$19M Riverwatch place project approved; Emerson Alley beautification underway; new business update

After a busy end to 2024 - Downtown Davenport looks forward to new development, businesses and aesthetic changes as we kick off the new year.

The $19M proposed Riverwatch Place project was approved for local incentives with developer Pete Stopulos planning to construct a new downtown hotel and mixed-use building at 227 LeClaire Street. 

Better known as the former Hojo site, or more recently, the empty slab of concrete lot near the Arsenal Bridge—this location is set to undergo a major transformation. The recently approved tax incentive package enables the proposed Riverwatch Place project to move to its next stage of planning and financing. The project would bring a welcome breath of fresh air to a challenging site our downtown master plan has been attempting to tackle for well over a decade. The incredible views of the river, Arsenal and roller dam at this site are unmatched in the Quad Cities; however, if it were easy, this would have been built a long time ago. There are a variety of unique challenges to this site, and I’m excited to see Pete’s enthusiasm to finally slay this dragon. Stay tuned – we’ll keep you posted as progress is made on the long journey ahead. 

As for new businesses, we’re thrilled to see both Envied Vintage Clothing Etc. and Supreme Legacy Barber open their doors downtown. You may recall Envied was a victim of the building collapse a couple of years ago, and I’m so happy to see Darien back on his feet at a WAY better location in the newly renovated Bucktown building. He’s got all kinds of cool stuff at his shiny new corner store with big windows and tall ceilings on 2^nd Street, but he’s got a particularly keen eye for vintage sportswear. I highly recommend if you’re digging for clothes with vintage team logos, etc. Meanwhile, Supreme Legacy Barber is bringing a whole new flavor to downtown by completely renovating the former Oh So Sweet space on Main Street. Owner and operator George Todd had more trophies than I could count adorning the walls of his shop and even has a killer pool table in the lobby. He’s a total pro, and his team is growing. Stop in and get a cut the next time you’re strolling down Main.

Last but not least, construction is finally wrapping up on the years-long planned project to beautify Emerson Alley from Iowa Street to Perry Street. The iron beams have all been installed, and decorative string lights and the archways celebrating the Motor Row & Bucktown history on this block will be installed in February. This significant placemaking investment by DDP will not only brighten the alley at night but also be a point of pride for the whole community. We’ll host a proper celebration when the weather turns and the arches are installed. 

Speaking of proper celebrations, we still plan to unveil a new and improved plaque celebrating our friend and mentor, Gene Meeker this spring in nearby Bechtel Park. More on that later this year, but if you read this far, that heads-up is my parting gift today.