viewing decks along the river edge. Canopied sitting areas, gardens, and trails for walking and biking that connect all the amenities along the river, including John O'Donnell the Sports Center, and the planned Centennial Park, perhaps all the way to Credit Island someday. Certainly our community is capable of creating riverfront development and usages more inspiring than parking ramps and hotel rooms for slot players who do not even know they are on a riverboat the majority of the time.
But this will only occur with the public's participation next week. If ever there was a time to show up, this is it. Whether you support or oppose a casino hotel, participating in a process that results in community-minded concepts will solidify the character and uniqueness that define this opportunity to make Davenport's downtown riverfront a destination of community purpose.
Take note that DavenportOne, which continues to maintain that it has not endorsed the IOC's proposal, is hosting this week at least four meetings with its membership and boards to prepare for these two days of public-input forums. Ostensibly these meetings are to ensure that its membership is prepared to inform the community about this project. Meanwhile, IOC has embarked upon a substantial marketing campaign asking its customers and vendors to express their support to elected officials for expanding along Davenport's limited downtown riverfront. I would caution our officials to consider that casino guests will still enjoy IOC's services regardless of where it is located, while vendors might have little choice in expressing such a sentiment. I would ask all casino guests to examine the issue honestly. Does it make a meaningful difference to them where the casino is located as long as it is within Davenport's city limits?
Waterfront Workshop Schedule
Davenport RiverCenter, 136 East Third Street, Mississippi Hall, North Side Monday, May 2, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 3, 7 to 9 p.m. For more information on the workshop consultants, Chan Krieger & Associates, as well as examples of other successful riverfront public-planning processes, visit (http://www.smartriverfront.com).
What is at stake is the 15.2 acres of publicly owned land adjacent to the Lock & Dam 15; the Rhythm City Casino (owned by Isle of Capri Casinos, or IOC) currently occupies half that land via various and complex leases with the city. This public planning forum is a much-needed community-wide effort to consider alternatives to the IOC's current proposal to build a 10-story hotel and five-story parking ramp along downtown Davenport's levee, which would permanently impede the public's access and view shed of our primary asset, the Mississippi River.
It is important to understand that there is only one overriding issue at stake relative to IOC's proposal: the location. It isn't a matter of whether it should expand its operation, but where it will expand it. Many Quad Cities residents strongly object to IOC's proposal to build its new facility between Brady and Perry streets, just south of River Drive, because doing so would consume a significant portion of downtown Davenport's publicly owned waterfront property. There is plenty of land downstream to accommodate its expansion, and because the casino will make money regardless of where it locates, it is essential that Davenport consider uses other than a casino hotel for its number-one asset.
For generations, downtown Davenport's river views have gone uninterrupted by floodwalls or permanent commercial development, maintaining the visual character and sense of place that contributes more to Davenport's unique identity than anything else.
The construction of a 10-story casino hotel, including an attached five-story parking ramp, will undo the well-fought preservation of this particular environmental asset. City leaders have claimed that the hotel project is the only proposal on the table, so its consideration is somehow compulsory. Nothing could be further from the truth. When did the rest of the community and potential additional proponents of riverfront development even know that the city was willing to sell off precious waterfront property? Thankfully, these public-planning sessions will allow for the envisioning of alternative usages appropriate for publicly owned land. Up to now, the community has not been allowed to dream or even envision what could be on our waterfront other than an expanded casino operation.
For example, what about an expansion of LeClaire Park and its concert facilities? The city could build a second stage with state-of-the-art technology, as well as upgrade the current stage. What about the River Renaissance Art Walk component? Wouldn't this be the perfect opportunity to integrate that required segment of the Vision Iowa contract? Such an effort could be inspired and informed by local, regional, and international artists, as well as programming with the new Figge Art Museum.
Some have said the Davenport riverfront has always been a commercial levy. Well, then what commercial activity could take place other than a hotel (which can be argued we do not need with occupancy rates as low as they are)? How about an expanded LeClaire Park that includes a large central concession, restrooms, offices, and exhibit halls that would facilitate larger outdoor festivals and events, such as Milwaukee has done? Or a docking marina could also be incorporated, along with viewing decks along the river edge. Canopied sitting areas, gardens, and trails for walking and biking that connect all the amenities along the river, including John O'Donnell the Sports Center, and the planned Centennial Park, perhaps all the way to Credit Island someday. Certainly our community is capable of creating riverfront development and usages more inspiring than parking ramps and hotel rooms for slot players who do not even know they are on a riverboat the majority of the time.
But this will only occur with the public's participation next week. If ever there was a time to show up, this is it. Whether you support or oppose a casino hotel, participating in a process that results in community-minded concepts will solidify the character and uniqueness that define this opportunity to make Davenport's downtown riverfront a destination of community purpose.
Take note that DavenportOne, which continues to maintain that it has not endorsed the IOC's proposal, is hosting this week at least four meetings with its membership and boards to prepare for these two days of public-input forums. Ostensibly these meetings are to ensure that its membership is prepared to inform the community about this project. Meanwhile, IOC has embarked upon a substantial marketing campaign asking its customers and vendors to express their support to elected officials for expanding along Davenport's limited downtown riverfront. I would caution our officials to consider that casino guests will still enjoy IOC's services regardless of where it is located, while vendors might have little choice in expressing such a sentiment. I would ask all casino guests to examine the issue honestly. Does it make a meaningful difference to them where the casino is located as long as it is within Davenport's city limits?
Waterfront Workshop Schedule
Davenport RiverCenter, 136 East Third Street, Mississippi Hall, North Side Monday, May 2, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 3, 7 to 9 p.m. For more information on the workshop consultants, Chan Krieger & Associates, as well as examples of other successful riverfront public-planning processes, visit (http://www.smartriverfront.com).
