Oswego Moving Forward With Redevelopment Of Former Village Hall

OSWEGO, IL — Work will soon begin on the redevelopment of the former village hall site, turning the Downtown Oswego parcel into a three-story building with room for a restaurant and office space. The project is part of a larger reconfiguration of downtown's Block 11, where work will also soon begin, according to the village.

Yorkville-based developer Imperial Investments on Thursday acquired the property at 113 Main Street, the site of the former village hall. The developer plans to construct on the site a complex that will house a ground-floor restaurant with room for al fresco dining, and office space on its two upper floors, the Village of Oswego said Friday.

A groundbreaking ceremony is planned for 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at the site. An updated construction timeline, including the need for street and sidewalk closures, will be announced soon, according to the village.

“We are excited for all the activity coming to Oswego’s downtown and believe it’s a great time for us to be expanding into the Oswego community,” Imperial Investment’s Director of Development, Mike Mann, said in a statement. “We have some great ideas for expanding the dining options available in downtown Oswego, and we can’t wait to get this project underway.”

The sale of the vacant downtown lot is the culmination of years of work for village officials, who have sought its redevelopment for years. The former village hall site at 113 Main Street has been vacant since 2008, when the new Village Hall at 100 Parkers Mill was completed. The former Village Hall building was razed in 2015.

Last summer, Imperial Investments entered into a purchase agreement for the site. In March, the village agreed to turn over the property to Imperial free of charge, with a $60,000 tax increment financing district created for the site as a development incentive, Village Administrator Dan Di Santo said. The village expects to recoup the $60,000 within the first year of the building's occupancy.

The development of 113 Main is part of a larger downtown project that will see Block 11 completely reconfigured, including the addition of a new upscale Mexican restaurant. The downtown block bounded by Washington, Main, Van Buren and Adams streets will also see additional parking, infrastructure improvements, a reimagined streetscape and a pedestrian thoroughfare, according to the village.

Work on those improvements will share a construction timeline with 113 Main, the village said. The village was also improve the sidewalks and alley that bound 113 Main.

Imperial Investments has developed a number of projects in the area, including the Downtown Yorkville complex that houses the popular Crusade Burger Bar.

“We are pleased to partner with Imperial Investments for this new development coming to Oswego and believe this is going to be a great addition to our downtown,” said Village President Troy Parlier said in a statement. “Oswego is a great place to invest, and it’s encouraging that those who have had success in our neighboring communities are seeing the opportunity we offer.”