The Rockford City Council’s Finance and Personnel Committee voted on Monday, April 10, 2023, to award a nearly $324,000 contract to N-Trak Group of Loves Park to tear down Church School at Blaisdell and Furman streets. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — City Council members on Monday approved plans to demolish a nearly 130-year-old school after decades-old redevelopment plans failed to gain traction.

Aldermen voted 12-1 to hire N-Trak Group of Loves Park to raze Church School, 1419 Blaisdell St., on the city’s northwest side. Sixth Ward Alderwoman Aprel Prunty voted against the demolition contract. Alderwoman Linda McNeely was absent.

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The city, which owns the property, will pay N-Trak Group $323,720 for the demolition and cleanup work. It’s paid for from the federal Community Development Block Grant program.

The city took ownership of the building in 2010 for $16,500 worth of liens it had filed against the property after it deteriorated under previous ownership.

The school was closed by Rockford Public Schools in 1994, and it was sold for $36,000 three years later to Progressive West Rockford Community Development Group. The group planned to turn it into a community center, but those plans fell through and the building fell into disrepair.

City officials say other redevelopment ideas were explored, too, but they ultimately weren’t financially feasible.

Bob Esmund of the West Gateway Coalition neighborhood group supported demolition in an email sent to Mayor Tom McNamara and shared with council members before Monday’s vote.

“Currently the building sits in disrepair and has a negative impact on the community,” Esmund wrote. “Unless an organization with a proven track record of redeveloping these types of properties (comes forward) and has the $20-25 million in funding, the building needs to come down.

“One of the comments that I hear from residents and homeowners is, ‘How can the city fine me for my property when they have violations on the school building.”

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Church School was built starting in 1894, and a gymnasium was added in 1936, according to information from the Rockford Public Library‘s local history room. Other redevelopment ideas included a multimillion-dollar plan to turn it into senior housing.

N-Trak is expected to begin asbestos removal next month and start tearing down the structure in June.

The land would be left as open green space until an appropriate development is proposed.


This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas

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