Davenport’s Hilltop Campus Village in Transition with New Boss, Many Projects
Thousands of runners who braved the scorching heat early Saturday, July 24 for the Bix 7 race got a glimpse of the heart of the Hilltop Campus Village (HCV) in Davenport.
Though they likely did not stop then for a stirring jolt of coffee or admire some of the area’s striking architecture, Scott Tunnicliff and Molly
Molly Otting Carlson will start as new HCV executive director on Aug. 2.
Otting Carlson certainly hope they’ll be back soon to take in all the area has to offer.
Tunnicliff – an avuncular, dedicated 66-year-old economic development leader – recently retired as the first HCV director in its 12-year history. Carlson, a 52-year-old Davenport native, left her job as a vice president at Visit Quad Cities to take the reins of the nonprofit (and only Main Street Iowa organization in Scott County) as of Aug. 2.
“Narrowing the field was a difficult process,” said Kelly Young of Russell Development and a key member of the search committee for a new Hilltop leader, the only paid staff for the group. “We interviewed five finalists and utilized a matrix that was developed with technical assistance from Main Street Iowa.”
“We knew replacing Scott would present a challenge,” added Robert Lee, HCV board president, “and felt this was an opportunity to build on what he was able to accomplish with partnerships and volunteers
Scott Tunnicliff was named first director of Hilltop Campus Village in 2009 after serving as CEO of the Bettendorf Chamber of Commerce.
since the HCV began in 2009.”
Carlson comes to the HCV with a wealth of experience in non-profits and associations, most recently as vice president for destination development and visitor services with Visit Quad Cities, a position she held for nearly seven years. Previously, she worked for Junior Achievement of the Heartland as development director about two years, and as director of membership and strategic planning for the Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association in Chicago for nearly 12 years.
“Molly Otting Carlson is a proven and thoughtful community leader and will serve the Hilltop Campus Village very well,” said Dave Herrell, President/CEO of Visit Quad Cities. “On behalf of our team, we look forward to working with her in this new role as we share a common goal of seeing our neighborhoods flourish and continually add value to the regional destination.”
“I believe small business is about something more than just food, drink, or shopping — it’s social interaction,” Carlson said. “I’m excited to lead the HCV’s continued revitalization efforts. When an area has unique options, a neighborhood thrives and becomes a place where people want to live, work, play and visit.”
“A great deal has been accomplished since the HCV’s founding, thanks to our volunteers, our working partnerships and support from Main Street Iowa,” said Tunnicliff, who came to HCV after serving as CEO of the Bettendorf Chamber of Commerce. “There are some important projects going forward right now, but it doesn’t make sense to wait for a lull in the action to hand the reins to someone else.”
An HCV logo features The Brewed Book, left, Ficke Mansion and Redband Coffee.
“Scott’s experience in community and economic development has been a tremendous asset to the Hilltop Campus Village, as has his ability to connect with people and develop solid working relationship,” HCV board president Robert Lee said before his retirement.
Jim Engle, director of the Iowa Downtown Resource Center, said that Tunnicliff has been a steady influence on Hilltop Campus Village. The area includes St. Ambrose University and is bounded by 5th Street on the south, Scott Street (and Gaines on campus) on the west, Lombard to the north and LeClaire Street on the east.
“He has been a terrific promoter of the district and I will always remember him for his tenacious efforts to get development projects done,” Engle said of the HCV director. “Plus, his support of our statewide Main Street efforts has been so important to us. He has made a genuine difference.”
Hilltop Campus Village is a Main Street Iowa urban commercial district, re-establishing itself as a vibrant area offering culture, education, shopping, dining and entertainment.
The preservation of historic properties, together with the improvement of buildings, redevelopment of vacant sites and upgrading of
The Ficke Mansion at 1208 Main St., Davenport, was built in 1881 and owned by former mayor Charles August Ficke (1850-1931).
infrastructure are making the district more attractive, secure and livable, helping to restore civic pride in the area and in surrounding neighborhoods, according to the group website, hilltopcampusvillage.org.
