On the cusp of redevelopment: A look inside the history and decay of the Barber-Colman complex

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Inside the defunct Barber-Colman industrial complex are remnants of history and decay from a manufacturing site that’s been left to deteriorate for more than two decades.

It’s nothing Rob Wilhelmi hasn’t seen before.

The city’s brownfields redevelopment specialist says Barber-Colman’s interior looks almost exactly like the former Ziock building, a 13-story ramshackle skyscraper that was revitalized in 2020 as a four-star Embassy Suites riverfront hotel.

“You look at the Embassy Suites project and what that has done for downtown and just the positive impact that it’s brought: This is going to be a huge win for us,” Wilhelmi said.

Photos: Then and now: Barber-Colman complex in south Rockford

Now, the city is on the cusp of a launching a similarly lofty project at Barber-Colman, the multi-building complex in southwest Rockford that was once home to thousands of workers as one of the city’s largest employers.

Milwaukee-based J. Jeffers & Co., a real estate development firm that specializes in historic rebuilds, plans to transform the property into 964 living units and roughly 130,000 square feet of commercial space. Their work is expected to cost more than $400 million.

The project on South Main Street will be financed through a mix of multiple public and private funding, including River Edge Historic tax credits, a tax-increment finance district and revolving loan funds.

The city will offer a package of financial incentives to help J. Jeffers complete the work in phases over eight to 10 years. Already in mid-December, City Council members agreed to provide a $1.75 million loan to J. Jeffers that will span 15 years and require no interest payments.

Background: Introducing Colman Yards: A first look a the future of Rockford’s Barber-Colman complex

The rest of the deal is in its final stages of negotiation, and Mayor Tom McNamara said he expects to bring the proposal before City Council in roughly 30 to 45 days.

“We are in the final negotiations with J. Jeffers,” McNamara said. “They’ve been really wonderful to work with. They’ve invested a lot of money into this project already, and they’ve also invested a lot of time.”

The city has had numerous proposals come and go after it purchased the property for $275,000 in 2002. The first was from billionaire businessman Ken Hendricks, but the Beloit entrepreneur died in a home accident in 2007 before the work could begin. The property was then floated as a potential casino, Rock Valley College site and youth sports venue, among other options.

“We’ve had a lot of hopes and dreams of that site — hopes and dreams that went crashing on that site,” McNamara said.

Related: Want to know how the future Barber-Colman will work? Take a look to Racine, Wisconsin

The mayor said this proposal is different for multiple reasons. Chief among them is the amount of money and time J. Jeffers has already invested, and the communication the company has had both with the city and residents in the surrounding area.

“They have an incredibly aggressive construction schedule,” McNamara said. “It’s a massive project, so you will see some strong conversation at council. We hope to get it approved so they can begin construction in the spring.”

The future developers of the Barber-Colman complex discovered the space practically by accident, according to Wilhelmi. They were initially looking at the former Watch Factory, which sits along Madison Street near the UW Health Sports Factory and across the river from Barber-Colman.

“I love the building, but it’s a little too small for what we typically do for projects,” Wilhelmi recalls Brian Loftin, senior vice president of development at J. Jeffers, saying at the time.

Related: ‘Finally, the right match’: Pitch to redevelop Barber-Colman spurs optimism in south Rockford

Loftin asked if the city had anything bigger. They happened to be near a south-facing window with a view of Barber-Colman in the distance.

“I said, well, see those two smoke stacks down there? Is that big enough for you?” Wilhelmi said, “and his eyes lit up.”

https://www.rockrivercurrent.com/2023/01/17/photos-barber-colman-complex-in-rockford-then-and-now/

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas.