Downtown Davenport Master Plan
Davenport, IA — 2021
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Evening view of a downtown Davenport street with public seating, lighting, and community activity.

Drawing on coastal resilience strategies, the Davenport riverfront plan blends quick, tactical activations with long-term strategies for equitable growth, reflecting a community-led vision for a mid-sized city ready to lead.

Davenport 2030: A Resilient City builds on a decade of progress with a ten-year vision that turns past challenges, including the 2019 floods and COVID-19, into opportunities for a stronger, more connected community. The plan focuses on enriching the public realm, prioritizing pedestrian-friendly streets, enhancing riverfront resilience, and strengthening connections between downtown, nearby neighborhoods, and the greater Quad Cities. It embraces Davenport’s diversity and cultural vibrancy while advancing strategies for placemaking, economic growth, and talent attraction to support a sustainable, inclusive future.

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Illustrations showcase Davenport 2030's focus on resilience, inclusivity, and regional connectivity.

Davenport’s downtown faced a triple threat: historic flooding, economic disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing social inequities. These challenges eroded confidence in the area while exposing the need for stronger environmental resilience and equitable urban development. The Mississippi River’s flooding in 2019 underscored the city’s vulnerability to climate impacts. Additionally, a growing “brain drain” highlighted the urgency of attracting and retaining talent while supporting local businesses. Addressing these intersecting issues required a holistic and forward-thinking plan. 

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Downtown Davenport map highlights districts for innovation, mixed-use development, and resilience.

The plan reimagines Downtown Davenport as a dynamic hub of activity and resilience. A vertical mixed-use approach integrates housing, retail, and workspaces, fostering economic vitality while maximizing the area’s urban density. The riverfront becomes a centerpiece, designed with flood-mitigation infrastructure and accessible public spaces that connect seamlessly to surrounding neighborhoods. Strengthened by cohesive branding and a shared vision, the plan enhances Davenport’s civic identity, celebrating its unique character and ensuring its place as a vibrant regional destination. These strategies create a sustainable, connected downtown that reflects and elevates the community it serves. 

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Downtown Davenport map emphasizes enhanced connectivity, riverfront resilience, and public spaces.

The Davenport 2030: A Resilient City plan draws on diverse expertise and deep community engagement. We collaborated with local partners and regional stakeholders to align the vision with Davenport’s unique character and needs. Public surveys and steering committee meetings captured local voices, ensuring inclusivity. Feedback from residents and a diversity task force shaped infrastructure, art, and cultural programming. This integrated approach ensures that every element reflects the community’s aspirations while achieving measurable goals. 

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Downtown Davenport map features plans for active streets, public spaces, and riverfront activation.

Davenport 2030 sets a precedent for resilient urban planning in mid-sized cities. The project catalyzes inclusive growth by reconnecting residents to their riverfront, reinvesting in public spaces, and fostering innovation while tackling critical challenges head-on and creating a downtown ready for the future.  

“We want to make a vibrant, inclusive, and walkable downtown that actually has a future.” — Kyle Carter, executive director, Downtown Davenport Partnership
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The roadmap outlines the plan’s phased strategy for resilience, activation, and equity.

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Map illustration showing Davenport, Iowa, with key landmarks and river connections highlighted.

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Full report under resources

Client:
Downtown Davenport Partnership
Collaborators:
  • SB Friedman
  • Sam Schwartz Engineering
WXY architecture + urban design

Claire Weisz Architects LLP
d/b/a WXY architecture + urban design

212 219 1953
office@wxystudio.com
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