There is a new restaurant being built in a location...that could have been so much more.

It's nice to see development and more options for neighborhoods.  Growth in Iowa is always a good thing.  However, a prime piece of land that had the potential to be something unique is now just another strip of the normal.

What's New On 53rd In Davenport?

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Google Maps
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Just a few years ago the area on the south side of 53rd between Utica Ridge and 18th was a cornfield.  With houses and businesses all around it, everybody knew that wouldn't last.  It would just take the right developer with the right money to turn it into something.

It started with townhomes lining the back of the large lot.  But homes near the busy road were not as practical so they started building businesses.

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Townsquare Media
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The Freddy's made sense.  The only other fast food option on that side of 53rd was McDonald's which was always busy.

Then, they built a car wash.  Shocking right?

There is a Starbucks which didn't make sense with a coffee shop right across the street and right down the street already.  But people love Starbucks and it seems to be always busy.

There is also a Jersey Mike's and physical theropy center.

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Townsquare Media
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Then the big addition was the Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh.  Very nice!  However, there is a Kwik-Star about 500 feet down the road on the same side.  But competition is always a good thing.

That filled up everything on the west side of the development.

As you can see from the Google Map above, there was still potential on the east side of the land for something different and unique.

What is being built on the other side of the land?

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Townsquare Media
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The construction equipment is there.  The foundation is there.  Soon when you drive down 53rd you won't see this...you'll see...

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Townsquare Media
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A Panda Express.  Which is a fast-food Chinese restaurant.

This might excite some people.  Probably not the owners of the new Asian Fusion restaurant that just opened one block down the road.  But, some are excited based on the social reaction below.

READ MORE:  NEW ASIAN FUSION RESTAURANT OPEN IN BETTENDORF

All of this land, or at least half, could have been so much more.  The city and developers took the fast easy way to build some stuff and get tax revenue.

The city could have taken the time with the right developers and made something unique to invest in the long term.

I'm probably spoiled having lived in places that have done this.  Places like Pearland, Texas.  Here you can see what they did with less land.  An outdoor, but also covered, entertainment center with shops, and restaurants all around it.

There would be music, family activities, and all sorts of events there.

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Google Maps
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I realize one is a suburb of Houston with millions of people and one is Davenport, Iowa. But that shouldn't stop people from wanting new and different options.

Hopefully, the next time the city has an opportunity for growth they don't take the easy way and put some thought and effort into the development to make something unique that can't be found on every block in every city.

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Gallery Credit: Connor Kenney/Townsquare Media Quad Cities

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