Through interactive partnerships and the help of committed volunteers, the HCV district is attracting and retaining a diverse population, making it more financially stable and sustainable, and helping businesses and organizations create employment opportunities, the site says.
In addition to its unique commercial offerings, its educational, cultural and religious institutions make it a destination within walking and biking distance for students, residents and visitors.
Michael Wagler, Main Street Iowa’s state coordinator, said: “Scott’s work with the Hilltop district, program, and volunteers has been transformative to the future trajectory of the Hilltop Campus Village area. His professional experience and personal character has helped forge partnerships and relationships with the community that will be foundations for future success in the district.”
“A lot of wonderful things have happened over the past decade – Harrison Loft Apartments, Brenton Lofts, our Urban Gardens, the Brewed Book, and lots of other small businesses adding to our amenity base – all told over $100 million in restoration, redevelopment and reinvestment,” Tunnicliff said.
“But it would be wrong of me to try and take credit for any of the many projects that have taken place; they are the result of people recognizing opportunities presented to them, and moving forward with vision.”
“Right now, great things are happening in the Hilltop Campus Village,” added Ted Galvin, chair of the HCV Economic Development Committee.
Creating greater awareness
Chris Meyer, an eight-year board member and 2000 alumnus of Davenport Central, has been concerned with houses torn down in the area by Genesis and Palmer, but praised HCV for being vital in raising awareness about the district in the first place.
“We still run into that,” Meyer said of people who haven’t heard of the Hilltop. “I point out all the purple signs in the area. In general, people
The Thai restaurant Miss Phay Cafe opened last year at 512 Brady St., Davenport.
are more likely to have some idea of what we are than in the beginning. We’re trying to get to a point where they don’t associate it with crime, danger, which is not an accurate association anyway. Downtown, I feel, has overcome that.”
“Our goal is to make sure we’re not just a pass-through between the riverfront and Eldridge,” Tunnicliff said.
“Downtown doesn’t want a donut of disinvestment around them, that people drive through and lock their doors and get through as quick as they can to get to the fun stuff,” Meyer said, noting historic buildings and homes add to the unique character of the neighborhood.
If they’re torn down, “it stops feeling like a unique, cool, historic area,” he said. Meyer was very impressed with how The Brewed Book (coffee shop and bookstore at 1524 Harrison) adapted its historic building (from around the turn of the 20th century) in late 2017, and now is a popular destination.
“It’s such a good ambience,” he said. “They lost the historic cornice to the building, but they replaced it with one of the gems of the Hilltop.
Tunnicliff in the Hilltop Campus Village offices on his last day, July 23.
It’s a more modern style, but I like the mixture.”
Tunnicliff took the helm of HCV in August 2009, when it was first organized, becoming its first director. He has worked for 35 years in the fields of community and economic development, mostly in the Q-C area.
As part of Main Street Iowa, HCV is among over 50 communities in Iowa connected to a network of 40 programs across the country, representing over 1,200 communities.
Using the Main Street approach, communities capitalize on the unique identity, assets and character of their historic commercial districts. The Main Street Approach consists of tightly integrated components making up a common-sense, strategy-driven framework that guides community-based downtown revitalization efforts, according to www.iowaeda.com/main-street-iowa/.
He came to HCV after heading the Bettendorf Chamber of Commerce for nearly 12 years, until 2007. Tunnicliff also worked for the former Quad City Development Group and the Ottumwa (Iowa) Area Economic Development Corp. He became a licensed wealth manager in 2008.
Carlson comes to HCV after working as Visit Quad Cities vice president for destination management and visitor services for seven years.
“I wanted to go back to the economic development bandstand, stay in the area, and this opportunity presented itself in 2009,” he said of HCV.
It was exciting to start with a new organization, with technical assistance from Main Street Iowa, Tunnicliff said. Each affiliate has four working groups (10-12 volunteers each) that address design, organization, economic vitality and promotion. “We have a lot of different supporting partnerships,” he said. “We’re closely aligned with houses of worship, because we have so many cool, historic churches.”
