Developer aims to alter Moline's skyline

xing · PostNov 06, 2007#12007-11-06T22:43+00:00

Developer aims to alter Moline's skyline

StoryDiscussionFont Size: Default font size Larger font size By Doug Schorpp | Thursday, September 27, 2007 | 3 comment(s)

Moline officials and Quad-City developer Rodney Blackwell announced plans this morning for a mixed-use high-rise that will complete the Bass Street Landing project in downtown Moline and could bring more than $50 million in investment to the community.

Renew Moline executive director Jim Bowman classified the news conference as “fairly significant in terms of jobs and investment.”

He and Blackwell confirmed Wednesday that Financial District Properties, a company owned by Blackwell, is the developer of the project.

Bowman said Blackwell has changed the “design and scope” of the building somewhat from his announcement made last spring about the project. Bowman said the high-rise could be up to 20 stories tall, which he said would make it the tallest building in Moline. In addition, he said the building would be “mixed-use, with luxury condominiums on the top floors, offices in the middle, and the lower levels, including ground level, will be retail.”

The building would be located at 17th Street and River Drive, just west of Stoney Creek Inn and north of the public plaza and the RiverStation building, which were part of the first two phases of the Bass Street Landing project.

“I haven’t run an economic impact (assessment) yet, but we will have regional economic impact, with jobs, capital investments, goods and services,” Bowman said. “Plus, it will provide further opportunities for other properties to be developed.

“This is the third phase of Bass Street Landing, which will put this development over $80 million. The first stage was RiverStation, at $7.5 million. Stoney Creek Inn was $12 million with the balance of public improvements at $9 million.”

Another potential participant in the development could be Moline-based Kone Inc., sources said.

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http://www.qctimes.com/articles/2007/09 ... 514770.txt

little egyptian · PostNov 06, 2007#22007-11-06T23:19+00:00

Wow, I was unaware of that in Moline. I haven't been there for a long time, but that is a substantial building. I sort of thought that lately the more significant development in the Quad Cities was happening on the Iowa side, but given the scope of this proposal, I might be wrong.

I love that it is right on the river. I wish we were building 20 story condo buildings right on the river in Saint Louis.

Guess, I will have to add another city to my list of weekend trips with the family.

southsidepride · PostNov 06, 2007#32007-11-06T23:22+00:00

I've never been to Moline but everytime I hear of it I think of this Onion article

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/33512

Bart Harley Jarvis · PostNov 07, 2007#42007-11-07T01:46+00:00

Little Egyptian wrote:I sort of thought that lately the more significant development in the Quad Cities was happening on the Iowa side, but given the scope of this proposal, I might be wrong.

Guess, I will have to add another city to my list of weekend trips with the family.

You are correct. Most (90%) of the development in the QC's is located in Iowa (53rd St/Elmore Ave in Davenport to be more precise). Most of the development is sprawl, however. Moline's riverfront has made very nice progress in the last 15 or so years since The Mark of the Quad Cities/iWireless center was constructed in 1993. The addition of John Deere Pavilion, a few hotels, and some restaurants only aided in the progression. There is a growing demand downtown for more unique shops & restaurants, and this 8-20 story tower will only help. If only Moline were able to get the LeClaire Hotel converted into condos 10 years ago, downtown might be progressing even more quickly.

shadrach · PostNov 07, 2007#52007-11-07T02:41+00:00

OT--I think the original plan of the I-255 extension was to continue north as controlled access on (US 67?) straight up through Jacksonville and on to the Quad Cities. Would love to connect STL to other small and midsize cities thus increasing our sphere of influence (SFX: evil laugh and wringing of hands)

Bart Harley Jarvis · PostNov 07, 2007#62007-11-07T02:56+00:00

shadrach wrote:OT--I think the original plan of the I-255 extension was to continue north as controlled access on (US 67?) straight up through Jacksonville and on to the Quad Cities. Would love to connect STL to other small and midsize cities thus increasing our sphere of influence (SFX: evil laugh and wringing of hands)

I've often thought the same thing while making the I-55 to I-155 to I-74 to I-474 back to I-74 to I-80 to get between STL & the QC's. Either make US 67 into I-37 (Would eventually hook up to the same interstate in Texas?) or with the proposed extension of I-64 along US 61 in Missouri up to Hannibal, keep it headed north along US 61. They could also head up 61 into Iowa, and then follow 218 into Iowa City and hit I-380, extending that to the north west to connect with I-35 somewhere to the south of Minneapolis. The only problems I see are that there is probably not much of a traffic demand to require such a useage of funding when there are thousands of more important projects. I'd rather see train service expanded across the state.

mill204 · PostNov 07, 2007#72007-11-07T04:13+00:00

ricke002 wrote:They could also head up 61 into Iowa, and then follow 218 into Iowa City and hit I-380, extending that to the north west to connect with I-35 somewhere to the south of Minneapolis.

