A big riverfront development in Davenport has support of the majority of the Davenport City Council.
At the Monday, June 2, 2014 City Council Work Session, the Council discussed the Dock Redevelopment update and review.
Plans to knock down the former Dock Restaurant and build a new venue originally called for a space of 85,000 square feet. The Davenport City Council was in favor of that plan.
However, Hargreaves Associates, a marketing consultant hired by the City and the City’s Levee Improvement Commission were concerned the project might be too big, too tall, and too close to the river.
On Monday, developer Todd Raufeisen presented the council with new plans for the Dock of Davenport. The plans include a three-story building that is 37,916 square feet. The first floor will be three restaurants, the second floor will be office space, and the third floor will be a banquet room.
"So it will be there for weddings, special events, class reunions, large corporate gatherings, it will be a green roof. It will be truly spectacular, one of the best venues on the Mississippi River," said Raufeisen.
Mayor Gluba, the only one at the meeting with concerns, wanted to send the project back to the Levee Commission because he is concerned with the private portion of the project.
"Why use public property, park property for private development? It's a philosophical difference," said Gluba.
The rest of the Council was on board, wondering more about when the project could move forward.
"I'm in support of this, I think it's a good project," said Alderman Meeker.
Raufeisen says he hopes to have the project on the Council's agenda in the next few weeks.