How will St. Charles redevelop former police station? City seeks public input

St. Charles is taking another crack at spurring development at the site of the former police station along a city-owned riverfront property.

The city has been looking to redevelop the site since police moved into a new, $24.6 million station in 2019. In 2021, the city council rejected four development proposals featuring hotels, apartment complexes, restaurants and shopping centers.

Residents and council members scoffed at the large footprint of the projects and the height of the building proposals in the popular scenic walking area along the Fox River.

The former police station has remained vacant since the department moved out.

In October, a feasibility study presented to city officials focused on potential developments at 10 State Ave., also encompassing the east bank of the Fox River, and adjacent open spaces and parking lots, including the lot just north of the St. Charles Municipal Center.

The study by Chicago-based architecture firm Solomon Cordwell Buenz evaluated potential developments ranging from reusing the existing structure to new residential, commercial and mixed-use concepts, according to the city’s website.

To gauge the public’s interest, the council on Dec. 15 approved a contract with All Together, an Evanston-based firm specializing in public engagement for urban design projects, for a maximum fee of $34,800.

“This prime riverfront location presents a unique opportunity to create a development that enhances the community, activates the downtown, and reflects the values of St. Charles residents,” All Together said in city documents. “This downtown riverfront site represents one of St. Charles’ most significant development opportunities in recent years.”

All Together said the firm will gather input on the development scenarios through visuals, activities and an online survey. An open house is planned with interactive stations to gain more detailed feedback.

The firm is testing the water on seven development scenarios, including multifamily residential, townhomes, a hotel, a mixed-use concept, entertainment with food and beverage, programmed open space and adaptive reuse of the existing structure.

The site is located near the heavily used Pottawatomie Park recreation area.

On the other side of Main Street, the city council recently approved the four-story, four-building luxury $1.9 million per unit duplexes, dubbed 504 Rowhomes.

Farther out — after significant public concern and skepticism from city officials — a city review was delayed involving plans for 83 homes in the $750,000-$850,000 price range on 38 acres in the Red Gate Farm area. The proposal, dubbed Claibourne Farm, is next up for discussion in January.

As for the former police station site, St. Charles officials wrote in city documents that necessary infrastructure, financial perspectives, land usage and density will help identify feasible development options at the site surrounding the former police station.

The city will also study parking, traffic, site maintenance and potential revenue, according to city documents.

All Together’s engagement services will run through May 29.

The feasibility study and the public engagement process are not designed to recommend any scenario, the city says, but rather “provide a framework and visual examples illustrating how the site could be developed if the city and community determine a preferred direction.”