Architecture has a vital role in helping to build a community. When we understand from the beginning of a project how it will impact the surrounding area, the question becomes how we can start planning for community benefit from the start.

We are thrilled to share that the City of East Moline has been awarded nearly $24 million to connect downtown, the Bend, and The Rust Belt. We are also excited to share that the City of Rock Island has been awarded $3 million for its Revitalizing Rock Island project; this is in addition to their State of Illinois grant for Arts Alley that was awarded in May.

Rock Island Grant

In addition to the East Moline grant, the City of Rock Island has been awarded a $3 million grant for downtown revitalization. This is part of the Rebuild Illinois Downtowns and Main Streets Capital Program, which awarded the maximum grant amount of $3 million to Rock Island. Streamline worked with the Quad Cities Chamber, the City of Rock Island, Quad City Arts, and a number of local and statewide partners to create the conceptual design for Downtown Rock Island’s revitalization.

The proposed $7 million project includes placemaking and streetscaping improvements throughout the core of the downtown Rock Island Historic District, roughly the area between 1st and 4th Avenues and 15th and 21st Streets. The project will renew weathered infrastructure and add decorative lighting, landscaping, signage, security cameras, parklets for outdoor dining, public art installations, and pop-up vendor stalls, among other amenities.

The proposed developments have been supported by the City of Rock Island with $2.5 million in ARPA funding and $1.5 million in TIF District funds, both committed to this project several months ago. The $3 million from the Capital Program grant is the final piece in the $7 million funding for this project. We are excited to have been at the ground level of this project to bring it to reality.

Here are a few of the exciting things residents and visitors of Rock Island can soon look forward to:

Reconstruction of the Great River Plaza (2nd Avenue pedestrian mall)
Activation of Arts Alley (1700 block of 2nd Avenue)
Gateway between the downtown business district and Schwiebert Riverfront Park (100 block of 18th Street)
New downtown dog park in partnership with Illinois Casualty Company (300 block of 21st Street)

Arts Alley

In addition to these exciting improvements, Rock Island will revitalize the public alleyway at 1719 2nd Avenue, otherwise known as Arts Alley, with the $267,181 grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).

“An enhanced Arts Alley will benefit all of Rock Island,” said Kevin Maynard, Executive Director, Quad City Arts. “It will boost civic pride and be the catalyst for a true revitalization of Downtown Rock Island by increasing foot traffic to surrounding downtown businesses, which will lead to increased interest in business locating in Rock Island and more events happening in Arts Alley.”

Planned projects include ornate signage, lighting, professional murals, interactive art installations, spaces for live performances and film screenings, new pavement, landscaping, and a heating component to make it accessible throughout the year. Rentable vendor stalls will also provide a platform for entrepreneurs and small business owners to sell their products during seasonal pop-up shop programs.

EAST MOLINE FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT

Though there are many factors that go into creating a sense of community, architecture can be a great tool to create environments where people want to convene. In 2017, local entrepreneur Larry Anderson hired Streamline Architects to kick off the master planning of downtown East Moline. Downtown East Moline has traditionally been known as an industrial park. We are thrilled to have been a part of the process to make use of the space again.

Since 2017, Streamline has partnered with Larry to design a number of buildings in The Bend development, including: The Rust Belt, the revival of the former Moline-Knight Automobile building; The Bend XPO; The Bend Apartments; The Bend Events Center; Combine Grill; and several retail spaces in the area coming soon.

To continue the development of this area and its surroundings, the City of East Moline will receive $23.7 million from the RAISE Grant. This funding will enable the completion of streetscaping on 15th Avenue from Sixth to 13th Street, 12th Avenue from First to Seventh Street, and Seventh Street from 15th to 12th Avenue. A new road and streetscape will extend from Third Street along Bend Boulevard to Sixth Avenue. This project will help revitalize and promote local economic growth in an area that has suffered due to a major decline in manufacturing in the 1980s.

The project will connect two brownfield redevelopment sites to downtown and make the area a destination for business, recreation, and entertainment with connections for vehicles, bikes, buses, trains, and boats to the commercial center.