District 815 could bring more than 200 residences, several new businesses to east Rockford
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A local development team is preparing to create a new residential community that could one day house 220 families living nearby a grocery store, restaurants and other businesses.
District 815 is envisioned as a blend of luxury townhomes, duplexes and businesses that would be built in phases on a reverse C-shaped plot of vacant land along South Mulford Road and behind the Forest Plaza shopping center on East State Street.
The plan calls for a strip center with a halal and kosher grocery store, a convenience store, dry cleaner and restaurants. There would also be a recreation path, community center and three office buildings. The residential portion consists of 28 duplexes, 25 four-unit buildings and 16 four-unit townhomes. All the residential units will be available for purchase, not rentals.
The proposal comes with some concern from nearby residents who say it will add traffic to an already busy area, and it will bring more than 200 residences to a part of the city that’s served by what is already the busiest fire station in town. It was criticized as being too dense of a development for this area of Rockford. Developers disagreed with it being characterized as dense.
“It is not dense at all,” said Abdul Ahed, president of District 815. “It’s just like a single-family home. There’s a park there, there’s green space there, there’s a bike path there, every house has a walkway around. It’s a premium luxury kind of townhomes.”
The matter was heard Wednesday by the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals, where it earned a 6-0 vote in favor of the development. It next goes to the City Council’s Code & Regulation Committee on Monday and potentially could earn approval from the City Council approval on Nov. 4.
District 815 said it would work to get its building permits immediately after approval.
“Until today it was a dream, now it is a project,” said Mustafa Abdall, the group’s vice president. “Now we are planning for how we will welcome 200 families to this nice district to enjoy this luxury housing.”
The strip center would be built north of Elaine Drive along South Mulford Road. Immediately east of that would be another commercial building and a community center. Townhomes, duplexes and the two-story, four-unit buildings will fill the vacant land that wraps around Med Plus Weight Loss and Alden Alma Nelson Manor senior care facility.
Alderman Mark Bonne, who represents the 14th Ward where the development is proposed, said neighbors presented legitimate concerns about traffic and fire safety. He noted that City Council is working to address fire department needs. The city recently approved setting aside $1 million in Hard Rock Casino tax revenue for police and fire buildings. The proposed development also requires a detailed traffic study as a condition of approval.
Bonne was one of three aldermen who spoke in favor of the development, along with Isidro Barrios and Karen Hoffman.
Two residents raised concerns about the project to the ZBA, largely over its density and the additional traffic it will generate.
“I understand development has to happen, but why does it always have to be high density,” said John Marzorati, who has lived in the area for more than 30 years.
Marzorati, who noted the busy fire department and potential traffic issues, also pointed out another development happening roughly a mile and a half away on Garrett Lane. Those plans call for a 240-unit apartment development and 136-unit senior care facility north of Target, Home Depot and a residential subdivision.
“Why do we have to have so many high-density housing in a small, 1-mile radius,” Marzorati said. “There’s a lot of empty land in Rockford.”
Hoffman, the alderwoman who represents the 8th Ward, said the District 815 plan helps solve some of the city’s housing needs without development sprawling further out.
“I am one that doesn’t want our city to keep spreading out further,” Hoffman said. “I’m pushing for infill in every thing we do, and to get infill we’re going to have to go multifamily in some cases.”
District 815 said it plans to build the project in four phases as the market and the economy allows.
The first phase would include the strip center, community center and 15 residences, said Raven Ross, the group’s business development manager.
The second phase would consist of four duplexes, an office building and 11 four-family units. The third phase would be four duplexes, four four-family units and eight townhomes. The fourth and final phase would the remainder of the residential development.
“We’re hoping that we can move a little bit faster and get these done potentially in less phases than that,” Ross told the ZBA.
Brad Long, business representative for Carpenters Local 792, said the development group has a project labor agreement with the carpenters union for the construction work.
“We’re very excited about this project and the opportunities not only for current union members but for future apprenticeship opportunities for new members,” Long said.
Ahed has developed other residential projects in Texas before returning to Rockford. Ross said the team involved in District 815 sees this as an investment in their hometown.
“I want to assure everybody in our community that we are all long-term Rockford residents. Our children were born here, they’re in Rockford Public Schools or they were,” Ross said. “Our investment is in Rockford and in this community and we need long-term housing.”
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to correct the title for Brad Long, business representative for Carpenters Local 792.
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
