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Gold Coast Awarded “Great Places in America”

October 6, 2011 By

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

 

 

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Historic Preservation Ordinance Support

June 27, 2011 By

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.

 

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Gold Coast Grows with Grants

May 22, 2011 By

Many projects in the Gold Coast-Hamburg Historic District would never have reached fruition without the help of grants from various sources.  These grants have been welcomed and have run the financial gamut from $150 to $60,000.  Many of the grant projects have nudged other grant sources into matching funds.  The single largest contributor is thanks to the Riverboat Development Authority (RDA) and the results of their generosity is seen in the Gold Coast Park’s gazebo and stone wall, the Western Ave. Steps railing, and the decorative lights on Gaines St.  Since the instigation of the City of Davenport’s Community Partnership Program (CPP) grant program four years ago, the GC&HHDA has been the recipient of two grants that have also purchased and installed the decorative  LED lights on Gaines St.

Other grants have been awarded thanks to Alderman’s Beautification Funds, Quad City Homebuilders, Tri-City Garden Club and United Neighbors.  These are such projects as tree and flower plantings, walkways, the Western Ave. entry and other like projects.  Presently the GC&HHDA is applying for grant money for improvements to the Scott St. Steps area that will be similar to Western Ave.

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Gaines St. Lights Up

May 7, 2011 By

Up and down Gaines St. from Centennial Bridge to W. Locust St. the streets and boulevards are lighting up thanks to a group known as EGG. 

This project  includes the purchase and installation of new energy efficient LED decorative lights, over 80 flower beds, new trees plus the repair and updating of streets and sidewalks.

Edmund Gaines was a military man in the early 1800′s.  Gaines St. is named after him, and the acronym EGG stands for the Edmund Gaines Group.  This group consists of a group of representatives from a variety of civic and neighborhood organizations – from the City of Davenport and Scott County to the GC&HHDA , Quad City Chamber, German American Heritage Center, and St. Ambrose University, to name a portion of those involved.  The express purpose of EGG is the streetscaping of the Gaines St. Corridor.

In the 4+ years EGG has been meeting, resources for the lights have come from grants awarded by Riverboat Development Authority (RDA) and the City of Davenport’s Community Partnership Program (CPP).  Three blocks of the green shepherd’s hook design were installed in 2010, and two more blocks will be installed in 2011.  The ultimate goal is lighting through the corridor to W. Locust St.  The project will move as quickly as money is obtained for the purchase and installation of lights. 

Grant money for the flower beds has come through Alderman’s Beautification Funds, Community Foundation of Great River Bend, Scott County in Bloom and Scott County Regional  Authority.  Volunteers fill out the labor part of the project.

 The residents along Gaines St. are proud and thankful for the project “lighting up” the neighborhood and looking forward to the day when lights get to their block.  Gaines St. resident Ryan Berger says:  ”Driving up Gaines St. reminds me of the Netherlands with all of the blooming tulips.”

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Down Zoning

March 9, 2011 By

At the Feb. 19 2011 GC&HHDA meeting Dave Cordes presented information and led a discussion on down zoning. A portion of the district was down zoned approximately a dozen years ago, primarily to help bring homes back to single family status. This down zoning was accomplished mainly through the efforts of the GC&HHDA. Within the district, many pocket areas still remain in need of re-zoning, and again the GC&HHDA will be addressing these areas.

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Historic Preservation Ordinance

March 9, 2011 By

Presently Davenport’s Planning and Zoning Commission and ultimately the City Council is looking at its Historic Preservation Ordinance, and city staff is working on the proposed ordinance package. This process will have a direct effect on the Hamburg Historic District and its homes as well as other areas of the city. For further information about the ordinance and meeting dates, contact Matt Flynn, mflynn@ci.davenport.ia.us.

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