While voters in Central Iowa’s Greene County go to the polls today to vote on a gambling referendum in hopes of eventually building a casino, the effort to move an eastern Iowa casino off the water onto land continues to be discussed.
Developer Dan Kehl met with Davenport’s City Council Monday night to discuss options on land near the Interstate 80 where he would move the Rhythm City Riverboat Casino. Davenport Mayor, Bill Gluba, says this site may not have the support to get city approval.
“It’s pretty clear the site he came forward with last night will receive a great deal of opposition, both from the people who live out there — you know there’s a lot of expensive homes, half-million to million dollar homes, plus a new housing addition of less-expensive but still newer homes. So the proximity of the new housing and the existing houses is probably unacceptable to the city,” Gluba says.
Kehl has an option on the land discussed last night with the council, but also said it’s not his only option. Mayor Gluba expects another site will likely gain the final approval for the casino.
“I’m pretty certain that won’t be the final site because of the location and the opposition, and Mister Kehl said he does have other sites,” according to Gluba. “So, my understanding is he’s probably negotiating with other land owners and doesn’t want to tip his hat yet as to which site he will ultimately promote and obtain and go after in a most aggressive way.”
Casino developer Kehl says the new casino can be built on 25-acres, but he’d like it twice to four-times larger. Davenport’s city council would have final say on rezoning.