December 15 , 2006

All City Council approvals for the First Street Project were received on December 4, 2006. The City is now working with legal counsel and the developer to execute the transactions authorized by the approvals. Staff met with the developer on December 12 to discuss the kick-off of Phase 1 of the project. Execution of the Redevelopment Agreement is to be completed in the next few days and then the necessary steps can be taken to begin the transfer of property between the parties.

The City has received confirmation from the US Army Corps of Engineers that all required materials have been submitted regarding the proposed floodway amendment. Further information is expected in 60 days.

It has been a challenging week for construction on First Street, as access has become limited. Still, Benchmark Construction has two crews working and has completed the sanitary sewer work on Indiana Street. Additionally, they have completed electric duct work on First street south of Indiana.

The week of December 18, Benchmark expects to complete the water main work on Indiana Street. Also, they will continue sanitary sewer excavation on First Street north of Indiana. During this same time, restoration of First Street between Prairie and Indiana is scheduled—consisting of an overlay of the entire roadway. Depending on construction progress, this may or may not include the intersection of Indiana and First Street.

Construction is approaching the First and Illinois intersection, which must eventually be closed, since utilities cross from south to north. It is expected this will occur in early January and will include closure of the Illinois Street Bridge. This closure may last one to two weeks.

It should be noted that a riverbank restoration project unrelated to First Street is in a holding pattern until the Fox River level drops, in order to install sediment barriers. Materials for the project are currently being held in the vacant lot at the southwest corner of First and Illinois Streets. Contingent on the river level, the contractor is expected to begin work along the riverbank before the end of the year.

October 26, 2006

Currently, preparations are underway for a special Planning and Development meeting on November 1 where staff will be seeking a recommendation on the PUD applications. This meeting will not address the redevelopment agreement or the financial aspects of the project. Those will be presented and discussed at a later date. In the mean time, attorneys continue to work on finalizing the redevelopment agreement document. This is in its final stages, as all major terms are negotiated and completed.

On October 19, the floodway modification proposed by the City was formally approved by Illinois Department of Natural Resources. As the second step, staff has now moved the amendment from the state to the federal level for necessary approval. Application has been made to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), who must review and revise the actual maps to reflect the change approved by IDNR. The approval and effective map revision from FEMA could take up to 6 months to be finalized, but the approval from IDNR was a significant step forward.

October 19, 2006

On October 17, the Plan Commission voted to give a positive recommendation to the City Council for the First Street Planned Unit Development Application, by a 6 – 2 vote. The PUD Application recommended by the Commission includes parties from First Street Development LLC, SMN Development LLC, and the Blue Goose, but did not include Francesca’s Restaurant as originally planned. At this point in time, the PUD recommendation and financial analysis will be ready for review by the Planning and Development Committee of the City Council in early November.

This week, infrastructure work along First Street and the Prairie Street Bridge continues. At this time, construction is on schedule, and staff expects the Prairie Street Bridge will re-open by the end of next week.

September 29, 2006

Last week, following presentations by First Street Development LLC, the Historic Preservation Commission recommended the First Street Project and a recommendation will also be forthcoming from the Design Committee of the Downtown St. Charles Partnership and River Corridor Commission. The Plan Commission voted to continue the public hearing and their discussion of the project until October 3.

Please link to Construction Updates for the latest news
on First Street construction activities.