'Cornerstone' of Elgin waits on state funds

Elgin leaders are champing at the bit to start the latest and one of the largest pieces of their ongoing downtown redevelopment plan.

The plans are nearly done for the 1,500-foot-long reconstruction of Riverside Drive, which runs along the east bank of the Fox River from Highland Avenue to Prairie Street and essentially parallel to Grove Avenue.

The most important piece of the puzzle - $13 million from the state as part of a $30 billion capital plan - has been promised by Gov. Pat Quinn, said Elgin Mayor Ed Schock during a meeting with downtown merchants Tuesday night.

"The project is really the cornerstone. It's 1,500 feet - five football fields long," Schock said. "I am very optimistic we're going to get the funding. This is a project that really caught (Quinn's) eye."

City leaders still must obtain permits from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, the state's Department of Natural Resources and the Army Corps of Engineers. If funding comes through, construction could take about nine months and hopefully would be completed sometime in 2011.

The Riverside Drive Promenade will contain a two-way road, a bike path and three large, more than 80-foot-wide overlooks facing west along the Fox River accented with lighted columns and geometric-type shade features.

"We really tried to make this a people-first, but still vehicle-accessible, space," said Tim King, principal at the Naperville-based Hitchcock Design Group, which the city contracted to draw up the plans. "This can really be some great gathering places for people."

Rick Hitchcock, Hitchcock president and CEO, said the promenade will link downtown by bike path and complement Festival Park.

"If Festival Park is the front yard, this is the front porch," he said. "This is a completely unique feature. It's going to bring tremendous distinction."

Tonya Hudson, Downtown Neighborhood Association executive director, hopes the project will be another step forward for Elgin.

"Redeveloping Riverside Drive not only beautifies the riverfront, but it also creates reinvestment opportunities for the properties along South Grove Avenue," she said. "These properties have incredible mixeduse potential as they essentially have two facades - one facing South Grove and one facing Riverside Drive."

Funds: Project would have a road, bike path and overlooks