Another Public Celebration Planned for Bass Street Landing

Posted  11/10/2005

There is another reason to celebrate in the City of Moline! Building on the proven success of The MARK of the Quad Cities and the John Deere Commons, now comes Moline’s Bass Street Landing Phase II riverfront development.

In celebration of the completion of the Phase II construction, a public dedication will be held at 4:30 pm on Thursday, November 17, 2005, at the new Bass Street Landing plaza located at 17th Street and River Drive, Moline. At the event, the City of Moline and Renew Moline will dedicate a special monument to former Mayor Stan Leach. The public is invited to attend. Parking is available throughout the downtown area and in all adjacent lots.

The monument, which will be located in the fountain area of Bass Street Landing plaza, pays tribute to Mayor Leach for his efforts in leading the community in the revitalization and redevelopment of Moline’s historic downtown, and for his continued support of Renew Moline and the public-private partnership. Stan Leach served as Mayor of Moline from 1993 – 2005.

The monument was made possible through the generous contributions by these organizations: City of Moline, Deere & Co., The Dispatch/Rock Island Argus, Estes Company, Heart of America Restaurants & Inns, John Deere Commons Property Owner’s Group, Renew Moline, Inc., Ruhl & Ruhl Commercial, Shive-Hattery, Inc. Stoney Creek Inns, and Vandewalle & Associates.

This celebration and dedication event kicks off the grand opening celebration of the new Stoney Creek Inn.

“Bass Street Landing demonstrates the City’s strong commitment to providing public access to the riverfront,” said Mayor Don Welvaert. “This redevelopment will generate economic growth for the City of Moline, and the public improvements and amenities are sure to be enjoyed by future generations to come.”

“The development of Bass Street Landing is evidence of the private sector’s commitment and willingness to invest in the City of Moline,” said Tom Robinson, Chairman of the Board, RENEW Moline. “This project continues to build on the proven success of the public-private partnership that exists in Moline.”

More than $40 million in public and private dollars are being invested to redevelop the Bass Street Landing at the base of 17th Street along the riverfront. The development is being conducted in three phases.

Phase I construction included RiverStation a mixed-use riverfront development featuring retail, restaurant, office and housing space, along with the new $1.3 million public plaza. The plaza features a raised performance stage, fountain gateway with sculptures, outdoor seating and “string lighting” to illuminate the area at night. Also complete is the connector trail linking the Great River bike path along the Mississippi River.

Phase II construction, also complete, includes the new Stoney Creek Inn and Conference Center. Now open, the four story riverfront hotel feature 140 rooms and ten extended stay suites with kitchens. The conference center has the capacity for 450 – 500. Other Phase II improvements include completion of the access road that serves the City’s water plant, improvements to 2nd Avenue intersection, sidewalk along 2nd Avenue, and completion of 17th and 18th Streets.

Phase III of the project includes a unique townhouse and condominium development to be located north of the plaza and west of 17th Street, facing the Mississippi River. Construction is expected to begin shortly.