The Downtown Davenport Partnership (DDP) celebrated their accomplishments for fiscal year 2021 and highlighted future goals at is annual meeting Wednesday.
“While businesses have suffered immensely navigating through a gauntlet of trials this year, downtown Davenport once again showed its impressive capacity for resilience in 2020-2021,” said DDP Executive Director Kyle Carter.
Recent investments include:
- $27 million of new investments led to 14 new projects and 30 new or expanded businesses being completed June 2020 – July 2021.
- In addition, fifteen more projects make up $49 million of investment now under construction.
- $59 million of planned projects still are on the horizon.
- In all, more than $627 million has been invested in downtown projects since 2000.
After the COVID-19 pandemic thrust downtown businesses into survival mode, Carter said downtown’s focus has shifted toward recovery and growth. DDP provided COVID-19 resources through its affiliation with the Chamber as well as technical assistance funding.
“Downtown lost only a handful of businesses, and it actually saw a significant net-gain of new businesses in the face of a flood and global pandemic,” he said referencing the 2019 flood. “If that is not resilient, I don’t know what is. Challenges remain, but meaningful progress was made despite such an ever-shifting, difficult landscape.”
DDP, an affiliate of the Quad Cities Chamber, also celebrated the launch of the Quad Cities Community Partnership, which has led to increased coordination and communication among the Quad Cities Downtowns including Chamber-led organizations in Bettendorf and Rock Island.
“Our key regional placemaking goals can be tackled head-on by providing place-management services for more geographies around the region,” he said. “DDP and its preceding organizations have been in business improvement district management since the 1970s. We’re eager to help lend our expertise region-wide.”
Here are some of the successes discussed at DDP’s annual meeting for June 2020 – July 2021:
- Downtown Master Plan & Flood Study– In January, DDP unveiled a new downtown Strategic Master Plan created with WXY, an architecture, urban design and planning firm. The plan, completed in coordination with the City of Davenport, identified goals to make downtown Davenport a more sustainable, vibrant and inclusive destination. H.R. Green delivered its initial flood mitigation engineering report for Davenport’s nine-mile riverfront. DDP’s priority is to balance the city’s flood protection needs and maintain the riverfront as a vibrant destination.
- New investments and businesses – Highlighted projects completed this year include: the new Richard R. Bittner Downtown YMCA, arrival of divvyDOSE corporate office, and renovations of MidAmerican Energy Tower, Radisson Hotel and Main Street Library. Additional building renovation projects include: Miss Phay Café, Kitchen Brigade, Toasted, and the return of Raccoon Motel, Ragged Records and Trash Can Annie’s.
- Welcoming downtown & public safety - This spring, DDP launched its new Hospitality Ambassadors pilot program, whose ambassadors roam downtown’s streets to interact and assist visitors, residents and downtown employees as well as do provide community outreach and increased communication with stakeholders. DDP has also been proactive in projects promoting public safety including its involvement with the City of Davenport’s violent crime community task force.
- Complete Streets - The year saw renovation of Kaiserslautern Square and construction of Quinlan Court, installation of new downtown LED street lights, new snow removal policy and the 3rd Street streetscape project. Streetscaping on 2nd Street begins this fall.
- National Commercial Historic District Approved - DDP established the largest historic district to date downtown, the Commercial Historic District, which encompasses much of the downtown core. The designation will assist with gaining Historic Tax Credits for projects, as well as building value and tourism opportunities downtown.
- Grant assistance – DDP awarded five properties with a total of $59,000 in façade improvement grants, which leveraged $226,000 in private investment; and 10 downtown businesses with $55,000 in commercial interior improvement grants, which led to $1.3 million in private investments. DDP also launched a new grant program for events.
- Housing report – Downtown housing units reached a total of 1,536 this past year with another 233 units now under construction between Urbane 210, KAHL Lofts, 400 River, and an expansion of the Davenport Bank Building Apartments.
Looking ahead, Carter said “With a new downtown master, DDP is excited to begin implementing big ideas. From redevelopment of the Ground Transportation Center and former YMCA sites to traffic-calming and walkability, there is no shortage of improvements to push forward. Building an inclusive and welcoming environment is a top priority, too.”
In addition, a new pending entrepreneurial grant program will encourage startups and entrepreneurs, particularly minority and women-owned businesses, to locate downtown. DDP will continue to grow the downtown entrepreneurial ecosystem to support the sustainability of small businesses, by collaborating and partnering with others.
