Davenport aldermen are prepared to offer an extension to the developer tasked with tearing down the old Dock restaurant.
Developer Todd Raufeisen has asked for an 11-week extension on demolition of the former Dock. He says the delay is due to Mayor Bill Gluba's veto of the project last summer, as well as additional design work that needs to be done.
Raufeisen plans to build a new, $12 million structure with three restaurants on the first floor, offices on the second, and banquet space on the third.
On Wednesday, April 1, 2015, a representative for Raufeisen told the City Council that the proposed building is now 100 percent leased, and that Raufeisen has applied for permits for asbestos abatement and demolition.
Despite the delays, Alderman Bill Boom said he remains confident that the project will become a reality.
"I have not seen anything to date that would indicate that he is not capable of doing this. Yes, there are always issue, past projects that these developers get crosswise on. We have been very careful in the way that we have crafted the development agreement and how we have crafted the additional time we're giving him now," said Boom.
Council members placed the extension on next week's consent agenda, and are expected to vote on April 8th.
Boom said the council is also requesting demolition bids, in case the project does not move forward.
In that situation, the city will remove the Dock with uncommitted downtown TIF bonds. Either way, the building will be demolished by the end of summer.