DAVENPORT, IOWA (October 26, 2020) — The Downtown Davenport Partnership (DDP), an affiliate of the Quad Cities Chamber, will present a proposed strategic master plan to the Davenport City Council during a public work session at 4PM, Tuesday, October 27. After reviewing the draft master-plan documents, the plan will be added to upcoming city-council agendas for further public input. A vote to accept the final version of the plan is expected in November/December.
Following discussions with the City of Davenport, DDP commissioned a nationally-recognized, award-winning planning and urban-design team in February 2020 to develop a new downtown master plan. DDP fully funded the plan’s creation; no general tax-payer dollars were spent to cover consultant fees.
WXY Studio, along with SB Friedman Development Advisors and Sam Schwartz Engineering, worked with DDP to develop a downtown strategy for future growth grounded in the activation and enrichment of the public realm. Part of the planning process included stakeholder interviews, focus-group meetings, a public-perception survey, and feedback from a steering committee featuring business owners, residents, and developers. The result, “Davenport 2030: A Resilient City,” is a visionary roadmap for shaping a sustainable, vibrant, and inclusive downtown.
Building on past and ongoing planning efforts to make downtown vibrant and its riverfront more resilient, the master plan explores how to better connect downtown Davenport to its surrounding neighborhoods and the region as whole. The plan also addresses the realities of COVID-19 and offers opportunities to overcome the unique challenges it presents.
“Downtown is everyone’s neighborhood, and the time is now to set a visionary roadmap to build a more sustainable, vibrant and inclusive downtown,” said DDP Executive Director Kyle Carter. “The health of downtown reflects the social and economic health of the entire city, and the ideas and actions this plan has to offer will create a better future for Davenport and the entire Quad Cities.”
The master plan outlines five key pillars for growth organized around a central vision:
Vision Statement
Davenport is resilient. By 2030, downtown Davenport has the potential to be a thriving residential center; a space for entrepreneurship and innovation; and a hub for entertainment, arts, and play. To achieve that goal, Davenport must invest heavily in its streets, public spaces, and riverfront; connect small businesses and entrepreneurs to capital; and focus on creating a unique and inclusive downtown experience.
Framework for Growth: Five Key Pillars
- Playful, Connected, and Protected: Enhance the downtown public realm and infrastructure and create a more resilient riverfront;
- Livable: Make downtown an attractive, welcoming place for residents, families, and visitors;
- Innovative: Create an entrepreneurial ecosystem focused on attracting jobs, talent-inclusivity, and innovation;
- Inclusive: Create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive downtown through the design and programming of the public realm, fostering a small-business entrepreneurial ecosystem and creating varied housing-options; and
- Celebrated: Define downtown Davenport’s identity and brand within the region as an unconventional, inclusive, and unforgettable destination.
A full executive summary, including specific actions and strategic priorities for each key pillar, is available on DDP’s website: www.DowntownDavenport.com.
“Davenport’s downtown continues to grow with companies investing in its future,” said Brad Martell, DDP Board Chairman and President & CEO, YMCA of the Iowa Mississippi Valley. “The DDP board agrees this is a bold yet attainable plan, which will help guide us to future growth.”
Like all strategic plans, specific action items and public infrastructure investments will require future budget allocation, prioritization, and public/council input before becoming a reality. The master plan is a strategic vision to guide development, not a binding vote for specific projects or budgets.
Once the plan is approved, DDP will work routinely with its public and private partners to lead plan implementation, advocate for action and ensure goals are met over the years.
For more information, visit www.DowntownDavenport.com.