Main Street Iowa not only provides technical assistance, but access to additional resources such as how and where to apply for grants, and expertise on what’s worked in other groups across the state. HCV has portions of four historic districts within its boundaries – Hamburg, Cork Hill, Vander Veer and College Square.
“We’ve had some good examples of preservation, of renovations and re-use,” Tunnicliff said. “That’s really what it’s been about.”
The Priester building is being converted from offices to apartments. “We’re always trying to improve the existing structures,” he said. “I’m trying to market the stuff that’s available now. We’re not in the position to buy any buildings. We’re trying to tell people that they’re available; that they’d really be cool as an X.”
There is a Hilltop Business Association, which is a membership group representing commercial interests, but is not a 501c3 nonprofit, and cannot solicit grants or donations like HCV does. The association – with the city, St. Ambrose University and Palmer College – applied to Main Street Iowa to incorporate the HCV as a nonprofit Main Street affiliate.
The two organizations don’t duplicate efforts, with separate boards. The main mission of HCV is marketing, promotion and historic preservation, Tunnicliff said. Hilltop is not a membership organization, and anyone can be part of it – regardless of where they live and what their background is. About half of HCV volunteers live outside the area, with many working in the district, he said.
“We have people on the Illinois side,” Tunnicliff said. “It’s like I can volunteer to help the Broadway District in Rock Island.”
The HCV offices are in a former Ascentra credit union at 122 E. 15th St., Davenport.
The annual budget is about $102,000, with $30,000 coming from the Self-Supporting Municipal Improvement District (SSMID) tax on property owners; $10,000 from the city, $11,000 each from Palmer and SAU, as well as grants and donations.
The HCV got a good deal of pandemic-related funding in the past year, including from the Quad Cities Community Foundation, to develop marketing material.
Ascentra Credit Union had allowed HCV to operate rent-free over four years, and this past May gifted the group the building. There’s a capital campaign underway to raise money for renovation and remodeling (including resurfacing the parking lot), to turn it into less a former credit union and more a conference and research center, with offices available for small business startups and minority-owned businesses.
“We had to look harder for funding this past year, because a lot of the funding was not available,” Tunnicliff said. “A lot of other Main Streets across the state were having a hard time, because businesses were closing and they were membership-driven organizations. A lot of them lost membership.”
Not a lot of Main Street Iowa groups have a SSMID to draw from, or are a registered nonprofit, he said. “Everybody has the mission of revitalizing their downtown or commercial districts,” Tunnicliff said, noting there are 14 board members.
Surviving the pandemic
In many ways, the Hilltop Campus Village was more fortunate than most Main Street districts during the Covid pandemic, Tunnicliff wrote in a year-end summary to the city recently. Many districts are dependent upon small businesses for membership dues (HCV “membership” is open to any individual wishing to be involved) and fundraising events in order to stay operationally viable. They also have multiple numbers of staff, whereas the HCV is more dependent on volunteers and has only one employee.
Iron + Grain Coffee House opened in June at 1618 N. Main St., Davenport.
Still the HCV was deprived of granting opportunities, (the RDA and the SCRA confined their spring and fall funding cycles to Covid-impacted applications), so we sought other options, he wrote. “Happily, the QC Community Foundation Disaster Recovery fund was established, and allowed us to obtain resources to help ‘Reopen the Hilltop’ in the face of business and institution’s downsizings and closings. With those resources we were able to develop a marketing plan, put together a comprehensive marketing brochure and distribution plan. This enabled the HCV to tell more people able the district and its amenities.”
“Another priority we pivoted to involved making certain small businesses were apprised of federal and state programs aimed to assist Covid-19 affected businesses,” Tunnicliff wrote. “We established stronger ties with Main Street Iowa, the state legislature and congressional offices, as well as regional banks and the Small Business Administration to forward information to our email network. One of these was the Payroll Protection Program, which we made successful application to as well.
