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State of the City Last week we were the host club for the annual State of the City Address by the City of Moline Staff at the iWireless Center. The event was well attended, and the presentation was particularly well put together and interesting this year. Our own club president, Tim Smith, kicked off the meeting and handed it over to Mayor Scott Raes, and Moline's Planning and Development Director, Ray Forsythe for the extensive presentation. The City of Moline has several major projects already underway, and many more in the works in the near future. Highlights of the presentation were: - I-74 Bridge: The perennial I-74 bridge update shows the project finally getting down to business. Work on the actual structure will start this year with the pouring of the massive footings in the river. The bridge is fully funded, bids are being let for the various construction phases, and real progress should start to show real soon. One small fact that is hard to get your head around: the new bridge's arches will rise 84-feet higher than the top of the current bridge! - John Deere Road: Progress is being made and the next two years will see a lot of construction activity in the corridor as this major thoroughfare is widened to 3 lanes and every intersection gets improved. - The Q: Building and remodeling is under way on the Q. With the old O'Roark building at its core, the Q will be adding new retail, public meeting space in a 2-story Grand Hall, and an Element Hotel to the Chicago to Moline train station. - Fifth Avenue Building: Heart of America plans to turn the proud Moline landmark into the area's first 5-star hotel. - Chase Bank Building: Renovations continue to convert the once busy office building into much needed downtown housing with 31 market-rate apartments. - Dolan development on Avenue of the Cities: The corner of AoC and 27th Street will soon become the site of new retail shopping and apartment living. - Speigel Building: Will become housing and first floor retail, and is the first project in what will be newly created riverfront property when the old I-74 bridge and supporting structures are removed. - New eateries on the way: Olive Garden, Popeye's Chicken, and Panda Express are all on the way to the John Deere Road corridor. There was so much more. Moline is on the move, and the future looks bright! |
