ROCHELLE — Following the receipt of a $1.1 million downtown grant and the recent snow-related collapse of the gazebo in the downtown area, the City of Rochelle is considering the construction of a new structure on the site that could include five public bathrooms, storage and a stage area, City Community Development Director Michelle Pease and City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh said March 20. 

In August 2022, the city was announced as a recipient of a $1.1 million grant for downtown redevelopment as part of the state’s Rebuild Illinois’ Downtowns and Main Streets program. The plans for the money include the potential new structure, and reconstruction of seven existing city parking lots and the addition of two new city parking lots in the downtown area. The city does have a matching portion of $306,000. The rest of the project will be covered by the grant. A committee has been established for the downtown improvements. 

Pease said the city is currently working through engineering on what the potential structure could look like, and is waiting for a cost analysis.

“It could potentially be five bathrooms and incorporate some storage and a potential stage area for all of the events that we do downtown,” Pease said. “It's still in the works. Nothing is concrete. I believe it will go in front of the city council on April 22 at its second meeting that month. I'm excited for it. I think we'll all be pretty proud of it when it comes to fruition. There are no downtown public bathrooms right now. Currently you have to go into a business. This will add some staying power and walkability to downtown.”

Fiegenschuh said the collapse of the gazebo over the winter due to a storm played into the decision to look at a new structure. The grant application originally called for just a restroom downtown. 

The committee for the downtown improvements includes Mayor John Bearrows, City Councilwoman Rosaelia Arteaga, and city staff. 

“I definitely think expanding it and having more of a gathering space made sense and that's why our group is looking at this,” Fiegenschuh said. “I like it. I think there's a lot of very talented people on the committee and I'm proud of what they came up with. This part in the gazebo area is just one component of the grant.”

New parking lots that are part of the downtown improvements will be located off Lincoln Avenue and off the intersection of Washington Street and Second Avenue. Fiegenschuh said those areas will also offer opportunities for more gatherings for things like vendors and food trucks. Also part of the downtown plan is the potential installation of kiosks that will involve wayfinding and the promotion of businesses, organizations and events.

No work on a potential structure in the gazebo area will take place before the upcoming Lincoln Highway Heritage Festival this August and La Fiesta Hispana in September, Pease said. The gazebo will not be reconstructed before then and temporary tents will be used. 

“We'll wait and do the major parking lot and bathrooms and this potential project after September,” Pease said. “Then we'll be able to jump on it. But there are other parking lots we'll be able to rehabilitate first. If we can do the parking lots that are not going to get in the way of the activities, and then we'll hit the rest of it hard at the end of September, I'd love to have everything completed and done by Aug. 1, 2025.”

Fiegenschuh said the receipt of the grant will allow the city to do all of the downtown work in one year, rather than having to save money and do it in stages. The city council also recently issued alternate revenue bonds for other downtown improvements including running utilities underground to help with aesthetics, reliability, and ease for electric access during events downtown. 

Pease said she believes that having public restrooms downtown will create additional walkability in the area.

“I think one of the things that will have value for those businesses is the increased foot traffic,” Pease said. “And the attraction of being able to hang out downtown for longer periods of time to shop and have lunch and go for a drink or whatever. It will increase walkability and make for longer stays for visitors.”