Runners in the Bix 7 race Saturday, July 24 went through the heart of the Hilltop.
“To be sure, Main Street Iowa itself had to pivot, too,” he said. “Between there no longer being able to offer live programming and orientations to new directors and interested volunteers throughout the state, to budget reductions affecting staffing positions, to learning the joy of adding value via Zoom meetings, their mission of historic preservation was in danger of being compromised. In our office, we set up Zoom meetings for our volunteers and forwarded links to MSI so that webinars could be accessed. Much of these tools will continue to be in place, but were not there until the pandemic necessitated them.”
Among additional fundraising accomplished in the past year included:
- PPP forgivable loan of $14,016 through Wells Fargo Bank and Trust and SBA. Used to meet payroll funding which was otherwise directed for pending projects and operations.
- $8,000 from Davenport Rotary Club Charitable Giving Fund for the Urban Garden expansion and maintenance project.
- $10,000 from the QC Community Foundation Disaster Recovery fund for “Re-opening of the Hilltop” campaign. Funds used to produce and distribute an updated marketing brochure, showcasing new and existing businesses, providing a map of the district. Included a mailing to 8,000 households.
- Donated gift from Ascentra Credit Union of building and property at 122 East 15th Street (HCV’s offices for past five years). Assessed valuation of $199,920. Capital Campaign Feasibility study launched to see to the raising of additional resources for conversion of building into a small business incubator for minority owned businesses, and a conferencing, education and research center.
- $40,000 received for campaign from Regional Development Authority (RDA) for eventual use in remodeling and technology acquisition.
- $20,000 commitment received from Scott County Regional Authority (SCRA) for Capital Campaign.
- $10,000 from Wells Fargo Foundation for economic and community development-related programing expenses aimed at helping small businesses, particularly but not exclusively minority-owned.
- $9,200 from the QC Community Foundation capacity-building grant program for technology and part of the Capital Campaign.
- $10,000 from Palmer College of Chiropractic in support of a local match to help fund a design and planning study of the Harrison and Brady Street corridors between 5th Street and Central Park.
- $10,000 from St. Ambrose University for the same study of the Harrison and Brady Street corridors.
One of the HCV’s biggest successes is the Brenton on Brady apartment complex, which opened in January 2020 at 1606 Brady St., a total renovation of the former 1967 Brenton First National Bank.
The redevelopment won the 2020 Main Street Iowa award for outstanding residential project and was also honored by 1000 Friends of Iowa as best renovated residential project.
In February, HCV posted on Facebook that Palmer planned to add a 115-unit residential building for student housing. While this is located east of Perry, and just outside the Hilltop Campus Village boundaries, “this development would have a large positive impact on the Hilltop neighborhood,” HCV said.
“The addition of over a hundred Palmer students living just blocks away from our many small businesses and amenities would be a big win, and another step in continuing the progress that we’ve been making for over 10 years,” the group posted.
Other area successes, updates
Tunnicliff said there’s a lot more hope in the area than there was years ago for long-term improvements – like a bike trail on Main Street and changes to Harrison and Brady. “It’s been great to see people enthused about improving the area,” he said. “There has been some improvement. The fact is, between project investment and property acquisition from the private sector alone – we’ve had over $125 million
The Harrison Lofts opened in 2013 at 1420 N. Harrison St.
of investment.”
“I have always looked forward to coming to work and have always been impressed by the volunteers and the board, and their shared vision,” Tunnicliff said on Friday, his last day on the office.
The city is funding half the study for Brady and Harrison, looking at safety, traffic, small businesses – options including two-way, one-way with bump-outs or turn lanes, and making the area more visually pleasing (like more plants and trees).
“You have these major institutions, and you have this very challenged commercial area, but it’s a long work in progress, like pretty much everything,” said Matt Flynn, senior planning manager for the city of Davenport:
HCV has given a strong voice to all the businesses, residents and stakeholders in the area, he said. “People referred to it as the hilltop, but not the branding that is well-established,” Flynn said. “Thanks to all the media, they’ve done a wonderful job putting Hilltop Campus Village in a very positive light.”
