In a different area of the city, some said, the building would be great. But it's simply too big for the area.

"It absolutely dwarfs the entire Village," said board member Dana Wilkinson.

"That's never gonna fly," member Jeff Young said. "That was my first impression."

"It just doesn't fit, it seems to me," said member P.J. Slobojan.

Ontiveros said he intends to continue pursuing his plan. If it doesn't work out, he warned, he'll give up on the site.

"I've literally been working on this for nine years," he said. "I've turned down gas stations. I've turned down McDonald's. I'll throw my hands up and sell to the highest bidder — put your McDonald's there."

Replied board member Dick Davidson: "I don't think we'd approve a McDonald's there, either."

While members asked Ontiveros and Dasso to consider "a compromise," they said the building has to be five stories tall in order for it to be profitable. Besides, Ontiveros said, the whole Quad-Cities would benefit from its amenities. He said it would be desirable to "people who want to live in this town, and we want to keep in this town.