City Council voted NO and voted us down. Their answer is to fine us. Time to get the ordinance UPDATED.

“Davenport 2025: A Comprehensive Plan for the city”. Published 2003 by the City of Davenport Chapter on Historic Preservation (HP) recommendations and updates that should have been implemented over the last 22 years.

https://www.davenportiowa.com/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=12529589

This chapter expressly outlines many of the HP issues and challenges that still face the city and its citizens around historic preservation and the historic preservation commission today.

We would like to see the city of Davenport staff become a SUPPORT vs a POLICING AGENT by: 

        I.            Update Historic Preservation (HP) ordinance

       II.            Restructure/Reorganize the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC)
          a.      Move commission under another authority
          b.      Remove HPC redundancies
          c.      Streamline HPC application process
          d.      Make HPC process user friendly/homeowner friendly
                  i.  wherein not each case needs to be presented in person or made the subject of political rhetoric

    III.            Create HP Guidelines 
             a.      with specifications using state HP and national HP standards and guidelines            

IV.            Create HP programming
             a.      Educating, promoting, funding, and SERVING the community – not the reverse     

V.            No further designations of national Historic registry, homes, buildings, districts, sites or landmarks
             a.       until all the above has been a fait accompli, implemented and finished

Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”