Spencer Towers
Spencer Towers is a nine-floor, 199-unit, low-income high-rise located across the street from the Mississippi River in downtown Rock Island. Spencer Towers is currently home to a mixed population comprised of both elderly and non-elderly disabled individuals.

Spencer Towers is the only high-rise apartment building in the City that is across the street from the Mississippi River. Spencer Towers is a signature building with phenomenal potential. It boasts spectacular views of the river, is two blocks from the City's arts and entertainment hub, multiple restaurants and galleries and is surrounded by well-kept grounds with multiple mature trees.

Based on the 2003 Asset Management Plan, Spencer Towers should be kept in the RIHA inventory and developed into a mixed-income development. The redevelopment of Spencer Towers is included in the City of Rock Island Consolidated Plan and RiverVision, a joint initiative between the cities of Rock Island and Davenport, Iowa.

2008 Physical Needs Assessment: The building is structurally sound, is in an excellent location and could be reconfigured from a one-bedroom elderly and disabled public housing property to a mixed-income rental development.

Asset Management Plan Implementation: Spencer Towers should be redeveloped and reconfigured into a mixed-income development designed to accommodate active adults.

Lincoln Homes
Lincoln Homes is located in what is considered to be the "community heart" of Old Chicago and is an anchor for the neighborhood. It was constructed in 1953 on 2.29 acres of land and includes 45 dwelling units in seven residential buildings. According to the 2003 Asset Management Plan, the property should be maintained, monitored and reevaluated in 5 - 10 years to determine its long-term value and sustainability as a viable property. The renovation of Lincoln Homes is part of the City of Rock Island NEW Old Chicago Redevelopment Plan.

2008 Physical Needs Assessment: Lincoln Homes is over fifty years old, obsolete, has sinking first level concrete slab floors, and has extensive termite damage in the walls and second level floors. One complete building is now uninhabitable because termite damage has made the building unsafe for occupancy. Without immediate and extensive wall and floor repair and termite treatment, the remaining buildings will quickly become unsafe for occupancy. In addition, a recent environmental study indicated that portions of the land on which Lincoln Homes stands includes a ponding area where storm water runoff collects which may account for the sinking concert floors.

HUD does not consider the renovation of public housing properties viable when costs exceed 90% of Total Development Cost (TDC) for new construction. The 2008 physical needs assessment revealed the total renovation costs for Lincoln Homes to be 173% of TDC for new construction. Therefore renovating the property is not feasible and it should be demolished and replaced.

Asset Management Plan Implementation: Lincoln Homes should be replaced in phases and new housing should be developed before demolition begins. As buildings are demolished, RIHA could develop new affordable mixed-income housing. Construction could begin in the playground to facilitate the phased demolition and replacement of units. Additional in-fill lots and nearby vacant land should also be considered for the development of additional affordable housing which would also facilitate a phased approach to the demolition and replacement of existing units.

Because of its location and close proximity to the Martin Luther King Community Center, the Second Baptist Church and Douglas Park Place, the redevelopment of Lincoln Homes will have a long-term positive effect on the area ultimately creating an entirely new community.

Manor Homes
Manor Homes was constructed in 1952 on 4.34 acres of land and includes 102 dwelling units. Manor Homes is similar to Lincoln Homes in that it is over fifty-years old, is obsolete, has sinking first level concrete slab floors, and has extensive termite damage in the walls and second level floors. The damage to Manor Homes is not as advanced as Lincoln Homes therefore is a lower priority and could be maintained for the next two years.

2008 Physical Needs Assessment: HUD does not consider the renovation of public housing properties viable when costs exceed 90% of Total Development Cost (TDC) for new construction. The 2008 physical needs assessment revealed the total renovation costs for Manor Homes to be 119.25% of TDC for new construction. Therefore renovating the property is not feasible and it should be demolished and replaced.

Asset Management Plan Implementation: Manor Homes should be replaced in phases and new housing should be developed before demolition begins. As buildings are demolished, RIHA could develop new affordable mixed-income housing. Construction could begin in the playground to better facilitate the phased demolition and replacement of existing units.

Former Valley Homes Site
On October 2005 Valley Homes was demolished in accordance with the 2003 Asset Management Plan recommendation. The Asset Management Plan also recommended that the vacant land be redeveloped to include up to 40 mixed-income, single-family homes. According to the recommended Plan, the number of homes would be driven by design (townhouse, duplex, condo or single-family) and funding sources.

The now vacant Valley Homes site includes 8.5-acres, 6 acres of which is buildable. The site is bounded by residential buildings to the north and south and sandwiched between hilly, wooded terrain to the east and west. The site is generally rectangular in shape and is rolling, although the terrain rises toward the south with a retaining wall and wooded area. A retaining wall is also located along the eastern border. Because of the surrounding hilly typography, the site sits in a "bowl", though drainage is adequate toward the northwest. Access to the site is available from 25th Street. While the 57 obsolete public housing units have been demolished and the site has been cleared, significant serious infrastructure issues remain making the property costly to redevelop.

Over the past three years, RIHA has applied for two federally funded HOPE VI grants and one Tax Credit funding opportunity through the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) for the redevelopment of the property. To date, RIHA has been unable to secure the funding required to both correct the challenges associated with the infrastructure and build the recommended replacement housing.

Asset Management Plan Implementation: Because its location, the best usage of the former Valley Homes site would be the construction of multiple mixed-income homes. Depending on building type (townhouse, single-family or condominium) and market demand, up to 40 mixed-income units could be constructed.