City Council again delays vote on mixed-use housing development in west Rockford

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — City Council has again delayed its decision on a nonprofit development group’s plans to build a mix of market-rate and affordable homes near South Avon and Cedar streets.

Alderman Mark Bonne said the developer requested the delay because a number of aldermen were missing from Monday’s meeting. A close vote is expected on the matter. Alderman Jonathan Logan, Alderwoman Janessa Wilkins and Alderman Bill Rose were absent.

The vote has been delayed on several occasions dating back to May. It will be back before the council on Aug. 21.

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Rockford Housing Development Corporation is seeking a special-use permit for the 116-unit development, which also includes a culinary institute, vertical agriculture greenhouse, early-education center and commercial space. About half of the living spaces would have been reserved for affordable housing while the other portion is market rate.

“Our hope and plan is that it becomes a vibrant community,” said Jerry Lumpkins, president of the Rockford Housing Development Corporation, during the public comment portion of the City Council meeting. “A vibrant community that will contribute to the overall well-being of the city.”

Lumpkins said his family lives a half-block away from the development and seeing it succeed is personal for him.

If the plan is approved, RHDC said it would break ground on the single-family homes this fall, and work on the historic building at 915 Cedar Street could commence in winter. Construction on the multifamily dwellings would likely begin in 2024. The multiphase project would be built over several years completing in 2026 or 2027.

The 21,600-square-foot brick building at the corner of Cedar and Avon streets would be renovated into small storefronts, one-bedroom apartments and a market space for makers and creators under the proposal. The mix of other housing types and commercial buildings would be built on vacant land once occupied by Rockford Gas Light and Coke Co., which was demolished in the 1960s.

The proposal calls for a variety of housing types for purchase or rent. There would be 64 apartments, 10 courtyard duplexes, a six-family building, an eight- to 10-family building, two side-by-side duplexes and six single-family residences. Recreation paths will circle an area left as open green space along Kent Creek.

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The 64 apartments would be built under the Section 42 low-income housing tax credit program, which is intended to incentivize private developers through federal subsidies to build or rehabilitate affordable rental housing. The owners of such developments must keep rents restricted and available to residents with low incomes.

The project is also funded through private financing, traditional debt, historic tax credits, and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Home Investment Partnership funds. No request for city money has been made yet, but that could come at a future date, the development group said.

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