Neighbors of a proposed Davenport casino are mounting a fight against the plans.
The City Council held a public hearing Wednesday, October 8, 2014, on the proposal to rezone 108 acres of land at the intersection of Interstate 74 and Interstate 80. Developer Dan Kehl plans to build a new, land-based Rhythm City on the property, with an entertainment complex surrounding the seven-story casino.
Just south of the proposed site, though, sits the Jersey Farms subdivision.
Residents like Mark and Becky Hausmann said they never expected a project of this size would be built next door.
"Now we're going to have this huge, honkin', seven-story casino/hotel, not to mention the water park and all the other stuff they're going after. So it's just becoming this nightmarish little fiasco that's occurred in our area," said Mark.
Dozens of the Hausmann's neighbors packed the council chambers Wednesday night, all of them expressing concerns like traffic, noise, and a lack of easy access to the casino from the interstate.
"Virtually everyone's pretty upset. Everyone's worried about their home values, and just being able to sell them," said Becky.
Representatives of the developer say those worries are an overreaction, and that the closest residence is actually half a mile away from the proposed casino. Supporters believe the $110 million project would be good for the whole city.
"It's certainly going to create a significant amount of mass in terms of bringing people into the community, and I think it's a perfect location for that," said Mo Hyder, general manager of Rhythm City.
No vote was taken on the rezoning issue Wednesday night.
The first vote was expected on October 22, 2014.