St. Ambrose University opened its expanded McMullen Hall in April.
He pointed to the Harrison Lofts and local businesses like Redband Coffee making investments, and a lot of incremental improvements that have happened over time. “At a bigger level you see major investments that St. Ambrose, Palmer and Davenport Schools are making,” Flynn said. “If they didn’t have faith in the area, they all have different options. That speaks for itself.”
In his letter to the city, Tunnicliff pointed out many improvements and ongoing projects for the district –
ECONOMIC VITALITY
Traffic speed and noise task force (signage and citations – broad group of stakeholders addressing excessive speeds and noise of automobiles and motorcycles on Harrison and Brady, treating them as drag strips. Combination of signage and citations are having a positive effect, making things safer for pedestrians and small businesses.
Bike lane advocacy on Main, 5th to 12th and beyond – Desire by SAU students and others to develop an improved and extended bike lane on Main south to the riverfront and north to Duck Creek trail, eventually further north to Kimberly, 53rd Street.
Greatest Grains sale and redevelopment – Purchased by Lonnie Westerfield and Constance Chance, current owners of Celebrity Wigs and Beauty Supplies. Being remade into multiple businesses including a smoothie purveyor, a printing concern, beauty supplies and youth activities center. The former health food store and deli at 1600 N. Harrison closed in July 2019 after 40 years.
Palmer apartment complex on Perry (adjacent to Hilltop; co-advocated for PID amendment) – 115 unit residential complex at 1000 block between Perry and Pershing. Under construction in 2021, more to follow on and around the Hilltop district including an athletic field.
Planning Ordinance revision re: Neighborhood Bars – Proposed amendment was to prohibit new bars from locating in special parts of Davenport . HCV and others advocated successfully to City Council to allow former bars, who had been a bar less than 10 years ago, to obtain a license if applied for by the end of 2031. Passed June 9, 2021.
Brady and Harrison planning and design study – Based on HCV and HBA presentation proposal made to City Council in October 2019 at their CIP process. Suggested that if the HCV contributed $30,000, the city would match it for a study dealing with design and planning elements for a revamped and improved commercial corridor. Study to include IDOT, City Council and driven by staff. Funding to be set for 2022/2023.
Ready 2 Recruit project – HCV selected as one of five communities to participate in project aimed at using demographics of commercial area and immediate environment, inventory of buildings and sites, and economic growth trends to ascertain optimal businesses to target. Project starts in July through October.
The Brenton on Brady apartments opened in early 2020 and won an award from Main Street Iowa for converting the former bank.
Identifies what businesses and services the area is losing and gaining. That is used to recruit specific businesses. The district doesn’t have hardware stores or car dealerships, but those needs are served in the wider area, Tunnicliff said. “Everybody always wants different types of restaurants,” he said, noting there’s growth of a lot of residential units in the area.
“We don’t know where that’s gonna go and we don’t know if restauranteurs do either,” he said. “There are so many things that are up in the air. We’re ready for this; we’ve done the prep for it.”
Inquiry for mixed-use development to mirror Harrison Loft apartments on 1400 block on Harrison Street. – Looking to secure ownership of the block .
New ownership at Rock Anchor Grill – Popular Hilltop restaurant sold to manager and cook; business thriving. Property owner looking to provide new awning and façade siding, hopefully via City’s Commercial Dream Program.
DESIGN
Street lights north of Locust, on Main being installed, using resources provided by RDA – design plan under review at DPW, Davenport Electric Contract Company overseeing location and installat6ion, with Davenport Public Works.
Murals painted at 1329 Harrison and 1615 Harrison – Hilltop Business Association funded. Local artists utilized.
Demolition of structures at Ripley and Locust (Whitty property) – HBA contributed to cost of demolition in order to prepare site for redevelopment. One square block on Ripley, and portion along 1700 block of Harrison.
AMENITY ENHANCEMENT
Addition to SAU McMullen Hall – business school addition offers more opportunities for undergrad and graduate programs. Addition meshes well with original building.
