Plans for the old Menards store in Moline are now officially underway. The building has been empty for about five months, but it should not be that way for long. City leaders said the big space has big potential and ever since Menards moved, they have been working to make the most of what the building and its location has to offer.
"It's a pretty successful development as far as bringing traffic and retails sales for the city," Planning and Development Director Ray Forsythe said.
However, filling the old Menards building with more stores, Forsythe said, would make the area an even bigger money maker. He said the shopping hub has already grown over the years with Hy-veer coming in and Target's expansion and this is the next step.
"It's a tough environment out there lending wise and retail wise, a lot of things have changed in the last few years and to have interest in a property like this a huge opportunity."
Forsythe said a developer from the Chicago area plans on buying the building and turning it into a space big enough for four different retailers. He said it's a multi-million dollar project that will include renovating the building, tearing down the lumberyard and garden center, and adding on.
"Another interesting part of the development is that they are new retailers to the Illinois side of the Quad Cities."
While Forsythe said he's not sure exactly which retailers will be moving in, we do know Hobby Lobby is a possibility. There is a store in Davenport now. But Forsythe said some potential tenants will be new to the entire Quad City area, which could attract shoppers who don't live nearby.
"Instead of people traveling to Iowa, Iowans may travel to Illinois to shop."
Forsythe said that is something the city has been striving for and this development, along with the one by the new Menards store, should help.
"It's an exciting time and hopefully we are providing new job opportunities and retail opportunities."
The Moline city council was supposed to talk about the plans for the building Tuesday night, but because they are still waiting on a signed contract from the developer, that discussion has been moved to next week. City leaders said they hope to release even more new information about the project then. The city is offering incentives to the developer, but city leaders would not talk about exactly what those include. Meanwhile, the renovation of the old Menards building is not the only new development Moline is working on.
"We are starting the TIF process for 3 new projects. Genesis and 41st Street, 150 and 6 near the Airport and also SouthPark Mall. In the next couple of weeks you will start to see more action."
Forsythe said the Genesis project includes a new medical complex. Meanwhile, a piece of land on the corner of US 150 and US 6, by the airport, is set to be developed for commercial use. There have been numerous talks between the city and the owners of SouthPark Mall as well. The two have been brain storming ways to use the TIF funding to bring in new businesses and rejuvenate that area.
