Oswego Holds Kickoff For New Hudson Crossing Development

OSWEGO, IL — Oswego Village President Gail Johnson and Shodeen President David Patzelt popped a confetti-filled champagne bottle and counted down the demolition of one of the last remaining structures on the site of the future Hudson Crossing development in Oswego Wednesday morning.

"Frigid temperatures may have delayed the party a bit, but nothing will stop the development of transformational new projects coming to downtown Oswego," officials said.

Crews will continue clearing land over the coming day. The planned six-story, two building development will feature luxury apartments, experimental retail, restaurants, free public parking decks and street improvements, according to a news release.

"Our residents told us that what they wanted most for Oswego was to strengthen the heart of this community with renewed interest in our downtown," Johnson said in a statement. "They wanted more unique dining options, an enhanced shopping district and places to gather with friends and neighbors on a Friday evening to connect and have fun. This is a day we've been looking forward to for a long time, and I am pleased to tell you today that this dream is becoming reality."

The kickoff had been delayed a week due to record-low temperatures that prevented the movement of heavy equipment to the site. The delay is not expected to delay the overall completion of the project, which is expected to take about three years. Officials said other steps in the project, including state and federal approval, have continued behind the scenes.

The plan for the development began in fall 2016, when the Oswego Village Board voted to establish a downtown Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district to encourage development. TIF funds development primarily through sales taxes.

"We knew when we first started that this was the key to development in downtown Oswego,” Johnson said. "It's a difficult piece of land to develop, with shallow bedrock and other unique challenges, but it's also perfectly positioned to connect the banks of the Fox River to our charming downtown. We knew that whatever we were going to do with this land had to be something special, and I think we've got that with this project."

Officials say developers will also soon begin converting the former Village Hall site to a three-story mixed-used building and break ground on a two-story Mexican restaurant on Washington Street.

"Together, the two projects will anchor the new Block 11, a reimagined streetscape featuring a pedestrian-friendly shared promenade for shoppers and diners to gather in downtown," officials said.

For more information on downtown development, visit GoOswego.org/coming-soon.

Lede Photo: Oswego Trustees Ryan Kauffman and Judy Sollinger, Village President Gail Johnson, and Trustees Karin McCarthy Lange, Luiz Perez and Pam Parr celebrate at the project kick-off for The Reserve at Hudson Crossing, on the site of the former Alexander Lumberyard in downtown Oswego on Wednesday, Feb. 6. In the foreground, a poster shows a rendering of the future project. (via Village of Oswego)