Acquisition of 122 East 15th Street – non-performing asset to become start up business incubator, research and education center
SAU Bicycle rental program – HCV received 10 used touring bikes from Scott County Sheriff’s office in response to a request to help SAU students start a bike rental program. The student-run effort opened on Earth Day 2021, and in the first month had over 150 requests.
Scott County Sheriff bike giveaway – In October 2020, the HCV partnered with Scott County Sheriff’s office, Quad Cities Bicycle Club and Davenport Community School District to donate, re-condition and give away bikes to facilitate transportation for people not owning cars. Program was a precursor to 2021 bike rental program at SAU.
Urban Gardens – four gardens raising crops for harvest and distribution. Church grounds, HCV property, SAU student clubs and volunteer residents are helping plant, tend and harvest. Done with help from Genesis Marketing and Davenport Rotary Charitable Giving grants.
Vera French Mental Health Center (Carol Center) – Expansion planned for Carol Center at 808 Harrison St., former home of United Neighbors.
Salvation Army relocation at 100 Kirkwood Boulevard – clearing house for services located in former Molyneaux Insurance building. Salvation Army sold apartments that had been used for temporary housing of displaced families, the former Roosevelt apartments, also in the Hilltop and currently being restored.
Clyde S. Mayfield Memorial Scholarship Fund – suggestion from HCV Board member. HCV helped set it up at QC Community Foundation with Molly Mayfield and Anne Calder. Nearly $16,000 raised to date.
REDEVELOPMENT
Brewed Book at 1524 Harrison St. (MSI Challenge grant) — former shabby saloon on last legs purchased, and restored, converted into a coffee house and book store.
Midtown Plaza at 1706 Brady St. – office building, exterior repainting.
Donuts ‘n’ More at 1717 Brady St. – remodeled interior and exterior, updated seating and new signage.
1426 Brady — former Free’s Photography building, acquired, restored and updated for commercial and residential use. Mid-Victorian architecture with additional space for photo studios.
Wohler Flats at 509 and 515 Ripley – abandoned apartment building restored into three story flats, 6 units in each. Located in Hamburg Historic District.
Iron and Grain Coffee House – converted branch bank with drive-thru at 1618 N. Main, now a coffee chop, sandwich shop and business meeting center. Opened in May 2021.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
1103 Main – Former Trinity Episcopal Cathedral rectory leased to nonprofit group that is renovating it to become the Deanery Academy of Music, offering advanced musical training.
Priester Building conversion at 601 Brady underway by Frank Levy of Newbury Living. Commercial offices to become residential apartments. Building is listed on the National Historic Register.
Roosevelt Apartments at 307 West 6th St. – 32-unit apartment building, on the National Historic Register. Being renovated and restored by local re-developer.
Carl Cleve and Sons auto repair shop conversion to antique store/coffee house/event center – 330 West 5th Street, in the Hamburg Historic District.
Raphael’s Emporium — Originally a cigar manufacturing store, listed on National Historic Register (sale pending). Anticipated mixed use (residential/ commercial). Adjacent to Hamburg historic district.
130 West 3rd St. — originally part of railroad station, built in 1872. Latest use as office building for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley Region. Just sold to St. Anthony’s church, to be converted into classroom and office space for congregation and staff.
Capitalizing on potential
Molly Otting Carlson (an Assumption High alum) graduated from St. Ambrose University, majoring in business, and first worked for the redeveloped Navy Pier in Chicago in the early ‘90s (opening in 1995), sales for the Claridge Hotel (on Dearborn Street) from ’96 to 2000, and then the Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association for 12 years, based in Chicago. It’s the statewide advocacy arm for hotels, and Carlson was director of membership and strategic partnerships.
She started with Visit Quad Cities in 2014, working with community partners to enhance and market quality of life and strengthen the destination. Carlson was in Chicago during the redevelopment and 2004 opening of the $475-million Millennium Park.
