Rockford City Council OKs land purchase

ROCKFORD — City Council approved a $1.1 million land acquisition settlement Monday with Stephen Paoli Corp., 2531 11th St.

The settlement will allow the city to take and remove a portion of the Stephen Paoli building at 11th Street and Harrison Avenue to accommodate a reconstruction of Harrison Avenue from 20th Street to Ninth street, Public Works Director Tim Hanson said.

Harrison will be widen to include four lanes and a center turn lane.

The cost will be split with 20 percent from the city and 80 percent from the state.

“It’s a pretty good deal for us because he is still going to stay in that building and be a tax-paying body,” Hanson said of Stephen Paoli. “So we’re still going to be making money off that property.”

The project also will accommodate a state resurfacing project next year on 11th Street from Illinois 20 to Harrison Avenue.

— Chris Green