Latest news with #RockIslandCityCouncil
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
QC Farmers Market moves to downtown Rock Island
The QC Farmers' Market is moving – just a few blocks, to downtown Rock Island this season. The Rock Island City Council approved a weekly use of the newly renovated 1800 block of 2nd Avenue for the expanding homegrown, food-focused market on May 19. Ald. Dylan Parker, 5th Ward, said moving the market from Schwiebert Park is a major milestone for the Rebuild Downtown Rock Island Project and revitalization efforts. 'This once-in-a-generation investment by the City has revitalized our downtown infrastructure and public spaces, and the arrival of the farmers' market will inject even more vibrancy and energy into this renewed area,' said Parker, who's also the community representative on the QC Farmers' Market Board of Directors. 'It's a fantastic synergy that will bring increased foot traffic, benefiting our local businesses and making the market more accessible.' The market will run from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. every Saturday from May 31-October 25 on the new 'festival street' that will close to vehicle traffic during the market's hours of operation. The new pedestrian-oriented, event-friendly street features improvements like curbless 28-foot-wide sidewalks; pop-up bollards for seamless routine road closures; decorative lighting and landscaping; public art; bench seating and uniform patio areas for adjacent businesses. Free parking is available in adjacent lots and on the street surrounding the market venue. Several bike racks are in the general vicinity. 'We are thrilled to partner with the City and Downtown Alliance to make this move into downtown Rock Island, in the beautifully renovated space on 2nd Avenue,' said Ian Forslund, founder and chair of the QC Farmers' Market Board of Directors. The market has been operating in Schwiebert Riverfront Park since 2021. Over 20 vendors based within 50 miles of downtown Rock Island have items for sale, including produce, meat, eggs, dairy, honey, flowers, garden plants, baked goods and more. Many vendors already supply food for downtown restaurants, including NEST Café and QC Coffee and Pancake House. 'Multiple opportunities arise for the farmers, downtown, market visitors and businesses on and close to 2nd Avenue,' said Jon Keim, owner of Huckleberry's Great Pizza and Calzones, 223 18th Street 'We are looking forward to purchasing from the farmers, creating meals from the locally grown products and growing our business alongside the QC Farmers' Market.' Market patrons and visitors to the new location will find additional seating and yard games on the new green lawn right next to the festival street. The Downtown Alliance will host a special event called Second Saturdays on 2nd Avenue during market hours once a month, from June through October, featuring free live music and family-friendly activities. Activities and artists will be announced at a later time. 'This is exactly the type of consistent program and activity we planned for when dreaming up this new shared space for the community,' said Jack Cullen, executive director of the Downtown Alliance. 'We are eager to offer more reasons for people to explore downtown and all it has to offer on a regular basis, and we hope this partnership with the QC Farmers' Market motivates people to make us part of their weekend ritual.' The last parts of the Rebuild Downtown Project include installing sidewalk patios outside of five restaurants and reconstructing the 3rd Avenue and 19th Street intersection, which is expected to be completed in June. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rock Island proposes compromise for Milan Bottoms development
Mayor Mike Thoms held a news conference Friday about a controversial proposed development near the Milan Bottoms wetlands area. The city has created a task force to help maintain conservation for the site. Meanwhile, the city wants to expand an already-existing TIF – Tax Increment Financing – district to include more property where the dispensary and truck stop are proposed. 'The mayor was pretty explicit in saying that we're going to proceed with this development, but at the same time, also proceed with trying to create a permanent conservation easement on the wetland behind the site,' said Jon Duyvejonck, a member of the Sierra Club Eagle View Group. 'So we kind of agree to disagree. So there are still environmental steps to be taken to approve this project.' The Rock Island City Council will vote to approve the easement on Monday. One part of the compromise would be maintain a tree line between the development and the wetlands to help block some of the light and noise. 'We must strive to balance the city's need for economic development with the environment, environmental conservation, which I believe can be hand-in-hand,' said Thoms. 'The city is committed to economic development while protecting our natural resources.' Thoms also announced that a groundbreaking for the project is planned for next month. 'I think it's kind of premature to do that, but then again, a lot of the groundbreakings I've been a part of are just kind of a formal thing,' said Duyvejonck. Duyvejonck says some activists plan to attend Monday's city council meeting to discuss holding off on plans for the TIF to make time for more environmental surveys. What is a TIF district? A TIF is a tool municipalities can use to spur economic development in certain areas by designating them as eligible to use an increase in property tax revenue generated by new development within those areas to fund projects and improvements. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
