Two years after fire, next steps in St. Albans Green rebuild plan heads to Sycamore City Council

SYCAMORE – Nearly two years after fire destroyed building B of St. Albans Green apartment complex displacing more than 120 residents, a local developer continues the rebuild process and will head Monday to the Sycamore City Council.

Jim Mason, who owns St. Albans Green, continues to seek city approval for next steps in his plan to rebuild the 40-unit complex into townhomes instead. The complex was ravaged by what fire investigators have deemed an accidental fire started by a cigarette being put out on a balcony July 27, which quickly caught fire. The rest of the complex and was deemed a total loss. All residents of building A of St. Albans were displaced, and some pets died in the fire. The building was demolished in November 2019.

As part of the proposed resolution, which if approved Monday by the City Council will be signed by Mayor Steve Braser and acting City Manager Maggie Peck, development plans include water main and roadway improvements. The improvements are meant to ensure the site is cost efficient.

According to city documents, the agreement would have Mason install 320 linear feet of water main on the site that will be for the city’s public use. Mason also would be responsible for repaving south Main Street from the north property line of St. Albans to Lincoln Street, which will be disturbed because of water main construction, documents show.

The work will be performed in conjunction with other on-site work being performed as part of the redevelopment project.

According to the agreement, the water main must be completed before any certificates of occupancy are issued, and subsequent road repairs must be completed on or before Nov. 1 of this year, or any subsequent date which Mason or the city could agree upon.

In the two years since the fire in late July 2019, Mason has appeared before the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission several times to discuss concept plans and approval of a special use permit to build townhomes on the 2.48-acres at 711 S. Main St. in Sycamore.

The proposed resolution up for council approval Monday is the next step in that process, part of planned improvements on the property that will be made as part of reconstruction efforts.

In early March 2020, Mason appeared before the City Council, which approved an amended plan for the proposed townhome replacement project. The preliminary approval includes plans for 28 two-bedroom, single-story units instead of his original plan for 27 units with three-bedrooms each among two stories.

Following completion of the work outlined in the agreement, dedication and acceptance by the city, and delivery of lien waivers in compliance with the city of Sycamore’s Unified Development Code, the city will reimburse Mason for an amount not to exceed the city’s estimate of cost for the public-dedicated portion of the project, according to city documents.

The water main that is installed will be municipally owned, according to the agreement, but will not include any services attached.

Sycamore city officials recommended that the council approve the resolution. The City Council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at Sycamore Center, 308 W. State St. in downtown Sycamore.