At Visit Quad Cities, Carlson was in charge of partnerships with members, supported by hotel/motel taxes, and oversaw visitor centers. She’s been part of plans to reopen visitor centers on 17th Street in Rock Island, and Union Station in downtown Davenport, as well as creating a new dock at River Heritage Park in Davenport for Viking River Cruises to start in summer 2022.
The new visitor centers will be fully staffed, including bicycle rentals, Carlson said, noting they hope to open by Labor Day. She’d love to see a rooftop bar on Union Station (“It would feel like you’re floating on the water”).
After she saw the HCV job description, Carlson thought it was perfect timing for her to take on a new challenge.
“It’s 100 percent the potential,” she said of the area. “Scott has done some amazing things. The structure is there; the buildings are so beautiful. The people are so beautiful. There are 120 businesses in that entire district. The city wants to have small business, and we need to make them better.”
“The city loves you – you have Palmer and St. Ambrose as anchors,” she said. “I really, truly believe you build from the inside out.”
“I think it needs a whole rebranding,” Carlson said of the organization, whose purple and exclamation point logo for her is similar to the Putnam. “That’s normal to go through rebranding. We might want to consider the name. Hilltop exists in Rock Island, does it not? The campus implies it’s only a place for students, and the village is the East Village. Let’s talk about what this looks like; I don’t have all the answers, but I think we need to really look at that.”
The tag line of the rebranded nonprofit should be, “Start your day at the top,” she said.
“I’d be careful doing that myself,” Tunnicliff said of a possible name change. “We’ve had a dozen years of branding and identity. At least in my opinion, which is worth nothing at this point, I don’t know what the value would be.”
Among Carlson’s first priorities is resolving the changes for one-way Brady and Harrison streets, to move away from “the drive-by” or “drive-through” nature of the area. “We have to be welcoming,” she said. “Maybe it’s additional parking in front. Maybe it’s changing facades so they match. Maybe it’s adding flower planters. I don’t have all the answers.”
It may be more difficult to convert stretches of the one-ways to two-way streets (like 3rd and 4th downtown will become), since they are considered state highways. “That’s a project Visit Quad Cities will continue to help us with,” she said. “They don’t want drive-by communities. They want us to be a fun, welcoming neighborhood for visitors and that’s a big goal of mine.”
Other than converting to two-ways, there are modified plans where Brady and Harrison narrow in lanes of traffic, creating more on-street parking, Carlson said. “I think we’d be open to both. All of us, as Quad Citizens, want the Hilltop to succeed, especially since the architecture is so good. The bones are really good in the area. I love small business, but we’re not necessarily at the table when big business looks at the Quad-Cities. Has Trader Joe’s ever looked over there? Maybe they could have gone in Greatest Grains.
“I don’t know, but you at least have to be at the table for these things,” she said.
HCV should help with businesses’ social media and promotions, Carlson said. “We need to be attracting people to the area,” she said. “The other thing is building the self-esteem of the Hilltop.”
“Let’s talk about how great it is, because if you believe it, others will too,” she said. “I think it’s really important.”
Carlson wants to do an overall analysis of the district’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. “Right now, I don’t think we’re ready to be soliciting businesses to the Hilltop. Let’s figure out who we are and what we are first, and go from there,” she said. “Are we gonna be a campus where all the students hang out? I don’t know. Let’s find out.”
It couldn’t be better timing for her to become just its second director in 12 years, and emerging back to some normalcy after Covid.
“To get the handoff at this time is just perfect, it really is,” Carlson said. “We’re just starting to get known again, on a city and a state level. We’re not forgotten. Once we build on that, we’ll be ready to invite visitors, that’s my goal.”
The HCV is the only Main Street Iowa organization in Scott County, she said, which is a coup.
“Main Street Iowa is very similar to any overarching organization,” Carlson said. “It’s a resource, number one. Number two, there are dollar opportunities…Whatever your idea may be, they’re there as a resource to guide you through it. We need to play it up more than we do.”.
For more information, visit https://hilltopcampusvillage.org/.
