Facelifts coming to downtown Antioch

Downtown Antioch will be the target of several beautification projects in coming months, thanks to as much as $800,000 in funds amassed by a 23-year-old special taxing district.

Officials are planning some facelifts in the business district they hope will eliminate some eyesores and generally improve aesthetics along Main Street and beyond.

"Antioch has always had a charm that most towns don't," Mayor Larry Hanson said. "We're trying to keep and improve that character."

Community Development Director Dustin Nilsen said his staff has targeted some high-profile areas for improvement.

Look for Main and Lake streets to be spruced up with landscaping, new signage, new lighting and the addition of a commissioned art piece. Village officials haven't settled on the artist or what the piece might look like, but they expect to spend $100,000 for the combined improvements.

Also, the downtown area has alleys that interconnect sections of the business district. Those five walkways will be upgraded with new paving, lighting, handrails and iron archways at an estimated cost of nearly $300,000.

The alley improvements are especially welcomed by downtown business owners.

"The bulk of our parking areas are behind the buildings and many people don't realize that," said Antioch Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Barbara Porch. "Those walkways connect the businesses to the parking lots. The village is working to make the area more pedestrian friendly."

The final details on cost and dates of completion are still being worked out, but Nilsen is enthused about the plans. He hopes most of the work will be done by mid-November.

"There should be some very noticeable impacts," he said. "We're excited about the changes."

Additionally, Nilsen said, $22,000 will be spent on hanging flower baskets and banners, $25,000 on sidewalk repair and $14,800 on enhancements at Main Street and Park Avenue.

The village has $820,000 available from a tax increment financing district, which was established 23 years ago but is set to expire. That money can only be used for improvements within that district, which is the downtown area. If it isn't spent, it will be redistributed by the state to local taxing bodies.

In addition to the beautification plans, the village plans to use about half the money to buy property and for continuing programs, such as the concert series.

"We've been using TIF money to make improvements downtown for a number of years," Hanson said. "This will be like putting an exclamation point on it."