"Sometimes the right decision is to put the bodies into Geneva, not a business, and I think that building is a perfect example," Stanton says.
The former U.S. Bank building at the corner of North Third Street and Hamilton Street ought to be marketed as office space, downtown Geneva developer and landlord Joe Stanton says. "The bank building on the corner of Hamilton and Third, I know there’s been a lot of interest. I’ve been in there quite a few times," he said. "But it’s going to take something very creative. It’s going to be a tough time to get (a tenant)—because of the shape of that building. "The building needs to be subdivided. You might get away with a couple commercial entities facing Third Street, but the truth of the matter is we need for that to be an office building again." A big part of the longrange downtown plan is to encourage more residential development so that…
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Mayor Kevin Burns says the project speaks specifically to our desire for more housing downtown."
The city of Geneva has issued building permits and construction is under way at Dodson Square Townhomes, a five-unit community of upscale townhomes to be located at the southeast corner of South and Second Streets in downtown Geneva. Two of the five townhomes have already been sold, according to Craig Shodeen, president of Shodeen Residential. “The project plan and moving forward speaks specifically to our desire for more housing downtown,” said Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns, in a Walsh Communications press release. “We are confident these discerning homeowners will enjoy the advantage of downtown shopping and dining, nearby public transportation and the overall convenience of living in downtown Geneva.” As planned, Dodson Square townhomes …
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1:39 pm on Thursday, December 13, 2012
Are there really going to be parking spaces on South st. as depicted in the picture? more ›
Row houses, parking decks, multi-story mixed use, new retail opportunities, a pedestrian overpass and a new "roundabout" where First and Third streets intersect are part of this triangle-shaped hub that extends on the north from Fourth Street to First Str
Development Concept Overview The development concept for this opportunity site is to provide additional parking for commuters, additional commercial/retail along Third Street, and new residential development opportunities along South Street and Fourth Street, all in a manner that maintains the overall desired character of the area while providing for the future increase in Metra ridership and the better utilization of key sites near the station. What's There Now A few gas stations along First Street, parking behind the new multi-use building on the west side of Third Street, and older commercial businesses are in this area now. Retail Development/Southern Gateway An objective of this concept is to provide new retail development …
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The East Side of the Fox River would include a reconstructed Mill Race Inn or boutique hotel, multi-family between Bennett and Crissey, row houses, a seven-story building with parking and a pedestrian bridge to Island Park.
Editor's Note: On June 27, the city of Geneva held a meeting to unveil the first draft of its Downtown Master Plan. The plan identifies seven site opportunities for development. This series spotlights each opportunity site and says what present structures would be replaced. Development Concept Overview The development concept for this opportunity site is intended to improve the area east of the Fox River as more of an extension of Downtown by providing opportunities for new retail, lodging, and residential uses in an attractive setting along the Fox River, along with public space, trails, and riverfront access. Sites along East State Street are shown as new residential development, utilizing the change of grade as a development asset. …
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12:59 pm on Monday, July 16, 2012
It's necessary to have walking trails SEPARATE from the ones for cyclists. As it is now, the cyclists have taken over the paths and the walkers are expected to give in to them. Mary Nigro more ›
A downtown parking deck, a commercial building fronting State Street and new uses for the present City Hall and Library are part of this opportunity site.
Editor's Note: On June 27, the city of Geneva held a meeting to unveil the first draft of its Downtown Master Plan. The plan identifies seven site opportunities for development. This series spotlights each opportunity site and says what present structures would be replaced. Development Concept Overview The development concept for this opportunity site focuses on three primary objectives: 1) balancing the opportunity for use/reuse of existing government facilities; 2) providing strategically located structured parking; and 3) development of new commercial/mixed-use structures. The challenge of addressing these three components is doing so in a sensitive manner, within the context of the existing uses and development. What's There Now The …
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Geneva's Downtown Master Plan is filled with wonderful ideas, most of which won't ever happen.
Geneva's Downtown Master Plan is a thing of beauty. Provocative and well-thought urban planning. Terrific concern for core values and citizen input, from history to economic viability to civic pride and functionality. All presented on 75 glossy pages, with gorgeous photography, smart page design, maps and graphics. But right now, that's all it is—a pretty picture. To accomplish even a tiny fraction of the development outlined in the plan's seven opportunity sites, you need heavy doses of two things: political will and funding. Neither seems present here. From the comments and responses during the Wednesday, June 27, public forum on the plan's first draft, it's clear the city has no intent of using eminent domain or tax-increment financing…
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9:05 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Rick, the important part is that it is a plan! Maybe specific parts of it will not come to fruition but it states a philosophy and sets definite goals. It gives us direction. I lived in a town similar to Geneva in many ways for 23 years. They did not plan but took each development proposal as it came along. By the time we left the town had pretty much ruined itself. There was no coherence in … more ›
In this version of Hamilton Street, the city envisions a mixed use building with four layers: underground parking, ground-floor retail and two tiers of upper-floor residential.
Development Concept Overview The development concept for this opportunity site focuses primarily on providing new structured parking new multi-family residential development along the south side of Hamilton Street, between Second and Fourth streets, with limited commercial facing Second, Third and Fourh streets. The “transitional” nature of development and uses along Hamilton Street creates an area that can accommodate a variety of uses. This concept utilizes this location to accommodate new higher density residential uses adjacent to the Downtown’s primary shopping core. What's There Now A former bank building that is for lease, parking lot and some older commercial buildings are along the south side of Hamilton Street between Second and…
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9:31 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Hmmmm. This location looks like it would be perfect for a bank with a drive through! Nah.....that would be stupid. Let's just build a new one two blocks away by destroying a historically significant building and displacing a thriving business. more ›
The Seventh and State opportunity in Geneva's Downtown Master Plan has two concepts for a new Geneva library, plus commercial redevelopment on State Street.
Development Concept Overview The development concept for this opportunity site includes several key components, including a new library, extending Seventh Street to the north, new commercial/mixed-use redevelopment on the northeast and southwest corners of State and Seventh, and new row houses along James Street. The concept seeks to provide opportunities for appropriate new infill development and improved vehicular and bicycle circulation in a manner that reinforces the more traditional Downtown development pattern that exists along State Street to the east. What's There Now An older shopping area with various retail stores including a new Ace Hardware at Sixth and State streets. On the south side of the street is another older shopping…
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The Downtown Master Plan calls for rowhouses, multi-family units and a pedestrian bridge across the Fox River.
Development Concept Overview The development concept for this opportunity site is to provide new multi-family and single-family attached residential development in the Downtown in a manner that is sensitive to the established residential neighborhood while taking advantage of the proximity to the Fox River and the opportunities for increased building height provided by the elevation change between the river and First Street. What's There Now A former bottling company occupies the corner of Stevens Street and River Lane. There are older homes and apartments along River Lane, with an undeveloped area along the riverbank. Desired Use The desired use for this development opportunity site is multi-family and single-family attached residential. …
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11:24 am on Sunday, July 8, 2012
I have always felt Island Park and that area would be great for festivals and concerts! A pedestrian bridge is needed to make that happen. Glad to see this master plan revealed! There is a lot to offer on the other side of the river and connecting it to downtown would make that area flourish! more ›
Under the Downtown Master Plan, the old Burgess-Norton building would be torn down, in favor of four low-intensity industrial buildings—and Seventh Street would be extended all the way to State Street.
Development Concept Overview The development concept for this opportunity site is to provide a neighborhood-scaled light industrial/business park area that is compatible with the existing residential neighborhood, while accommodating the extension and realignment of an extended Seventh Street. What's There Now The corporate offices of Burgess-Norton Manufacturing Company, 737 Peyton St., are located here. The company website says Burgess-Norton has two product lines, "both of which produce highly engineered components serving key industrial markets." The company was founded in Geneva in 1903 when the core of its business was piston pins. The company introduced powder metal technology in 1954. Desired Use The desired use for this site …
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5:33 pm on Saturday, July 7, 2012
If Burgess is torn down what is going to be done about the poluited ground under the buildings? The old equiptment and old railway tankers that are buried under the floors that have leaked and poluited the ground since WWII. It is a big can of worms if that those buildings are torn down and all the clean up will take years and years. more ›
Colin C.
7:54 am on Monday, May 13, 2013
That bank building adds absolutely nothing to our downtown, visually or historically. It is at the end of the Third St. shopping corridor. Would it make sense to demolish it and turn the whole lot into a nice, landscaped parking area? Granted, the City loses yet another tax source but would the added parking at that central location offset the loss? more ›