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Property Details for Former Rockford Watch Factory & RPS 205 Building


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Legal Notices

Profile Information

Government
234847
325 South Madison Street ROCKFORD, IL 61104
4.62
11-23-361-004
42.2667537 / -89.0926724
17
Cragan, Keary
cragan.keary@epa.gov
312-353-5669


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Property Location



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Property Progress


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CAs Associated with this Property

CA NameCA #StateTypeAnnouncement Year
City of RockfordBF00E02872ILCleanup2020
Illinois Environmental Protection AgencyRP96507907ILSection 128(a) State/Tribal2011
Illinois Environmental Protection AgencyRP96507911ILSection 128(a) State/Tribal2015
Rockford, City of BF00E00435ILAssessment2010
Rockford, City of BF00E45801ILBCRLF2008


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Assessment Activities at this Property

ActivityEPA FundingStart DateCompletion DateCAAccomplishment Counted?Counted When?
Phase I Environmental Assessment10/27/201412/10/2014Rockford, City of NFY21
Phase I Environmental Assessment02/01/201407/14/2014Rockford, City of NFY21
Phase I Environmental Assessment03/10/201404/14/2014Rockford, City of NFY21
Phase I Environmental Assessment$3,145.5903/01/201303/26/2013Rockford, City of NFY21
Phase I Environmental Assessment$6,000.0008/20/201201/11/2013Rockford, City of YFY21
Phase II Environmental Assessment06/12/201510/30/2015Rockford, City of N
Phase II Environmental Assessment12/02/201301/27/2015Rockford, City of N
Phase II Environmental Assessment12/01/201401/27/2015Rockford, City of N
Phase II Environmental Assessment06/01/201506/15/2015Rockford, City of N
Phase II Environmental Assessment05/26/201509/22/2015Rockford, City of N
Phase II Environmental Assessment12/01/201401/27/2015Rockford, City of N
Phase II Environmental Assessment12/02/201302/03/2014Rockford, City of N
Phase II Environmental Assessment12/02/201302/03/2014Rockford, City of N
Supplemental Assessment12/01/201401/27/2015Rockford, City of N


Is Cleanup Necessary? Yes
EPA Assessment Funding: $9,145.59
Leveraged Funding: $57,658.96
Total Funding: $66,804.55


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Climate Adaption and Mitigation - Planning or Assessment

Selected Strategy(ies)Explanatory Text
N/AThis property does not incorporate planning or assessment activities to address impacts from extreme weather events and natural disasters. If no activities were incorporated, select this option.


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Contaminants and Media


Asbestos
PAHS
PCBS
Cleaned Up
Cleaned Up
Cleaned Up
Building Materials
Soil
Cleaned Up
Cleaned Up


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Cleanup Activities

Start DateEPA FundingCompletion DateCAAccomplishment Counted?Cleanup Documentation
01/22/2021$156,382.3311/01/2021City of RockfordYes
01/22/2021$23,006.5011/01/2021City of RockfordYes
01/20/201507/07/2016Rockford, City of Yes
01/22/202111/01/2021City of RockfordYes
01/20/2015$84,213.3307/07/2016Rockford, City of Yes
01/20/201507/07/2016Rockford, City of Yes
04/13/201506/15/2015Rockford, City of Yes
01/22/202111/01/2021City of RockfordYes
01/20/2015$142,517.0007/07/2016Rockford, City of Yes
01/20/201507/07/2016Rockford, City of Yes


Cleanup/Treatment Implemented: Y
Cleanup/Treatement Categories:
Addl Cleanup/Treatment info: Multiple cleanup activities have occurred on the property. Initial soil cleanup occurred in response to a release from PCB containing electrical transformers during decommissioning activities. Additionally, low level PNA impacted soil was removed to make grade for the new parking lot that supports the adjacent UW Sports Factory venue. Asbestos abatement is addressed in two phases. The first phase is complete and included abatement from former additions to the Watch Factory structure on the property prior to their demolition. The second phase included asbestos abatement from the remaining historic Watch Factory Structure, which began in early 2021 with the project planning and the procurement of an asbestos abatement contractor. Interior abatement work occurred in April and May of 2021, with asbestos containing roofing materials removed in late fall. A new roof was completed to weatherproof the historic structure prior to redevelopment.
Address of Data Source:
Total ACRES Cleaned Up: 4.62
Number of Cleanup Jobs Leveraged: 120
EPA Cleanup Funding: $406,119.16
Leveraged Funding: $32,981.53
Cost Share Funding: $57,514.07
Total Funding: $496,614.76


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Climate Adaption and Mitigation - Demolition or Cleanup

Selected Strategy(ies)Explanatory Text
N/AThis property does not incorporate demolition or cleanup activities to address impacts from extreme weather events and natural disasters. If no activities were incorporated, select this option.


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Institutional and Engineering Controls

No
No
No


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Redevelopment and Other Leveraged Accomplishments

Start DateLeveraged FundingCACompletion Date
11/01/2021$108,700.00City of Rockford
03/10/2015$4,870,425.00Rockford, City of


Number of Redevelopment Jobs Leveraged:
Actual Acreage of Greenspace Created:
Leveraged Funding:


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Climate Adaption and Mitigation - Redevelopment

Selected Strategy(ies)Explanatory Text
N/AThis property does not incorporate redevelopment activities to address impacts from extreme weather events and natural disasters. If no activities were incorporated, select this option.


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Additional Property Attributes

The eastern portion of the property historically contained the Rockford Public School (RPS) District 205 Administration Building. The western portion contains the historic Rockford Watch Factory that was originally constructed in 1875-1876. The Rockford Watch Company closed its doors in 1915. Following closure, the building was subject to several additions that housed a diverse set of users over time. The Rockford Board of Education occupied the building immediately post and into the early 1950s, where the building was utilized for office and classroom space. From the 1950s until the City purchased the property in 2015, the original Watch Factory structure was used for office space to support several industrial operations that occupied the additions.
The property acquisition was crucial to support redevelopment of the $24 million UW Health Sports Factory located immediately west along the Rock River. Shortly after the City's purchase, several additions to the original Watch Factory structure along with the RPS 205 building were razed to provide additional parking for users of the Sports Factory, which is one of the largest indoor sports tournament venues in the Midwest.
The historic Watch Factory building was stabilized and is currently awaiting adaptive reuse to complete the full redevelopment of the property. Redevelopment of the approximately 22,895 square foot Watch Factory would be a final complement to the Sports Factory and the other downtown developments. The Watch Factory building is within the boundary of the Haight Village Historical District, a district that is registered on the United States National Register of Historic Places. A USEPA Cleanup Grant was most recently used to abate asbestos, weatherproof, and secure the historic building to make it more marketable for redevelopment. On October 2, 2023, a development agreement with a local developer was approved by City Council to adaptively reuse the structure into a mixed-use building.
Commercial (2.17) Industry (2.45)
06/15/2015


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Release 3.0.2