Forum to open dialogue on development in Davenport

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By Doug Schorpp | Monday, March 10, 2008 |

Matt Flynn says a new forum meeting next week is simply an opportunity to gather the right people to better help Davenport grow.

“The forum is just that: getting people together ... a dialogue. We really need dialogue, with residents and the retail community,” said Flynn, a city planner. “The forum is by invitation only. But it is a public meeting and anybody is welcome. We want to treat it like a large focus group.”

Flynn is a city planner in the Community and Economic Development Department in the design center division. The city is initiating a regular monthly Developers Forum to be hosted by the Community and Economic Development Department. Those invited include builders, developers, real estate professionals and utility providers doing business in the city.

The first meeting is noon March 13 at the Design Center, 102 E. 2nd St., across the street from the Radisson Quad-City Plaza. Lunch will be provided.

“Developers and the city both want the same thing — a vibrant, attractive community that welcomes investment and growth,” said Pam Miner, community and economic development director for the city. “We need to more closely interact with each other in order to achieve this vision.”

They hope the forum will be used as a sounding board to air construction and development issues, to discuss proposed plans and ordinance changes, and provide feedback on how well the development review process works.

“Just opening a dialogue, getting people to get comfortable and see what issues they have out there,” Miner said. “We want them to respond to what is going on. We have an existing program, but if we are not doing what it is intended to do, we would like to know that, and to make changes that would work.”

She said there is an overall comprehensive plan, which includes new development plans for various areas. But she said her department also is involved in some smaller plans for redevelopment in existing business areas.

Currently, that involves the Brady-Harrison street corridor study. Later, that same approach to revamp and revitalize existing business districts will target western parts of Davenport and also Rockingham Road and Locust Street. “These are a more focused area study, looking at activities that need to happen to spur development,” she said.

Flynn said he came to Davenport from Champaign, Ill., where that city implemented a similar program that became successful.

“At our first meeting, we just want to hear from people we invited,” he said. “Is this worthwhile to do? From what I heard, people are excited about it. A lot are interested in having a first meeting to see where it might go. There are no objectives for the first meeting.

“In working with Pam Miner, she is interested in being more proactive in the community, building new relationships. City staff and elected officials have their perception of what the issues are.”

But he said people like developers, bankers and contractors have their own ideas and that is what the city hopes to glean from the meetings.

Doug Schorpp can be contacted at (563) 383-2292 or dschorpp@qctimes.com.

IF YOU GO

The first Davenport Developers Forum will be noon March 13 at the Design Center, 102 E. 2nd St., across the street from the Radisson Quad-City Plaza. Lunch will be provided.

For more information, contact Matt Flynn, Davenport city planner, at (563) 326-7743 or mflynn@ci.davenport.ia.us.