Columbia Park

Columbia Park Plan

A blueprint for reuse and renewal of the Quad City Industrial Center.

The vision for the QCIC site creates Columbia Park, so named for the original land plot of the area.  This mixed-use development capitalizes on its river location by providing the city's only river-oriented housing and integrating it with commercial and recreational opportunities.    

Short-Term 10-Year Development Concept

• Selective demolition by LRC Developers of the eastern end of the Quad City Industrial Center (QCIC) property.
• Demolition by the City of Rock Island of the former Farmall power plant and other accessory buildings located on land owned by Navistar that will be transferred to the City of Rock Island.
• Completion of the Sylvan Slough Natural Area.
• New streets and uses on the QCIC site - to include high-density residential, mixed use, commercial, recreational, community center and adaptive reuse.
• Promote mixed use, neighborhood services and medium density residential between 6th and 7th Avenues from 38th Street to the east.
• Implement elements of the Parkway Plan - create an entry feature at the City line, linear park along 7th Avenue, reducing the number of travel lanes on both 6th and 7th Avenues.
• Change 6th and 7th Avenues to two-way traffic.
• Landscaped berm to separate the railroad tracks from the new neighborhood.
• Columbia Park Short-Term Concept.pdf

Long-Term Development Concept

• Retain McLaughlin Body's jobs, operation and investment as a first priority or demolish the western portion of the QCIC property - dependent on McLaughlin Body's negotiations with LRC Developers.
• Create medium density housing.
• Promote mixed-use development at the corner of 30th Street and 5th Avenue.
• Develop an entry feature at 30th Street into the Columbia Park area with a bridge over the railroad tracks.
• Continue the landscaped buffer along the north side of 5th Avenue towards the Rock Island Lines Depot (Abbey Station).
• Establish a technical / office complex at the western end of the property.
• Develop a natural woodland park in conjunction with the Quad City Botanical Center.
• Columbia Park Long-Term Concept.pdf

To review the complete plan click here.