Quad City Times April 12, 2010

 This new 85-unit apartment building is being constructed at 9th and Perry Streets and will house Palmer students. Friday April 9, 2010. (Larry Fisher/QUAD-CITY TIMES)

By the time Palmer College of Chiropractic begins its next trimester in July, some students should be residents of the new Villas at Palmer apartment complex at 9th and Perry streets in Davenport.

Construction is moving quickly on the modular units in the $5 million, four-story, 63-unit complex, said Jeremy Keninger, director of leasing for Oxbow Development of Bettendorf. It is scheduled to be completed July 1.

Oxbow is the developer of the amenity-rich rental development with a multi-layered security program, gated courtyards and lots of green space. Each unit has its own, small deck.

"There will be a picnic area, and urban garden out there with grills," Keninger said. "It will be an area to relax and they can plant in the garden. And without Palmer's cooperation, this never would have taken place."

Students already are inquiring about the complex.

"Right now, some students have contacted Student Services to find out when it would be available," said Stan Carlson, director of facilities at Palmer. "There are several homes that we took down; a couple of them were drug houses. So, we are making this something more constructive."

He said five homes were demolished. One of them had been purchased by Oxbow. That parcel was deeded over the Palmer, Keninger said. Palmer now owns all the property and Oxbow has a 100-year lease with the college, he said.

Keninger and Carlson said the hope is that Palmer students will be located closer to campus, although Keninger said the complex is not exclusively for students.

Palmer officials say they hope the facility revitalizes the neighborhood.

"We are having other landlords fixing up properties," Carlson said. "Now, more and more there is a need for stores to support the student population."

In all, there will be 63 apartments: 22 two-bedroom, two-bath units that will cost $399 a month per person; and 41 one-bedroom, one-bath units that cost $599 a month.

The company also is building a 129-unit complex on Devils Glen Road near Scott Community College's Belmont Road campus in Bettendorf.