Sterling: A look back at the top five stories of 2024

STERLING — 2024 has been a big year for Sterling, with several projects and plans that will shape the city’s future underway.

Here is a look back at five impactful stories to come out of Sterling in 2024:

Riverfront Reimagined

Sterling’s $300-million-plus Riverfront Reimagined Project calls for the multi-phase redevelopment of the Lawrence Bros. and National Manufacturing sites. The first phase began in November with the construction of a new park, including a multi-age, accessible playground, splash pad, plaza, park shelter, stage facility and restrooms.

The city awarded a $4.7 million bid to Sjostrom and Sons Inc. of Rockford on Sept. 16 and expects the majority of the work will be finished by June, with a tentative park opening the following month.

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Artists’ renderings are put on display Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, at the site of Sterling's riverfront project. (Alex T. Paschal)

In addition to the park, later phases could include an amphitheater, worker apartments, a hotel and events center, and a rooftop bar/restaurant for the four buildings at the Lawrence site. That could be followed by market-rate apartments, a fitness center and yet-to-be-determined uses of the National site.

Homelessness discussions

Sterling’s homeless population has been a growing point of discussion throughout 2024. City officials, along with the Sterling Police Department, were experiencing an increasing number of complaints from residents and business owners about unruly homeless individuals.

Police Chief Alex Rivera said SPD responded to over 700 service calls regarding homeless individuals between Sept. 1, 2023, and Sept. 17, 2024. Those calls resulted in 113 custodial arrests and nine state citations ranging from property crimes, drug-related offenses, and violent crimes to disorderly conduct and public disturbance, obstruction and identification issues, as well as violations of sex offender registration and protection orders.

Police and city officials have said many of those service calls involved homeless individuals dealing with mental health or substance abuse issues who refuse to accept help. The city began exploring options to help the situation following a U.S. Supreme Court action that now allows cities to establish an ordinance to ban sleeping and camping in public spaces.

The U.S. Supreme Court on June 28, in the case of City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, overturned a lower court’s ruling that had prohibited cities from enforcing public camping ordinances, which had been deemed cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment. Now, municipalities can create and enforce these ordinances, even if local shelters cannot accommodate their homeless populations.

However, that poses a problem for Sterling’s Twin Cities PADS Homeless Shelter, whose growing homeless population has pushed the shelter to capacity.

Shelter Director Myles Newberry recently asked the public for assistance after the Sterling City Council passed an ordinance banning public camping on Dec. 2. The ordinance bans public camping, including setting up campsites, tents and bedding or sleeping in vehicles on public property, such as sidewalks, streets, parks and city-owned land.

PADS can house up to 32 people per night. Newberry said that before the COVID-19 pandemic, the facility averaged six guests per night. Now, the shelter averages nearly 30 each night with the need for services expected to rise as temperatures continue to drop and the city’s ordinance has left many with nowhere to go.

Sterling’s housing stock shortage

The Sterling City Council is grappling with housing challenges as it plans for the future, aiming to address the city’s aging housing stock, affordability issues and diverse population needs.

The City Council met with city planner Dustin Wolff earlier this year to discuss how to diversify housing options for young professionals and seniors while balancing ownership and rental opportunities.

Sterling’s housing stock is mainly composed of single-family homes, with 78% of homes built before 1980, which often leads to costly renovations. A significant portion of the city’s population faces housing burdens, especially for renters, with over 10% of renters spending more than 30% of their income on housing.

Of Sterling’s 6,352 households, 38% are renting. The city’s median rent is $757 per month; however, nearly a third of residents earn under $35,000 annually, making affordability a major issue.

Wolff recommended that Sterling develop “middle housing” options like duplexes, triplexes and townhomes to offer more affordable choices for renters and seniors. Redeveloping existing buildings and infill projects could also help address the housing shortage.

Sterling’s proposed rental inspection program

The City Council is considering a new residential housing code to improve living conditions in rental properties. The code would require landlords to register their properties, provide contact information and adhere to minimum living standards for things like heating, plumbing and sanitation.

The code would also establish an inspection program to check for substandard living conditions, including inadequate heating, broken plumbing and pest infestations. Rental units would be inspected when unoccupied, and landlords would be notified in advance.

Owner-occupied homes, temporary lodging and properties already regulated by outside agencies would not fall under the code.

Landlords would be given time to correct any violations found during inspections, with fines imposed if issues are not corrected within a given timeframe. Tenants would also be responsible for maintaining the cleanliness and upkeep of their rental units.

While the proposal aims to hold both landlords and tenants accountable, some landlords have expressed concerns over potential costs and vague definitions in the proposal.

City officials are seeking public input to refine the ordinance. If approved, registration could begin next year, with inspections following shortly thereafter.

Train Town USA designation

In August, Sterling was recognized as one of over 100 communities designated a “Train Town USA” by Union Pacific — a tribute to towns founded by immigrants along the rail lines over 150 years ago.

Sterling Mayor Diana Merdian worked for months to acquire the designation, which she expects to bring additional tourism to the city and help advance projects like Riverfront Reimagined.

Sterling became the 18th Illinois community to receive the designation, which Union Pacific began in 2012 to celebrate the railroad’s 150th anniversary.

The city also became a whistle stop for the iconic Big Boy No. 4014 steam engine during its “Heartland of America Tour.” Big Boy, the largest steam locomotive in operation, stopped at the Twin Cities Farmer’s Market on Sept. 6.