Davenport residents discuss new Portillo's coming to their neighborhood

Tonight, Davenport residents who live near the proposed site for the Portillo's coming to 53rd Street near Lorton Avenue.

While some say they're in favor of the new restaurant, they disapprove of the location.

Developers shared their proposed plan for the 6.5 acres Thursday. The plan addressed concerns with water runoff, lighting pollution, and additional noise. According to the plan the only way in or out of the development is through 53rd Street.

Developers and city officials did address traffic concerns, but residents are still skeptical. They say traffic on Lorton Avenue is already an issue and this could make it worse.

Courtney Wilson and her family live on Lorton Avenue. She tells TV6, "I'm concerned about the increase in traffic. There's a speed limit and they don't follow it, they're closing Fairhaven Road now and that will bring more traffic up Lorton, so I see that being a really big issue."

City officials told TV6 they hope Veterans Memorial Highway will alleviate some of that traffic. Developers say a traffic study is in the works now by the Traffic Impact Group.

City of Davenport officials say the second neighborhood meeting is June 19th.

UPDATE: NAI Ruhl Commercial Company released an artist rendering of the planned Portillo's.

UPDATE: 6th Ward Alderman sent TV-6 this response when we asked about traffic concerns in this part of Davenport:

"53rd is a busy corridor but Veterans Memorial Parkway will soon be relieving some of the pressure.

There are two planned access points on 53rd. There are two planned dedicated dedicated turn lanes, one from the east and one from the west at the Costco intersection stoplight. The second entrance is planned across the street fro the Costco gas pumps. There is a planned median in place."

The City of Davenport will hold a neighborhood meeting Thursday evening at 6 P.M. at the East Library to discuss this proposed

development.

UPDATE: The City of Davenport's Facebook page officially announced Wednesday that the city will be the first Portillo's site in the Quad Cities.

The project still has to be approved.

The Facebook post reads, "Chief Financial Officer and Assistant City Administrator Brandon Wright, a Chicago native, is excited to welcome a taste of home to Davenport, the site of the Quad-Cities’ first Portillo’s location.

A neighborhood meeting is Thursday for a re-zoning request for 6.5 acres, more or less, located along the south of East 53rd Street and east of Lorton Avenue from R-1 Low Density Dwelling District to Planned Development District for a commercial development that includes a Portillo’s. The zoning request includes a partial vacation of Fairhaven Road.

The site is directly south of the Costco that will open later this year.

Eighteen property owners within 200 feet of the proposal were notified of the neighborhood meeting that starts at 6 p.m. at the Davenport Library Eastern Avenue branch, 6000 Eastern Ave. A public hearing at the Planning and Zoning Commission will be June 19.

If approved, the project would bring the first Portillo’s to Iowa. The company currently has restaurants in seven states, according to the company’s website."

The City of Davenport's Facebook page is causing quite a bit of a stir after a post to their page Tuesday.

"What about this summer heat? Wouldn’t a shake with cake be the perfect afternoon treat?" the post asks.

The cup, which is strikingly similar to that of a Portillo's Restaurant cup immediately went viral in the Quad Cities having residents asking if, when and where it would be going.

Wednesday morning, the city posted another picture of a tasty hot dog from Portillo's Restaurant.

"Is it too early to start thinking about lunch? Brandon doesn't think so."

We have reached out to the city and hope to hear soon if there is a Portillo's coming. If and when they confirm anything with us, we will be updating this story.