Subscribe

Avon Street Project Featured on WIFR: Transforming Rockford’s West Side

The PlatFORM Group’s Avon Street Project is making headlines! In a recent feature by WIFR, our $45 million affordable housing initiative was highlighted as a transformative development for Rockford’s Ellis Heights neighborhood.

The Avon Street Project will bring 116 new dwellings to the community, including affordable apartments, duplexes and single-family homes. The project also incorporates commercial spaces, an early childhood center, artist lofts and a greenhouse culinary institute.

State Representative Maurice West (D-Rockford) described the project as a significant step forward for the neighborhood, stating, “This is like a rising tide that will lift all boats.” West praised the project’s potential to attract businesses and help revitalize Rockford’s west side.

PlatFORM Group Vice President Ron Clewer explained the importance of the project in addressing the city’s housing crisis. With a need for over 5,000 new homes in Rockford, the Avon Street Project is critical to meeting this demand and improving quality of life in the area.

Key Highlights of the Avon Street Project

  • 116 New Housing Units: Affordable apartments, duplexes and single-family homes.
  • Community Development: An artist hub with eight lofts, an early education center and a greenhouse culinary institute.
  • Economic Growth: Commercial spaces and infrastructure improvements to attract businesses.

A Community-Driven Vision

Clewer emphasized the project’s alignment with the neighborhood’s needs: “We didn’t choose to do an easy project. We chose to do the project that’s right for the neighborhood and in demand.”

Construction is set to begin in late spring or early summer, starting with the renovation of a historic warehouse on the property. Habitat for Humanity is expected to build six homes as part of the first phase, with families potentially moving in by fall.

Read the full WIFR article to learn more about this exciting initiative:
Nonprofit prepares historic affordable housing project on Rockford’s west side