Council approves revised Dolan Commons amendment tying incentives to housing deadline

The Moline City Council on July 22 approved a second amendment to the Dolan Commons development and economic incentive agreement that resynthesizes sales- and property-tax rebate ratios and reaffirms a housing delivery requirement for phase 3 of the project.

City staff described the agreement history: the original 2016 Dolan Commons agreement and a 2018 amendment had left phase 3 (housing) delayed. The new amendment keeps the project’s maximum combined incentives unchanged but changes the split so the city receives a larger share earlier than the previous arrangement: an 85% developer / 15% city split for sales- and property-tax rebates, and a firm end date of 2041 for the rebate period. Most importantly, the amendment reinstates a phase-3 housing requirement of 10 rental family townhome units with a completion date of Dec. 31, 2027. If phase 3 is not completed by that deadline, the amendment cancels all incentives for all phases.

City staff said the amendment adds performance requirements and incentives intended to bring housing back into the project after prior timeline slippage. The amendment also includes minor adjustments such as charge-station obligations and a minimum square footage target for the Phase 2 commercial building.

Kevin Dolan, the developer, attended the council meeting; staff said the amendment reflects negotiations that produced a more enforceable schedule and clarified incentive ratios. Councilors praised the restoration of the housing commitment while noting the project’s long history of phased delivery and prior extensions.

The council approved the amendment by motion; the revised agreement referenced the materials distributed to council at the meeting. City staff said the amendment aims to balance developer incentives and city participation while making housing delivery an enforceable condition of continued incentives.