17
Aug
2004
During last week's special meeting between Davenport's City Council and Levee Commission, Sixth Ward Alderman Bob McGivern declared that he wanted it made clear that the proposed casino hotel to be built on our downtown riverfront was in no way driving the Vision Iowa application currently in the works. Unfortunately, the only thing Alderman McGivern made clear was his complete willingness to deceive the public.
For months city leaders have been in closed-door meetings with the Rhythm City Casino about erecting a hotel and parking ramp adjacent to the riverboat at the foot of Perry Street. These covert meetings culminated last week with a plan to build an 11-story facility directly on the levee between Pershing and Brady streets. Such a structure would inappropriately dominate the proposed location's extremely limited river frontage, as well as Davenport's skyline. In the final analysis, the casino hotel would trump not only the entire $113-million River Renaissance project, it would overshadow the proposed $100 million RiverVision plan, as well.
This week's expected unveiling of the hotel's site plan is necessary to bring the project before the council for approval by month's end. Approval of the site plan is, at a minimum, required for it to be included in Davenport's Vision Iowa application, expected to be submitted in September. The proposed hotel's inclusion in the application was evident as early as June 9, 2004, with the city's Letter of Intent to submit an application for $75 million in projects. Obviously the hotel was factored in as the private investment required in all Vision Iowa applications.
As the deal stand now, the hotel accounts for approximately $50 million of the $75 million. Should Vision Iowa approve the application, Davenport will receive a grant of approximately $5 million from the state, which means local taxpayers will have to cover the $20- million balance.
To summarize, should the Vision Iowa application move forward, the casino is getting an exclusive hotel facility and parking ramps for its part, and taxpayers are getting ... well, that isn't exactly clear yet, but some additional sod will be involved.
On the other hand, what residents will be deprived of is unobstructed access and views of an area of our community that should celebrate our unique place on the mighty Mississippi. Ours is a fascinating location in the scheme of nature as it relates to commerce, as well as our community's historic significance in shaping the country, evidenced by the only remaining bridge of its kind that happens to function as part of one of the locks in a remarkable system that characterizes Mississippi River culture.
To build an 11-story casino hotel that will virtually block all relevant views of the bridge and neighboring lock and dam seems grossly distasteful at best, and civically disdainful at worst. There is no fiscal rationale for robbing the community of the enjoyment of its heritage other than commercial obstinance. The two feasibility studies conducted (by RSM McGladrey and HVS) relative to adding a hotel to the Rhythm City Casino's operation were clearly not site-specific. In other words, the operation would perform regardless of its location along the river, or anywhere in the community, for that matter. The argument that the casino's return on investment would suffer if the casino moved less than a mile downstream is so far totally unsubstantiated.
To its credit, the Planning & Zoning Commission voted to table approval of the River Vision plan, ostensibly to allow for scrutiny, public input, and discussion. But beware because, technically, the casino-hotel project can move forward apart from the RiverVision plan, and seek approval independently. It could not then be included in the Vision Iowa application for funding unless Davenport asked for funding of a different project altogether. Nothing is impossible when a few special interests are driving the boat (no pun intended).
For months city leaders have been in closed-door meetings with the Rhythm City Casino about erecting a hotel and parking ramp adjacent to the riverboat at the foot of Perry Street. These covert meetings culminated last week with a plan to build an 11-story facility directly on the levee between Pershing and Brady streets. Such a structure would inappropriately dominate the proposed location's extremely limited river frontage, as well as Davenport's skyline. In the final analysis, the casino hotel would trump not only the entire $113-million River Renaissance project, it would overshadow the proposed $100 million RiverVision plan, as well.
This week's expected unveiling of the hotel's site plan is necessary to bring the project before the council for approval by month's end. Approval of the site plan is, at a minimum, required for it to be included in Davenport's Vision Iowa application, expected to be submitted in September. The proposed hotel's inclusion in the application was evident as early as June 9, 2004, with the city's Letter of Intent to submit an application for $75 million in projects. Obviously the hotel was factored in as the private investment required in all Vision Iowa applications.
As the deal stand now, the hotel accounts for approximately $50 million of the $75 million. Should Vision Iowa approve the application, Davenport will receive a grant of approximately $5 million from the state, which means local taxpayers will have to cover the $20- million balance.
To summarize, should the Vision Iowa application move forward, the casino is getting an exclusive hotel facility and parking ramps for its part, and taxpayers are getting ... well, that isn't exactly clear yet, but some additional sod will be involved.
On the other hand, what residents will be deprived of is unobstructed access and views of an area of our community that should celebrate our unique place on the mighty Mississippi. Ours is a fascinating location in the scheme of nature as it relates to commerce, as well as our community's historic significance in shaping the country, evidenced by the only remaining bridge of its kind that happens to function as part of one of the locks in a remarkable system that characterizes Mississippi River culture.
To build an 11-story casino hotel that will virtually block all relevant views of the bridge and neighboring lock and dam seems grossly distasteful at best, and civically disdainful at worst. There is no fiscal rationale for robbing the community of the enjoyment of its heritage other than commercial obstinance. The two feasibility studies conducted (by RSM McGladrey and HVS) relative to adding a hotel to the Rhythm City Casino's operation were clearly not site-specific. In other words, the operation would perform regardless of its location along the river, or anywhere in the community, for that matter. The argument that the casino's return on investment would suffer if the casino moved less than a mile downstream is so far totally unsubstantiated.
To its credit, the Planning & Zoning Commission voted to table approval of the River Vision plan, ostensibly to allow for scrutiny, public input, and discussion. But beware because, technically, the casino-hotel project can move forward apart from the RiverVision plan, and seek approval independently. It could not then be included in the Vision Iowa application for funding unless Davenport asked for funding of a different project altogether. Nothing is impossible when a few special interests are driving the boat (no pun intended).
