Unlike many of its peer cities, Davenport did not build a levee wall along the river. On the one hand, that means that the downtown has views to the Mississippi River. On the other hand, any new development must guard against the impacts of flooding. In Davenport, the relationship to the water is more intimate, as the space between them is occupied by a gradual slope, an active rail line and acres of surface parking.
In response to these dynamics, our role was to evaluate the development potential for a site along the river and within an open space Master Plan (led by Hargreaves Associates). Buildings located within the flood plain must either anticipate being inaccessible for extended periods of time or be constructed in a manner that allows the building to function normally during periods of rising water levels. The development parameters for the site took into account the park design and leveraged the programming opportunities associated with new development. A range of development scenarios were right-sized to the local economy and costs of construction.
Development partners are being sought for the key riverfront site and fundraising has begun for the park’s implementation.
- Hargreaves Associates
- Solis Russel
- Hunden Strategic Partners
City of Davenport
Downtown Riverfront Interface
In order to address the site’s constraints and guide new development, eight design principles were established to shepherd any development forward on the site of the former Dock Restaurant and American Legion Building.
Three development scenarios helped to meet the stated objectives of a signature site on “one of the most memorable pieces of real estate on the Mississippi River”.