3/29/2012
Corina Curry, RRStar

ROCKFORD — When Gov. Pat Quinn visited Rockford in fall 2010 and announced the city would be getting $8 million from the state’s new River Edge Redevelopment Zone program, quite a few people wondered when, or even if, the money would arrive.

That answer came this month when the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the agency that manages the River Edge program, approved the city’s request to spend the money on eight highly visible riverfront rehabilitation efforts.

They span from Barber-Colman Village to the south to the indoor Rockford City Market to the north. In between are the outdoor City Market, streetscape improvements on either side of the Rock River on State Street, Davis Park, a whitewater park development, and renovation of the old Ingersoll building into an indoor sports venue.

The city will embark on the initial phases of most of the projects this year. It has until Jan. 31, 2014, to spend the money.

The funding will be thrown at eight of 20 top projects for downtown identified by the nonprofit Rock River Development Partnership about a month after Quinn’s visit. The group, which focuses on efforts to revitalize downtown, launched Rockford
City Market in 2010; after two successful years, it is eager to expand.

Of the $8 million from River Edge, $2.5 million is going toward indoor and outdoor city market activities. The city plans to make improvements at the outdoor location and establish an indoor location in a nearby vacant building. This way the market can continue in the winter months, which helps the small businesses grow and establish more stability.

“We were hoping the money would be here sooner, but we’re happy to be starting now,” said partnership chairman Peter Provenzano. “We’re not sure what we’re going to be able to get done with that money, but what we’re getting is definitely enough for a sufficient start.”

City Administrator Jim Ryan said city leaders are excited about the momentum building around downtown in recent months and are ready to spend the city’s River Edge money on projects that have the potential to bring back businesses and activities.

“These are not just watercolor renderings. These are real projects,” Ryan said. “There is a real energy building around downtown, and it’s coming from all sides. It’s the City Market. It’s the Park District and their commitment to the Ingersoll project. It’s people like First Rockford Group stepping up to the plate and being a part of this. It’s the Morgan Street bridge. It’s the riverwalk. It’s the IceHogs and the Harris Bank Center.”



For More Information:
http://www.rrstar.com/news/x1440919361/River-Edge-Redevelopment-Zone-work-on-tap-in-Rockford