The firm, MKSK, was one of 18 that competed to help the city carry out its riverfront masterplan. It includes over 13 acres of city owned riverfront, where the old I-74 bridge used to be.
City spokesman Tory Brecht says the big redevelopment project has been in the works for several years.
"It became apparent that we really needed a masterplan. It's long been determined to be a place where we can do a lot of really impactful development, kind of a once in a generation opportunity, really, for that prime riverfront."
A panel of Moline city officials and board members from Renew Moline chose MKSK. Brecht says they liked the firm’s past projects, one being the District Wharf Promenade in Washington, D.C.
"We wanted it to look like and feel like Moline, and MKSK has a proven track record of having their projects match the communities in which they're based."
The firm will provide a timeline for the project for members of the city council today. Next week, the council will vote on the agreement.
