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ROCK FALLS TO VISIT OREGON IN BNC OPENER PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW, B1
LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT, A9-11, A13
dailyGAZETTE Thursday, September 11, 2014
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
STERLING| DOWNTOWN RENOVATION PROJECT
Pursuit of funding expedited Lawrence Building tower could become apartment complex BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570
STERLING – Plans are underway to transform the crumbling tower of the Lawrence Building into a 20-unit apartment complex. Sterling Today is partnering with the Rock Island Economic Growth Corporation to pursue the renovation project at an estimated cost of $5 million. The regional economic development group has worked to put financing together for many
downtown renovation projects. The money for the Lawrence Building project would likely come from two main sources. “A major portion would come from private investors and tax credits, because we’re generating rental income,” Sterling City Manager Scott Shumard said. A special council meeting was held Wednesday to expedite the process. The council, by a 5-0 vote, gave its approval to borrow $50,000 from the city’s attorney
general’s mortgage settlement funds to use for preliminary costs until the economic development group is able to put the funding together. The city is expecting about $250,000 in mortgage settlement funds this year. The grant allocation is part of $70 million Illinois received in the $25 billion national Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com foreclosure settlement with five of Sterling Today hopes to turn the tower of the the nation’s largest banks. Lawrence Building in downtown Sterling into an apartment complex. RENOVATION CONTINUED ON A4
ROCK FALLS
STERLING
Fourth Street project to begin
Calm, storm before carnival
Motorists can also expect delay at I-88 bridge BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5570
Little to no rain in forecast for today
Photos by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
ABOVE: A carnival ride waits for children Wednesday afternoon at the intersection of Avenue A and Second Street in Rock Falls, where a carnival to benefit St. Mary Elementary School begins at 6 tonight. RIGHT: Workers prepare the Tilt-a-Whirl along the riverfront. Wanna go for a ride? Find out how to get a wristband, as well as the carnival’s hours on page A9. And make some more plans for the weekend while your in the Plan!t Sauk Valley listings, which go through A11 and continue on A13.
STERLING – Construction work on a long stretch of Fourth Street begins today and should be completed by the end of October, the Illinois Department of Transportation said. The Fourth Street work area extends from Ninth to 19th avenues. The road surface will be milled off so repairs can be made, and then it will be resurfaced. John Wegmeyer, IDOT project implementation engineer, said the recent rains have caused a slight delay in the nearly $460,000 state Scott highway project. Shumard “It will probSterling city ably be done manager says by the middle contract compleof October,” tion date for Wegmeyer said. Freeport Road “IDOT pushes project is Oct. 30. to finish road projects by Nov. 1 before weather restrictions become a factor.” One requirement is that temperatures must be at least 40 degrees and rising for road crews to do work that day. Wegmeyer said all parts of the road will remain open during the course of the project, but traffic will be reduced to one lane during work hours. PROJECT CONTINUED ON A4
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TODAY’S EDITION: 28 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 160 ISSUE 195
INDEX
BUSINESS ......... A13 COMICS ............. A12 CROSSWORD....B12
DEAR ABBY ......... A8 LOTTERY ............. A2 OBITUARIES ........ A4
OPINION .............. A6 PLAN!T ................. A9 SPORTS ...............B1
Today’s weather High 63. Low 45. More on A3.
Need work? Check out your classifieds, B7.
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