First residents move into Fountain Square

Grills and wicker furniture are replacing the cranes and construction dust at the new and long-anticipated Fountain Square development in downtown Elgin.

The first wave of people who plunked deposits and contracts down on the property two years ago finally moved in late last week.

While some of the building's tenants are local transplants, others are from such faraway locations as Nevada and Arizona. Another 20 or so closings at the property are scheduled in the next couple of weeks.

"We have two people moving in from Arizona and Nevada who are making this building their primary residence," said Judy Grens, an account executive with RSC & Associates.

"Another person is moving in here from Nevada who will be living here part-time. It's a mixture of people."

Grens said 69 of the building's 93 one- to three-bedroom units have sold.

The building's second phase, which will adjoin the north side of Fountain Square and stretch to East Chicago Street, is less than 20 percent sold, she said. Groundbreaking will not start until at least half of the building is under contract. One dry cleaner will take over one of the building's first-floor retail spaces.

Terry Brown, formerly of a neighboring suburb, was one of only two new property owners to move in last Friday.

Brown said he and his wife decided to buy rather than rent, and liked the idea of living in a downtown.

They signed their contract on a 1,000-square foot unit facing South Grove Avenue after seeing a billboard advertising the complex. Their model features upgraded kitchen cabinets and tile in one of the bathrooms, along with standard amenities like hardwood floors.

"There wasn't even a hole in the ground when we came here the first time," Brown said.

"I have always liked Elgin and the thought of urban living," he said.

"This area seems like it is very up and coming with all of the new amenities going in, and we like to walk to places to get a cup of coffee or something to eat.

"The downtown used to be run-down, with a lot of vacant buildings, but it has turned around a complete 180 degrees."

So far, the Browns have visited a couple of restaurants and hope to keep as much of their business as possible in the downtown.

"We want to try and stay in this area and keep the money in the downtown," Brown said.

Other new Fountain Square residents, such as city council member Bob Gilliam and his wife, are still waiting to move in.

Gilliam said his eighth-floor, two-bedroom unit facing the river still lacks a floor, bathroom and appliances. The couple are also still trying to sell their home on the city's near west side. They are anticipating moving around Thanksgiving.

"My wife and I are ready to downsize," Gilliam said.

"We're tired of being weighed down with things like the yard work and a large house. We want to do some traveling and be able to turn the key and leave."

Gilliam added he is excited about the thought of living downtown and walking to amenities such as Festival Park and the Fox River.

The city is expected to tear down the Riverside parking deck and break ground on a new a multi-million dollar riverfront promenade directly west of Fountain Square early next year.

"When the Fountain Square development was proposed, we thought, 'Why not live there?' It's close to everything," Gilliam said.