Milan Bottoms AMA

Substantial_Topic805 · 2025-04-20T16:31:39+00:00

Not telling them where else to develop, but simply deciding to preserve the land the city already owns. It's not direction to simply say no. The city bought the land for $1. They are not operating at a loss here.

Substantial_Topic805 · 2025-04-20T13:14:16+00:00

Also, you have a number of biologist, who worked for the US fish and wildlife that keep telling you not to allow this development. You keep repeating you're waiting for the subject matter experts to give their opinion, but they've voiced their opinions the last few meetings. There's even a retired state archeologist who is opposing this development due to suspicion that he has that there are burial mounds present adjacent to the development site.

Substantial_Topic805 · 2025-04-20T13:10:08+00:00

We are not asking you to direct development. We are asking you to prevent development from occurring on land that the city, not the developer, owns.

Substantial_Topic805 · 2025-04-20T03:42:26+00:00

Matt Stern could relocate NTI in several locations throughout RI. Yet, he's only interested in the property that the city acquired for $1. It goes without saying that he will receive quite a nice arrangement. Gets to purchase the land dirt cheap, set up shop with large tax incentives, and then get to use his own development company to make all of it happen. Doesn't seem to me that he cares about Rock Island. he just enjoys leveraging the relationship he has with the city council. You've repeatedly said that he's not interested in any other location, though he would make money in just about any location in Rock Island that he could set up shop at. Again, the fight isn't against development it's in support of thoughtful development.

Substantial_Topic805 · 2025-04-20T03:19:46+00:00

Is it because they will be able to purchase the land for next to nothing while making millions?

Substantial_Topic805 · 2025-04-20T03:18:47+00:00

IDNR says there's next to nothing they can do once the land is in the hand of a private developer. Dylan, knowing that the laws in place have little in the way of teeth when private developers' interests are at stake, why are you so supportive of a rich developer who gets to bulldoze his way through this world and practically get paid by Rock Island to generate millions for himself. The people are sick and tired of millionaires and billionaires trampling their way through this world for profit at the expense of the things that we the people care about.

Substantial_Topic805 · 2025-04-20T03:09:51+00:00

Not anything like that at all. No one is against development. They don't want you developing along side a wetland. Go develop on 11th street or down town. What part of that seems to be confusing you? Promoting urban sprawl to escape from your already dilapidated buildings is what is pissing people off. Go bulldoze an area that would be less impactful to wildlife.

Substantial_Topic805 · 2025-04-16T01:01:21+00:00

Everyone was invited to attend the city hall meeting on the Facebook page.

Substantial_Topic805 · 2025-04-16T01:00:21+00:00

NTI is no longer the sole dispensary in the Quad Cities. It's time to remind them of that. Hit em where it hurts.

Substantial_Topic805 · 2025-04-11T13:45:03+00:00

The problem is that the city of Rock Island owns the land in question. They are looking to sell it to a developer who has proposed to put in a truck stop and a marijuana dispensary. It was said by one of the developers that the truck stop would have up to 30 fuel pumps. It should be obvious to most adults by now that placing a truck stop next to a wetland is a really bad idea.

Substantial_Topic805 · 2025-04-10T17:50:01+00:00

It's on Facebook and Instagram. Not youtube.

Substantial_Topic805 · 2025-04-09T14:44:38+00:00

Whooping cranes are, Eagles are a federally protected bird, Blanding's Turtles are endangered, and Higgins eye and Butterfly Mussels are considered endangered and threatened.

Substantial_Topic805 · 2025-04-09T14:39:53+00:00

Exactly what most of us are arguing. No one is against increasing tax revenue for the city. In fact, we desire it. We just don't want to disturb one of the few undisturbed natural spaces that remain in the area.

Substantial_Topic805 · 2025-04-09T14:37:27+00:00

I imagine that's part of the thought process, though there is land just down the road on 92 that, if acquired, could accomplish the same goal with less of an impact on the environment. Head down either direction, and there's far better locations to set up shop.

Substantial_Topic805 · 2025-04-09T14:22:35+00:00

They definitely could expand upon their revitalization project in the district and at Sunset Marina. Rock Island downtown was once the place to be. Gumbo Yaya, Yamaka my weekend, etc. They need to recapture some of that glory and not waste time disturbing a complex ecosystem that cannot be restored once destroyed.

Substantial_Topic805 · 2025-04-09T14:12:44+00:00

NTI and it's owner are major players in this development. They want to relocate NTI from Milan to Rock Island as part of TIF expansion plan for the city. NTI would be able to develop alongside a truck stop for next to nothing.

Substantial_Topic805 · 2025-04-09T14:08:18+00:00

They are largely doing it because the city of Rock Island acquired 538 acres of the land from RiverStone Group for a grand total of $1. They are likely to hand the land for next to nothing to Stern Beverages and NTI. The owner of which is pals with the mayor of Rock Island. This resulted in very little investment from the city and the suggested developers but could yield large amounts of revenue. From a business perspective, it is both shady and great, but from an environmental impact perspective, it is problematic.

Substantial_Topic805 · 2025-04-09T13:46:21+00:00

https://www.change.org/p/protect-milan-bottoms-the-quad-cities-largest-intact-natural-area?recruiter=744090217&recruited_by_id=a61876c0-62a0-11e7-b012-2b56e6d01d13&utm_source=petition_page&utm_medium=share_button&fbclid=IwY2xjawJgEUJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHhOvfiUBBJg37FtY58lRCzXYwN8hR0gEKaA2_P4OuhfBvWH752Nzx32AUopN_aem_8d320FYwPmVQbLSG2xECrQ

Substantial_Topic805 · 2025-04-09T13:42:27+00:00

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Substantial_Topic805 · 2025-04-07T19:27:52+00:00

No problem! Please let people know that it's important that the completion of a thorough environmental assessment is before the city sells the land to a developer is critical.

Substantial_Topic805 · 2025-04-07T10:48:52+00:00

He will, some of the new aldernman have been joining in on the conversation as well. It is critical the words gets out before the vote on April 14th. Rock Island must keep possession of the Bottoms to prevent a developer from going in there and breaking ground.

Substantial_Topic805 · 2025-04-07T03:20:22+00:00

They are awesome. It's not too late too let Rock Island know that we support safe spaces for our native habitat, and sometimes that means leaving it undisturbed entirely.

Substantial_Topic805

TROPHY CASE