6 things to watch for at this week’s busy Rockford City Council meeting

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
Get our mobile app

ROCKFORD — If you plan on sitting through the entire City Council meeting on Monday you may want to pack a snack.

This week’s meeting has a busy agenda filled with items that should spur robust debate, such as a proposed housing and commercial development on the southwest side, and ones that should sail through smoothly, like the honorary renaming of a road for Fred VanVleet.

Here are six key votes on the agenda for Monday:

Downtown redevelopment

K & K Associates has proposed a $5 million redevelopment that includes improvements at 505 N. Madison St., the former Coca-Cola bottling plant. The final use of that building isn’t set, but the family behind the development says it wants to create a space for family-friendly activities.

More news: New barber college on Broadway in Rockford aims to inspire students to chase their dreams

A new parking lot with a solar covered pavilion would also be built south of the building.

Under the terms of a redevelopment agreement with the city, the developer would be reimbursed 100% of the taxes generated from the East River tax-increment finance district on a pay-as-you-go basis for eligible project costs.

The city would also reimburse the developer $250,000 for parking lot improvements. That money was part of a previous commitment from the city for infrastructure improvements.

The redevelopment deal got unanimous support last week from the Planning & Development Committee.

Homebuilding incentives

City Council will vote Monday whether to rebate property taxes and waive permit fees in an effort to encourage more home construction.

The measure, which passed unanimously through the Finance & Personnel Committee, will also be brought to the Rockford School Board, Winnebago County Board and Rockford Park District.

The program would provide a three-year property tax rebate on single family, townhome, two-family, three-family or multifamily structures built before the end of 2024. Those projects would also have building permit, building inspection, building plan review and water connection fees waived.

Affordable housing development

After being delayed since May 1, City Council is slated to consider a proposed $47 million development that blends affordable and market-rate housing along with an early-learning center, vertical agriculture greenhouse, culinary institute and commercial space.

The proposal calls for 116 total living units, 64 of which would be developed as affordable housing, along 15 acres of mostly vacant land near South Avon and Cedar streets.

The development also includes a 21,600-square-foot brick building at 915 Cedar St. that would be turned into small storefronts, one-bedroom apartments and a market space for makers and small businesses. The mix of other housing types and commercial buildings would be constructed on vacant land formerly occupied by Rockford Gas Light and Coke Co., which was demolished in the 1960s.

Honorary name change

City Council will vote on renaming the portion of Pierpont Avenue from School Street to Auburn Street in honor of Fred VanVleet, a Rockford native and NBA champion now playing for the Houston Rockets.

The roadway, which is in front of VanVleet’s alma mater of Auburn High School, would be called VanVleet Way.

It was unanimously approved at Code & Regulation Committee.

Paving the way for PCI expansion

City Council will consider an agreement with Winnebago County for Rockford to take over the jurisdiction of Linden Road east of Alpine Road to the city limits.

Related: 3 business and development groups merge to form Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce

Winnebago County will construct turn lanes and resurface the road before transferring the jurisdiction to Rockford for future maintenance.

“Why we’re doing that is so important,” Mayor Tom McNamara said on This Week in the Stateline.

The agreement was put forward to support PCI Pharma Services new $50 million, 200,000 square-foot facility in the 4900 block of Linden Road.

The facility, which will increase the company’s capacity to assemble products used to treat diabetes, obesity and autoimmune disease, is expected to open in summer 2024. About 250 people will be employed at the site.

Workforce program

The city may enter a workforce development agreement with Kee Solutions to rebuild 1311 N. Main St. into the future Think Big small business development center.

The renovations include 5,000 square feet of training and education space, parking lot and landscape improvements, 5,000 square feet of coworking space and 2,000 square feet of administrative space.

The city will hire six young adults who will receive mentorship and training that prepares them for careers in the trades.

The total cost of the project and labor is about $3 million.

How to watch

The City Council meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. Monday at on the second floor of City Hall, 425 E. State St. It is also streamed live on Channel 17 and via the web HERE (a watch live button will appear at the top when the meeting begins).

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