Land cleared for new MetroLINK facility
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By Dustin Lemmon | Monday, June 09, 2008 |
Three old buildings and one home are coming down near the Rock Island-Moline border this week to make room for a new MetroLINK maintenance facility.
MetroLINK is negotiating with LRC Developers to put a new building on the land east of International Harvester’s old Farmall Works plant, most of which was demolished earlier this year.
MetroLINK wants to expand, but its current building at 2929 5th Ave., Rock Island, is land locked by railroad tracks, the street and surrounding buildings.
Jon Christiansen, owner of LRC Developers, said attorneys are reviewing a possible agreement.
“It’s under very significant negotiations right now,” he said. “They could build any time. I guess the big thing there is whether the funding is available.”
John Phillips, Rock Island city manager, said the negotiations are going well and hopes an official announcement will come soon.
“The project is progressing, and we’re hoping the parties will be able to come together,” he said.
Jennifer Garrity, a spokeswoman for MetroLINK, said the organization has a master plan for the new facility with basic needs outlined but no final design is in place.
“It is something that does take some time,” she said of negotiations. “I don’t really have an answer as to when all of this will be finished.”
Garrity said MetroLINK hopes to receive $5 million to $10 million in state funding this year, which would go toward the $20 million to $25 million total cost for a new building. The proposed site has 11 acres, she said.
MetroLINK needs more space because one-third of its buses have to sit outside, and there is not enough room for all of their maintenance and fueling needs, Garrity said.
Among the buildings coming down is a former tavern at 4533 4th Ave., which was once the Bullpen and more recently Club Hpnotiq. The building has been empty for a few years.
Other buildings coming down are not as visible from the road but are still near Sylvan Island, Christiansen said.
Christiansen hopes to renovate a few remaining buildings and develop the land that was cleared west of LRC Developers. The property will be marketed for new commercial and residential growth in years to come, but Christiansen would like the new MetroLINK building to be the starting point.
“We’re waiting to get all of the buildings down before pursuing redevelopment,” he said.
Dustin Lemmon can be contacted at
(563) 383-2493 or dlemmon@qctimes.com.
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