Ideas coming in for future use of Case/IH site in East Moline
Mayor John Thodos said Monday he's heard many proposals for the Case site and other locations that might work and others that are just far-fetched.
The idea of a barge terminal that could bring a couple hundred jobs was pitched to city officials in May for the Case site, Mayor Thodos said. The proposal is a nice idea, but financing the project would be difficult and it would take a while to get going, he said.
Barges would have cargo in large storage containers. Workers would move the storage containers to flat-bed trucks, which then would take the cargo to its destination, he explained.
A developer in the Chicago area pitched the idea of having an amusement park at the Case site. Mayor Thodos said he isn't sure if the idea will work.
The Sac and Fox Nation, based in Stroud, Okla., proposed having a grain terminal on the Case site, which could bring 45 to 60 jobs.
What do you think? Will they mess it up by thinking only short term and only in terms of jobs? Will they give away the farm to lure a developer? Or will they work to find a long-range use that both contributes to the riverfront as well as to the economy of the area?
posted by The Inside Dope @ 6/07/2005
2 comments
2 Comments:
Apparently I wasn't the only one in the world with the theme park idea. I was going to make a post on DDP unveiling my plan for a 100+ acre riverfront amusement park on the site, but apparently someone beat me to it.
When else are we going to have over a hundred acres of riverfront land coming available all at once? This seems like an excellent place for a regional theme park. We could easily draw from Dubuque, Iowa City, Peoria, Macomb, plus the roller coaster enthusiasts that will drive from anywhere to try out new parks. This could be another big addition to the growing tourism industry here. I am slightly biased though, as I myself am a roller coaster enthusiast.
QCI
I'm with you Diehard, though I agree we're probably dreaming. But what a golden opportunity for an actual substantial park within the city and along the river? Butterworth parkway is a gem, but with an acrage like that, the possibilities are enormous. There could be a lake, small amusements like minature golf or a go-kart track, gardens, gazebos, overlooks, the only limit would be imagination and of course, funding.
But under the Republican "starve the beast" era, cities are far too cash strapped to do anything that would cost large amounts rather than hopefully bring in income.
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