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Who says I'm not against things...

Posted by: QuadCityImages on June 17, 2009 at 7:02AM CST

A couple things in the news that I'm on the naysayer side of:

Property owner, historic group clash over Village's future -QCTimes

I've defended Mr. Wisor on some of his projects, like the building on Mound, but he's kind of worn out his welcome in the East Village as far as I'm concerned. Between more parking and more suburban-type structures, these are the last things the Village needs. The Design Center created renderings of various historic-looking infill buildings that could be built in the village, and there are plenty of vacant or underused spots for them. No need to tear down a historic building in Iowa's largest historic district to build a new house. If he really wants a half million dollar house, maybe he should walk a block up Fulton and see half a dozen of them. I hope the council has a spine on this one instead of ignoring the Historic Preservation Committee like they did with the Deutsh House. Why even have an HPC if the council ignores its wishes?
Also: Cruiser covered this yesterday.

Davenport Beach & Harbor -- that has a nice ring -QCTimes

Barb Ickes thinks that Mayor Gluba's son has a good idea here, and I can't completely disagree. I beach (while gross) and harbor would be good things for the Davenport riverfront. The problem is that while this is one person's suggestion, there were several hundred Davenport and Rock Island folks that got together a few years ago and decided what to do with this space. Its called RiverVision, and its already in the works. I'm curious if the Glubas don't know about RiverVision's plans for Crescent Park, or just feel that this harbor idea trumps what large numbers of Davenporters came up with.

Now, I can think of a place that already has a lagoon that could be reconnected to the Mississippi and used for boating and a beach, and that place is Credit Island. Replace the causeway with a bridge, raise some of the land around the lagoon, and you could have the same exact proposal another mile or two down the river. Seems like a good compromise to me, which I guess ruins my cred as a naysayer.

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(6) Comments

Posted by: marismom on June 17, 2009 9:39AM CST

I enjoy your blogs...I don't comment much because I know nothing about development...but just wanted to say I do read them and I'm learning much. :)

Posted by: Gene Boyd on June 17, 2009 11:52AM CST

When most of the cities in the quad cities from time to time dump raw sewage in the old Mississippi I don't think anyone in their right mind would swim in the big sewer pipe! I guess you could tan yourself since it would be all day sun. I can see the tax bill now!

Posted by: Gene Boyd on June 17, 2009 11:57AM CST

The village is basically just a bar strip, catering to bar flys, what's the big deal! Most of those old dumps along 11th &12th street are fire traps.

Posted by: matt on June 17, 2009 3:18PM CST

yes... it's "basically a bar strip"... sure... let's see what non-alcohol serving venues i can think up in one minute:

coffee shop
specialty soap/bath store
lagomarcino's
jewelry
photography
books? (might be wrong on that one)
live theatre
gifts/wine/home brewery store
Rudy's Tacos
lots of antique/arts/crafts shops

that was honestly one minute, so i'll stop there.

Posted by: Gene Boyd on June 18, 2009 10:40AM CST

There is almost that many bars there! The house that is the point of all the discussion was on the market for over five years before the gentalman bought it. There is no rush to the Village. He has said he will sell it , the preservationist ought to buy it if it is such a prize.

Posted by: Jeepdog on June 27, 2009 9:13PM CST

The home is more expensive to rehab than it would be to build another. Maybe he ought to partner with someone in the Gold Coast...they did it!!!

I say there are probably things to scavange from a tear-down that would be in keeping with the neighborhood. Naybe there's something about a certain percentage of reclamation that would make the preservationists happy.

He'd need parking, too, for friends.

If we put roadblocks up to progress, what happens to this house??? I'm all for the tear-down, but maybe some concessions can be made.

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