BETTENDORF, Iowa - There's new life on the way for the Lodge Hotel in Bettendorf. After sitting empty for almost a year, there are now plans to redevelop the hotel.
You can't miss the old Bettendorf Lodge off of I-74. The once popular hotel is now boarded up and desolate. Now demolition and a major makeover is in store.
"You can't sell the property with the building on it, you can't do marketing with that building sitting there, no one is going to look at it," said developers from Russell construction.
During the city council meeting, developers laid out ideas to Bettendorf aldermen. Under the proposal, there would be shops, restaurants, office space, and possibly living space, too. They're also asking for tax breaks worth $15 to 20 million.
That raises questions from city leaders.
"Tell me how much is going to be residential what is going to be the quality of residential units. What else is going to be in there?" said Bettendorf aldermen Gary Mohr.
While exactly what will be built is still up in the air, the City of Bettendorf says the idea is a positive step for growth.
"It's money better spent by demoliting starting new," says City Administrator Decker Polehn
The lodge sits on eight acres, but talks of using more for the development were also discussed in Monday's meeting, July 18, 2016.
City council will talk more about the development agreement and hope to get some feedback from the public.