Davenport's Gold Coast and Hamburg Historic District

GC-HHDA Feb. 2012 Meeting

PJ — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 14:57:34 +0000

A membership meeting of the GC-HHDA will be held Sat., Feb. 18, 2012 at the Davenport Police Station Community Room, 420 Harrison St. from 10am-noon.

June Cook Out

Danielle Stone — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 08:34:20 +0000

June 2 – Cook out

Details TBA

GC&HHDA Ice Cream Social

PJ — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 08:32:10 +0000

Sunday, July 15, 2012, time and venue TBA.

2012 Ice Cream Social

PJ — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 08:30:59 +0000

On Sunday, July 15, 2011 from 2-4 pm in Herington Park on Gaines St. the GC&HHDA will be sponsoring its annual Ice Cream Social. There will be ice cream, drinks, desserts and games provided in this setting with a shaded shelter area and lots of playground equipment. Thanks to Tanise Colvin for organizing this event. Davenport’s Mayor Gluba, Aldermen and other neighborhood groups have been invited so it’s a great chance to get to know not only people in the Gold Coast area but throughout the community.

2011 High Tea Cancelled

PJ — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 13:03:46 +0000

The annual High Tea has been cancelled due to unavailable host homes. We look forward to hosting teas in the future.

Gold Coast Awarded “Great Places in America”

PJ — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 05:48:30 +0000

The Gold Coast & Hamburg Historic District received a “Great Places in America” award for neighborhoods from the American Planning Association (APA) on Oct. 4, 2011 at a program at the Beiderbecke Inn, Western Ave. and 7th St. in Davenport, IA. For the past 5 years the APA has given national awards in the categories of streets, neighborhoods and public spaces. The Gold Coast is the first in Iowa to receive the neighborhood award, and is one of 10 neighborhoods in the nation to be named by APA in 2011.

David Wilwerding, AICP, President of the Iowa APA presented the award to Davenport Mayor Bill Gluba and PJ Slobojan, President of the Gold Coast-Hamburg Historic District Association. These awards hit such national media as USA Today, Forbes, NPR, the Bloomberg Report.

According the APA’s web site “APA’s flagship program celebrates places of exemplary character, quality, and planning. Places are selected annually and represent the gold standard in terms of having a true sense of place, cultural and historical interest, community involvement, and a vision for tomorrow. ”

Also, “APA Great Places offer better choices for where and how people work and live. They are enjoyable, safe, and desirable. They are places where people want to be – not only to visit, but to live and work every day. America’s truly great streets, neighborhoods and public spaces are defined by many criteria, including architectural features, accessibility, functionality, and community involvement.”

Please continue to check this web site for further information

http://www.planning.org/greatplaces/

http://www.wqad.com/videobeta/?watchId=3c7f1b88-eddf-45f1-9f7a-267099f85eaf

http://www.cityofdavenportiowa.com/egov/docs/1318011770879.htm

2011 Home Tour Great Success

PJ — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 16:31:34 +0000

The Gold Coast Tour of Sept. 24-25 2011 was a huge success. The 5 homes on the tour were spectacular and compliments were flowing. “One of the best I’ve been to…”; “I can’t imagine them (911 W. 7th St.) changing from a boarded up house to this in 2 years!”; “This is my first tour and I’m so impressed…”; “the magnitude of the brochures was awesome”; and on and on. Guests, homeowners and tour committee alike were all delighted with the tour. In spite of cloudy and sometimes rainy conditions, approximately 800 guests viewed the homes, the Jipp Center and the German American Heritage Center. This was an increase of approximately 200 people over the past few years of the tour.

Guests walked, drove or took the free bus from one house to the next in an area that spanned the Gold Coast boundaries. To add to the ambience there was live music at 614 W. 5th St. and area residents, Pam and Dennis LaRoque, sauntered the neighborhood in period costume. The brochures contained a complete history of the homes and original homeowners, and the newly revised Walking Tour Brochures were handed out.

Though a fund raiser Gold Coast residents see the annual home tour as an invitation to guests to view the wonderful homes in the historic district. Our thanks to homeowners DeAnna Walter and Rick Kimmel (614 W. 5th St.) Lois and Maurice Woods (604 Gaines St.), Mike Ryan (625 Scott St.), Judy and Jim Thomas (911 W. 7th St.), Laura and Jim Countryman (927 W. 8th St.); Our thanks also to over 70 volunteers from within and outside the neighborhood who helped to make this a success. And our thanks go to the brochure advertisers who continually support the Gold Coast. Home tour committee members were Sara Bartholomew, Marion Meginnis, PJ Slobojan.

Scott St. Project Plans

PJ — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 16:07:33 +0000

The Gold Coast bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River present a unique setting for walks, steps, and lighting. Previously the Gold Coast & Hamburg Historic District Association (GC&HHDA) has been instrumental in the planning and fund raising for the Ripley St. and the Western Ave. streets and steps. These areas have been adorned with decorative lighting, period railings and entries and plantings. The Scott St. hill is now the focus for a further similar project.

The first phase of the Scott St. Hill project is the entry at the top of the steps at the alley between W. 6th and W. 7th St. The entry will be a decorative concrete base designed as limestone topped by a period iron railing. Though similar to the Western Ave. entry, the base and railing will be shorter and wider because of the topography of the area. Also, no arch will be included.

Funding totalling approximately $8000 for the Scott St. entry project is thanks to Davenport Alderman’s Beautification Funds, United Neighbors and GC&HHDA. The project is expected to be completed in 2011 with Kelly Construction building the base and Boyler’s manufacturing the railing. GC&HHDA member Mike Ryan is in charge of the project.

Cookout a Success

PJ — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 13:34:31 +0000

Despite the rain approximately 30 neighbors gathered for a cookout Sat. June 25, 2011 at 729 Western Ave. Hardy souls are used to the rain as the same thing happened last year! In spite of the dampness a great time was had with lots of good food, music and conversation.

Historic Preservation Ordinance Support

PJ — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 10:04:45 +0000

The GC&HHDA voted and resolved to support of the Davenport Historic Preservation Ordinance proposal at a meeting held June 25, 2011. The proposed changes in the existing ordinance would strengthen the penalties for willful demolition, clarify the role of Davenport City Council in the appeal process, achieve consistency with National Parks Service language for Historic Preservation, clarify the demolition process and the Certificate of Appropriateness. The resolution is as follows:

Because, the Gold Coast and Hamburg Historic District Association supports the preservation of Davenport’s built heritage,

And, because we support that the preservation of historic buildings and neighborhoods to improve the quality of life, encourage private investment, and generally enhance the economic viability of the entire city,

And, because we believe the proposed changes to the historic preservation ordinance will improve and clarify numerous portions of the existing ordinance that are confusing and unclear,

We hereby resolve, that The Gold Coast and Hamburg Historic District Association strongly supports the proposed changes to the Davenport Historic Preservation Ordinance and we strongly urge all of the Davenport City Council members to support the adoption of this amended ordinance by voting “YES” on this issue.

The GC&HHDA will actively pursue the passage of the proposal through petitions, letters and attendance at Davenport City Council meetings. Further discussions of the proposed changes at Council will likely be held in early August 2011. For further information or how you can help contact davidcordes@gmail.com or pjs312@q.com.