Geneva sets planning sessions for Mill Race Inn

GENEVA – Geneva city officials announced the schedule for a planning process called a charrette to determine how to redevelop the former Mill Race Inn property, 4 E. State St., according to a news release.

Three sessions will be held at Riverside Receptions & Conference Center, 35 N. River Lane, Geneva.

• A public workshop will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. June 24

• An open house will be held from 5 to 8:30 p.m. June 26

• A wrap-up presentation will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. June 27

The purpose is to arrive at a consensus to improve the gateway to the city, improve economic conditions, stimulate commercial and residential growth and enhance the tax base, officials said.

The city of Geneva and the Shodeen Family Foundation commissioned a team of planning, architecture, engineering and marketing economics experts led by Hitchcock Design Group to plan for the of the former Mill Race Inn property.

Residents and stakeholders can share their feedback via an online survey available on the city's website, www.geneva.il.us, as well as attend the community sessions. The Mill Race Redevelopment website can also be accessed through the city's website.

Working together as co-sponsors, the city and Shodeen expect the two-phase, five-month planning process to produce a consensus redevelopment strategy and appropriately entitled Preliminary Development Plans that the Shodeen Family Foundation will use to develop the property, the release stated.

The Shodeen Family Foundation owns the parcels along the east banks of the Fox River and is the contract purchaser of the property at the southwest corner of State Street and Route 25.

Residents who want to stay connected to the redevelopment process can subscribe to receive project updates by clicking on the “notify me” button on the city’s website.

There will be individual and small group interviews and discussions with city leaders and community stakeholders during the day that week as part of the five-day planning process.

Aldermen approved an agreement last month that calls for the city to split the $273,400 cost of hiring Hitchcock Design Group with the Shodeen Family Foundation.

Each will spend $136,700. The city’s share will be tax increment finance money, officials said.

Questions may be directed to the Community Development Director David DeGroot at 630-232-0814 or via email ddegroot@geneva.il.us, or to Economic Development Director Cathleen Tymoszenko at 630-232-7449 or via email ctymoszenko@geneva.il.us.