Council approves Habitat-for-Humanity parcel purchases; officials discuss Centennial Bridge alignment

The Rock Island City Council authorized the purchase of multiple parcels from Habitat for Humanity after staff described two groups of properties that the nonprofit no longer wished to retain.

Staff member Miles said the parcels — including three along 10th Avenue and a group on 3rd Avenue between 10th and 11th streets — are near city-owned land and “consolidat[ing] them under single ownership” would allow the city to maintain sites and reduce nuisance vegetation. Miles also tied the parcels to possible future infrastructure scenarios, saying ownership would position the city for “possible different scenarios of infrastructure change” related to a potential Centennial Bridge realignment.

An alderman asked whether the city needed to purchase property before a final decision on bridge alignment was made; Miles responded that IDOT has authority over the final alignment and that the city would be part of input but not the ultimate decision-maker. The alderman said constituents who want preservation of the Centennial Bridge should be represented in communications to IDOT.

After the discussion the council voted to approve the purchases, authorize the city manager to execute the agreements and to suspend the rules and pass ordinances authorizing acquisition. The vote was recorded as all in favor on the roll call recorded in the meeting transcript.

What’s next: staff will execute acquisition agreements and integrate the parcels into city property-management plans; any infrastructure alignment decisions will be made later in coordination with IDOT.