By Clay LePard
clepard@cbs4qc.com
SouthPark Mall could be well on it's way to new life.
Tonight, Moline City leaders will vote on redeveloping several areas, including SouthPark Mall.
That means the mall would become a tax increment financing district meant to draw in more potential business. City leaders say if this vote passes, you might not recognize the mall in a couple of years.
"Reposition it to be something more than it is today," says Ray Forsythe, Moline Economic Development Director. "Likely it will be a major renovation; could tear down part of the mall and rebuild it; could build new buildings on the outside and some of the parking lot that's unused."
That's not the only thing on Moline's docket.
City leaders will vote on making a stretch near the airport a TIF district as well. City leaders say a stretch of land just east of the airport (see map) is a prime location for businesses to capitalize on airport traffic.
Unlike the SouthPark district though, this land needs a little work first.
"It's in the floodplains and the wetlands and it was a landfill so there's problems below the ground the developer needs to fix so they can develop the property," Forsythe adds.
City leaders also have a first reading for creating a TIF district on the area south of Avenue of the Cities and 41st street. The former city dump would be the new home of a Genesis medical complex.
City Council meets at 6:30 Tuesday at City Hall.
