Construction is set to begin in the coming weeks on a $60 million project that will bring offices, luxury apartments, a sky bar and a grocery store to downtown Davenport.
Thursday, September 25, 2014, dozens of Davenport leaders met with developers Amrit and Amy Gill of Restoration St. Louis to kick off the redevelopment project, known as City Square.
"Oh, it is big. It's a lot bigger than the $60 million price tag," said Gill.
The project will rehab the iconic Putnam, Parker and Center buildings, which cover nearly the entire block of 2nd Street between Main and Brady. Built in 1910, the historic buildings will be restored and transformed into residential apartments, Class A office space, a grocery store, bistro and additional suites for the Hotel Blackhawk.
"There will be a sky bar where you can sit on the roof and look out across the river, and even have a wedding up there if you wanted to," said Gill.
In December, the City Council approved a development agreement for City Square. Since then, Gill says his team has been finishing the drawings, receiving bids, and should be closing on a construction loan in the next 8-9 weeks.
Construction could then begin within 10 to 12 weeks.
Aldermen say the project fits into the larger renaissance that is occurring downtown.
"I appreciate it when people who have been away for awhile from Davenport come back, and they tell me, 'This is unbelievable, the change.' It is a renaissance. If you think about it, probably in the history of Davenport, where have you seen $500 million worth of development both underway and projected to be in a seven year period? That's pretty spectacular," said third ward alderman Bill Boom.
And that transformation could bring business to the entire Quad City area.
"I think it will be another huge attractor. It adds more of the quality of infrastructure to our community that people come because they want to enjoy," said Tara Barney, president of the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce.
That project is slated for work in 2016 and 2017.