x
Breaking News
More () »

It’s still unclear what will be built – and when – at Watch Tower Plaza

Years after the city started efforts to bring Walmart to Rock Island, there is no signed, written agreement between the city and the retail giant.

Two-and-a-half years after the city started efforts to bring Walmart to Rock Island, Mayor Dennis Pauley confirms there is no signed, written agreement between the city and the retail giant.

The Rock Island City Council approved purchasing property to make way for the store in November 2012.  At that time, construction was expected to begin - and be completed - in 2013. Hundreds of jobs and more than a million dollars in annual tax revenue were also expected from the project, but the site remains undeveloped.

In March of 2014, the council approved creating a TIF district for the Watch Tower Plaza area.  Asbestos removal was underway in July and demolition was expected to begin by the end of that month according to Rock Island Assistant City Manager Jeff Eder.  It soon became clear that 2014 would also pass without the addition of a Walmart in Rock Island.

Despite the slower-than-expected progress and lack of a formal, binding agreement, Pauley remained confident that Walmart would build at 11th Street and 39th Avenue.

"The last time I talked to the people at Walmart, they told me they were still on board," Pauley said on January 12, 2015. "They would let me know if they had any problems. I've had no calls."  He confirmed a representative said Walmart would "definitely build" on the site after he got a phone call back from Walmart on Monday, January 26.  Pauley also said Monday, February 2, 2015 that plans remained on track for the store to be built at the site on 11th Street, as the city council approved plans for the next phase of demolition.

The city budgeted about $15 million to clear out the Watch Tower Plaza on 11th Street. They've also torn down part of the center, like the Dollar General store.  There have also been some unanticipated demolition and land acquisition costs.

City Manager Thomas Thomas said the city missed a 2012 deadline that would have saved the city $160,000 on the purchase of the site of the former 'Town and Country Bowling Alley.' Because of that missed deadline, the city paid $610,000 for property formerly offered at $450,000.  It was unclear why the deadline was missed; Thomas would not comment for this story.

"That was a lot of money, and it was a simple error by somebody, and it was not by Thomas Thomas," Pauley said. "It was a different employee, and that was handled internally. It's not an issue."

Some residents remained concerned about what will get built at the Watch Tower Plaza site, and just when that development will actually happen.

"We could gain a lot of customers I think if something like Walmart is down here," Pawn King Manager Danny Sammon said.  Sammon's business was not forced to relocate for redevelopment of the area, but he was concerned about how the city was handling the project.

A spokeswoman for Walmart stopped short of confirming any forward progress on the Watch Tower Plaza project, saying, "We have no new news to announce in Rock Island at this time."

Pauley said he hasn't even thought about what happens if Walmart decides to not build at the site.

"Do I think it would be a failure [if Walmart didn't build]? I don't think it would be a failure. I think it would be a setback," Pauley said. "We've done a lot to bring in a lot of different projects throughout Rock Island, and we're going to continue to bring projects to Rock Island. Walmart is one of those projects."

Get more of our coverage of the Watch Tower Plaza redevelopment project – click here.

What do you think will happen to Watch Tower Plaza?

Before You Leave, Check This Out