Quad Cities or Des Moines? (Davenport: how much, employment, wage)

[mfrerkes]

Originally Posted by Go Ne

Err........... when did that happen? And what team?

The Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights. They played the 05-06 and 06-07 seasons in the AHL as Calgary's AAA affiliate. After two seasons, the Flames decided to pull out of Omaha's crowded hockey market (UNO Mavs, Omaha Lancers) and moved the team to the Quad Cities.

There was a big uproar in Omaha when it happened in May of 2007. The Calgary Flames made Ak-Sar-Ben buy back their share of the team so it could be moved to Moline.

[Go Ne]

Which side is larger? Iowa or Illinois?

And I didn't know that the Quad Cities had that going for them! Hopefully they can get more developments like this.

[Go Ne]

Originally Posted by mfrerkes

The Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights. They played the 05-06 and 06-07 seasons in the AHL as Calgary's AAA affiliate. After two seasons, the Flames decided to pull out of Omaha's crowded hockey market (UNO Mavs, Omaha Lancers) and moved the team to the Quad Cities.

There was a big uproar in Omaha when it happened in May of 2007. The Calgary Flames made Ak-Sar-Ben buy back their share of the team so it could be moved to Moline.

I see.............. oh well, the Quad Cities deserve some kind of Minor League sport.

[mfrerkes]

Originally Posted by Go Ne

I hope Davenport passes 100,000 by 2010. It really could help spur development in the area, oh, and I expect the 3 downtowns to eventually melt together because they are all so close.

As of July 2006, Davenport was 99,514. I wouldn't be at all surprised if Davenport is sitting at 100,000 as we speak. Maybe not much over 100,000...mind you...but I think it could already be there. I work on the northeast edge of Davenport, and there is quite a bit of residential construction going on up there, especially with apartments.

As far as the downtowns "melting together", the laws of physics prevent that from happening. Although Rock Island and Davenport's downtowns are adjacent, an obscure creek known as the Mississippi is preventing that melt from occuring. Moline's downtown is a couple miles upstream from Rock Island, so I foresee very little chance of those two melting as well.

[mfrerkes]

Originally Posted by Go Ne

I see.............. oh well, the Quad Cities deserve some kind of Minor League sport.

I felt kinda bad Omaha had to lose theirs in order for us to land the team. (My brother lives in Omaha.)

[Go Ne]

Originally Posted by mfrerkes

As of July 2006, Davenport was 99,514. I wouldn't be at all surprised if Davenport is sitting at 100,000 as we speak. Maybe not much over 100,000...mind you...but I think it could already be there. I work on the northeast edge of Davenport, and there is quite a bit of residential construction going on up there, especially with apartments.

As far as the downtowns "melting together", the laws of physics prevent that from happening. Although Rock Island and Davenport's downtowns are adjacent, an obscure creek known as the Mississippi is preventing that melt from occuring. Moline's downtown is a couple miles upstream from Rock Island, so I foresee very little chance of those two melting as well.

I meant becoming one downtown.

[Go Ne]

Originally Posted by mfrerkes

I felt kinda bad Omaha had to lose theirs in order for us to land the team. (My brother lives in Omaha.)

We still have the Lancers, I think we're fine.

[Go Ne]

Whats on the Rock Island? I could see that becoming a very nice residential area being so close to the downtowns , it would be awesome to see a skyline develop there too.

[mfrerkes]

Originally Posted by Go Ne

Whats on the Rock Island? I could see that becoming a very nice residential area being so close to the downtowns , it would be awesome to see a skyline develop there too.

Rock Island has some very elegant and historical mansions which have been restored over the last 15 years. There are numerous neighborhoods: Longview, KeyStone, Broadway, and my personal favorite, Highland Park , which feature a large number of fully rehabed mansions. The Tom Hanks character who appeared in "Road To Perdition" was actually based on John Looney, a Rock Island gangster who lived in the Highland Park district. For more reading: City of Rock Island - Neighborhoods


The "skylines" around the QC will probably always be modest, and quite honestly that's a good thing. Mother Nature has provided us with so many picturesque bluffs and valleys, that trying to shout her down with tall buildings might mess up the Feng Shui she has going on. The area has seen a few 12-15 story buildings go up during the last decade or so, but nothing that dominates the sky. Since there are large number of American Bald Eagles nesting around downtown Rock Island and Davenport over the winter, I rather like our combination of nature within modest urban trappings.

[Go Ne]

Originally Posted by mfrerkes

Rock Island has some very elegant and historical mansions which have been restored over the last 15 years. There are numerous neighborhoods: Longview, KeyStone, Broadway, and my personal favorite, Highland Park , which feature a large number of fully rehabed mansions. The Tom Hanks character who appeared in "Road To Perdition" was actually based on John Looney, a Rock Island gangster who lived in the Highland Park district. For more reading: City of Rock Island - Neighborhood

Not the city, the Island in the Mississippi.