The grand opening of the Fourth Street Lofts at 320 East Fourth Street in Davenport on Tuesday, January 23, marked the latest addition to central-city housing in the Historic Crescent Warehouse District. Developed by the Alexander Company of Madison, Wisconsin, the Fourth Street Lofts feature amenities - such as polished concrete floors, exposed brick walls, expansive, open floor plans, and large windows - that provide an urban housing experience in downtown Davenport. The first phase of Crescent Lofts Master Development, the Davenport Lofts, was completed in 2005 at a cost of $12.3 million and features 73 apartments. The total cost for the rehabilitation of the Fourth Street Lofts was $10.5 million. For more information, look at (http://www.crescentlofts.com) or call (563) 323-1871.

For the new Davenport police headquarters, building green is a simple matter of economics. "Saving money was the main motivation," said Charles Heston, a project manager in the city's Community & Economic Development Department.

Among its features, the under-construction building will be heated with geothermal energy; some lighting will be automatically adjusted based on daylight; other lighting will be controlled by occupancy censors; and a "green roof" with soil and plants will prevent rainwater from running off into storm sewers and provide additional insulation.

Matching those things sounds like a recipe for disaster. But for the Figge Art Museum, it could pay big dividends, particularly as a way to combat the perception that the institution is elitist.

This summer, in conjunction with its Artists Advisory Council (AAC), the Figge will host sculptures made from refuse and assembled by local artists with assistance from high-school classes.

Because of the generosity of artist and actor Martin Mull, 15 lucky bidders will own his original work following an auction that supports the Figge Art Museum. To see the artwork featured in the auction, schedule an appointment. Also, images of the works and details about each are available at (http://www.figgeartmuseum.org ) in the "Martin Mull auction" section of the home page. Submit bids by phone or e-mail to Mary Davidson at (563) 326-7804 extension 2046 or (mdavidson@figgeartmuseum.org ). Minimum bids range from $1,000 to $2,300 depending on the medium Mull used for each piece, its complexity, and its size. On the Figge Web site, initials of the bidder will be posted next to bid amount, and bids will be updated weekly. The auction ends January 21.