Several years after plans for the former Case plant property in East Moline were first announced, some work will probably begin soon. Monday night the city council is expected to approve final plans for the 132 acre site, including a hotel, apartments, and retail and commercial space.
Partner and investor in Great River Development, former state senator Mike Jacobs, says local residents will soon start seeing a lot of activity.
"The new year will be kicked off with action. We're telling people today we're building - we have funding, we have our plans, and we have help from the city of East Moline - a great partner in the plan."
East Moline had earlier approved spending 4.2 million dollars for water, sewer, and storm sewer lines, plus roads and utilities.
One of the partners is Jeff Rappin, from Evergreen Real Estate Group in Chicago. He had never worked on any projects in the Quad Cities before this one.
"This is really something. This is really going to make a statement here that no one else is going to be able to do. And boy I do want to be a part of that."
Rappin plans to build hundreds of apartments, starting with about 100 units on the riverfront, just west of a new Hyatt Hotel. Eventually there could be at least 200 more, plus condominiums, senior units, and even assisted living.
The hotel and first apartments are expected to open in the the spring of 2018.