That would be the Avenue of the Saints. I must say it is a most pleasant four lane highway all the way to I-35 in Mason City, Iowa. Missouri is set to finish the final 9 miles of the upgrade - the lone remaining 2 lane section - by June next year.

jmedwick · PostNov 07, 2007#82007-11-07T20:38+00:00

Makes me sad to hear that ^

shimmy · PostNov 08, 2007#92007-11-08T00:56+00:00

The building looks really neat. I've been meaning to get up to the quad cities for a long time now, but I've still never been there.

Bart Harley Jarvis · PostNov 08, 2007#102007-11-08T03:08+00:00

Shimmy wrote:The building looks really neat. I've been meaning to get up to the quad cities for a long time now, but I've still never been there.

You aren't really missing much, unless you love John Deere!! (Kidding aside, I love the Quad-Cities)

On a side note, I just saw this in the Moline Daily Dispatch today, thought it fit in well with the topic of this topic, as the two projects are 200 meters from each other

"A proposed residential and retail development in downtown Moline will allow renters to live and work in the same building...The building will include 69 residential units and 3,500 square feet of retail space. Estimated cost is $10 million."

Source

PostFeb 11, 2008#112008-02-11T03:09+00:00

It looks like downtown Moline is giving downtown St. Louis a run for its money in residential construction!

Last week, developer Mark Roemer proposed a plan for loft apartments at 1317-1321 5th Ave. He said he sees the need for more residential units downtown and wants to convert the building into 20 to 25 units.

(Story here)

Given Moline's 43k population, a growing demand for downtown living is pretty impressive, especially often negative small-timey Quad Cities. If you think the P-D user comments are bad, check out some of them on the Moline Daily Dispatch

hoganj300 · PostNov 26, 2008#122008-11-26T08:13+00:00

Hi, Im from the Illinois Quad Cities and I thought this discussion could use an update. The image above is the new rendering of the tower, which will be 18-20 stories.

The project got through a major roadblock a month ago with terms of a development agreement. Kone signed an 15 year lease in July, which guaranteed something had to be built.

Here is an recent story from the Quad City Times:

Kone high-rise construction ready to begin

By Doug Schorpp | Monday, November 17, 2008

It was cold and windy outside at Bass Street Landing Monday, but those taking part in the groundbreaking ceremony of the proposed Kone Centre in downtown Moline were undaunted.

It is a great day indeed,” Vance Tang, president and chief executive officer of Kone Corp., said. “This will be a landmark building.”

He said the planned structure reaffirms the company’s “commitment to maintain its strong corporate presence in the Quad-Cities and in Illinois.”

Kone will consolidate its existing administrative operations and Service Business Center, all to be located in the high-rise building that bears the company name. Other local operations will be preserved at its branch office in Moline and the escalator factory in Coal Valley, Ill.

Kone will be the anchor tenant, occupying floors three through 10. It could be up to 20 stories depending on the number of condominiums sold. Moline Mayor Don Welvaert said the minimum will be 18 floors with the maximum at 20.

The residential floors will be 3,000 to 4,000 square feet, said developer Rodney Blackwell, with one unit per floor. The project includes a parking structure for 260 vehicles, which will be operated by the developer, not the city.

The project includes a public viewing platform, an Internet cafe on the first floor and bar and restaurant on the second floor, Blackwell said. A fitness center and other retail are also being considered for those floors.

The local jobs retained will be in excess of 275. The overall job impact to Illinois — 312 — includes the recently established North American headquarters in Lisle, Ill., which was announced in March.

“Kone’s announcement today confirms their commitment to remain in Moline and the Quad-City area,” Welvaert said. “We worked diligently to secure all of the business assistance that was needed to make this important project happen.

“Today’s announcement could not have come at a better time,” he said, referring to difficult economic times across the country.

Carrie O’Neill, chairman of the Quad-City Development Group’s board of directors, called the announcement “truly an uplifting message.”

She said the payroll associated with with the retained jobs is more than $10 million annually and the total effect exceeds $12 million a year.

Plans call for Kone to consolidate its current Moline-based administrative and call center operations into the state-of-the-art high-rise building. The site, which represents phase three of the Bass Street Landing development project, is situated along the banks of the Mississippi River in downtown Moline. Kone will become the anchor tenant with signatory rights to the $40 million building.

Kone is one of the world’s leading elevator and escalator companies.

Actual construction will start after the winter season and finished by November 2010

shimmy · PostNov 26, 2008#132008-11-26T14:45+00:00

Nice building. I'm jealous.

framer · PostNov 27, 2008#142008-11-27T04:20+00:00

Makes sense that an elevator company would insist on being in a highrise.

jlblues · PostNov 27, 2008#152008-11-27T04:56+00:00

^They might even have some of those fancy new vertical elevators.

Bart Harley Jarvis · PostNov 27, 2008#162008-11-27T15:30+00:00

If it makes you feel any better about the new building, this is their current/soon to be old mark on the Moline skyline:

wabash · PostJan 15, 2009#172009-01-15T16:53+00:00

This building is eerily reminiscent of the Centene Tower: About 20 stories, all glass, first commercial tower in downtown in a long time, part of a larger new development.

The only differences are that Kone has signed a 15 year lease, they won't have to deal with a Ballpark Boondoggle, and it might actually happen. Great.