This rendering provided by District 815 provides a look at the plans for future four-unit townhomes part of the urban living community. (Image provided by District 815)

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Developers plan to break ground in early 2025 on a project that could bring 220 residences, a grocery store, restaurants and other businesses to the city’s east side.

The local team behind the District 815 development announced those plans Monday night after City Council voted 10-0 to approve a special-use permit for the multiphase project.

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The development will fill a reverse C-shaped plot of vacant land along South Mulford Road and behind the Forest Plaza shopping center on East State Street.

It will feature a strip center designed to house a halal/kosher grocery store, a convenience store, a dry cleaner and restaurants.

There will also be a community center, three office buildings, 28 duplexes, 25 four-unit buildings and 16 four-unit towntowns.

All of the residential units will be on the market for purchase, not rentals.

Mustafa Abdall of District 815 said the project will provide new luxury housing for Rockford, new businesses and job opportunities and encourage future investment.

“Investors, when they see more than 200 units will be built in Rockford, we will encourage more investors to come to Rockford,” he said, thanking City Council for its support.

This preliminary site plan shows how District 815 is expected to be developed. (Image provided by District 815)

The strip center would be built north of Elaine Drive along South Mulford Road.

Immediately east of that would be an additional 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.

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The project is expected to be built in four phases, with the first phase starting early next year and consisting of the strip center, community center and 15 residences.

The rest of the project will be built as the market and economy allows.

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.

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