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Chicago contractor ENC Construction & Development broke ground on the $430 million Colman Yards development in Rockford, Illinois for Milwaukee-based developer J. Jeffers & Co., ENC confirmed to Construction Dive.
The project team will redevelop 10 buildings on the 26-acre campus, all erected between 1907 and 1948, according to the City of Rockford website. Formerly known as the Barber Colman Campus, the development group will also create 73 new townhouses, four mixed-use buildings, two parking garages and 43 “triples,” or three apartment units stacked in a single building .
Jeffers claims the project will create a total of 400 full-time equivalent construction jobs, according to the project’s website. Additionally, all builders employed will be Illinois contractors who are subject to prevailing wage laws.
The development team also expects 20% to 30% minority, women, veteran and disadvantaged business venture participation in the construction process.
The project will be funded through a combination of public and private funding, including River Edge Historic tax credits, which provide state income tax credits equals 25 percent of a project’s qualified expenses to historic property owners, according to the state. Additional funds come from revolving loan funds, according to the city.
The construction of Colman Yards is divided into phases. As $100 million construction phase 1A begins, $70 million phase 1B scheduled to begin in January 2025, according to a July press release from the City of Rockford. The progression of Phase 2, which will also include multiple phases, depends on market factors, according to the release.
