The effort to open a land-based casino in Davenport has moved ahead one important step. Today the Riverboat Development Authority which owns the license for the Rhythm City casino, approved a development agreement with Dan Kehl. He is the owner of the Riverside Casino and Golf Resort, near Iowa City. His site is in north Davenport, along Veterans Parkway and just east of the Von Maur headquarters.
Kehl says the 110 million dollar project would include a casino and hotel, a second hotel, and retail space. That would be phase 1, on 123 acres, with additional development possible in the future on an adjacent 63 acres of land.
"We're going to get phase one completed then phase 2 and 3 will depend on how the market develops. I'm not one who follows the developers' creed of promising the moon and hope all the pieces fall in place. I'm going to do what we say we can do."
Now that the RDA has approved this agreement, Kehl can complete talks with Rhythm City owner, Isle of Capri. Then he'll have to talk with the city, and finally win approval from the Iowa Racing and Gaming Board.
City officials are also considering a competing proposal from local property developer Rodney Blackwell and a company based in Canada, Clairvest Group.