Property Details for Former Rockford Watch Factory & RPS 205 Building

On this page:

Profile Information
Property Location
Property Progress
CAs Associated with this Property
Assessment Activities at this Property
Climate Adaption and Mitigation - Planning or Assessment
Contaminants and Media
Cleanup Activities
Climate Adaption and Mitigation - Demolition or Cleanup
Institutional & Engineering Controls
Redevelopment and Other Leveraged Accomplishments
Climate Adaption and Mitigation - Redevelopment
Additional Property Attributes

Legal Notices

Profile Information

Property Alias

Property Owner

Government

ACRES Property ID

234847

Property Address

325 South Madison Street ROCKFORD, IL 61104

Size

4.62

Parcel Numbers

11-23-361-004

Latitude/Longitude

42.2667537 / -89.0926724

Congressional District

Property Contact

Cragan, Keary

cragan.keary@epa.gov

312-353-5669

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Property Location

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Property Progress

Assessment

Clean Up

Institutional Controls in Place

Engineering Controls in Place

Ready for Anticipated Use

Redevelopment Underway

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CAs Associated with this Property

CA Name	CA #	State	Type	Announcement Year
City of Rockford	BF00E02872	IL	Cleanup	2020
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency	RP96507911	IL	Section 128(a) State/Tribal	2015
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency	RP96507907	IL	Section 128(a) State/Tribal	2011
Rockford, City of	BF00E00435	IL	Assessment	2010
Rockford, City of	BF00E45801	IL	BCRLF	2008

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Assessment Activities at this Property

Activity	EPA Funding	Start Date	Completion Date	CA	Accomplishment Counted?	Counted When?
Phase I Environmental Assessment	$6,000.00	08/20/2012	01/11/2013	Rockford, City of	Y	FY21
Phase I Environmental Assessment		10/27/2014	12/10/2014	Rockford, City of	N	FY21
Phase I Environmental Assessment	$6,000.00	08/20/2012	01/11/2013	Rockford, City of	Y	FY21
Phase I Environmental Assessment	$3,145.59	03/01/2013	03/26/2013	Rockford, City of	N	FY21
Phase I Environmental Assessment	$3,145.59	03/01/2013	03/26/2013	Rockford, City of	N	FY21
Phase I Environmental Assessment	$3,145.59	03/01/2013	03/26/2013	Rockford, City of	N	FY21
Phase I Environmental Assessment		02/01/2014	07/14/2014	Rockford, City of	N	FY21
Phase I Environmental Assessment		02/01/2014	07/14/2014	Rockford, City of	N	FY21
Phase I Environmental Assessment		02/01/2014	07/14/2014	Rockford, City of	N	FY21
Phase I Environmental Assessment		03/10/2014	04/14/2014	Rockford, City of	N	FY21
Phase I Environmental Assessment		03/10/2014	04/14/2014	Rockford, City of	N	FY21
Phase I Environmental Assessment		03/10/2014	04/14/2014	Rockford, City of	N	FY21
Phase I Environmental Assessment		10/27/2014	12/10/2014	Rockford, City of	N	FY21
Phase I Environmental Assessment		10/27/2014	12/10/2014	Rockford, City of	N	FY21
Phase I Environmental Assessment	$6,000.00	08/20/2012	01/11/2013	Rockford, City of	Y	FY21
Phase II Environmental Assessment		06/01/2015	06/15/2015	Rockford, City of	N
Phase II Environmental Assessment		12/02/2013	02/03/2014	Rockford, City of	N
Phase II Environmental Assessment		12/02/2013	02/03/2014	Rockford, City of	N
Phase II Environmental Assessment		06/01/2015	06/15/2015	Rockford, City of	N
Phase II Environmental Assessment		06/01/2015	06/15/2015	Rockford, City of	N
Phase II Environmental Assessment		12/02/2013	02/03/2014	Rockford, City of	N
Phase II Environmental Assessment		06/12/2015	10/30/2015	Rockford, City of	N
Phase II Environmental Assessment		06/12/2015	10/30/2015	Rockford, City of	N
Phase II Environmental Assessment		06/12/2015	10/30/2015	Rockford, City of	N
Phase II Environmental Assessment		05/26/2015	09/22/2015	Rockford, City of	N
Phase II Environmental Assessment		05/26/2015	09/22/2015	Rockford, City of	N
Phase II Environmental Assessment		05/26/2015	09/22/2015	Rockford, City of	N
Phase II Environmental Assessment		12/01/2014	01/27/2015	Rockford, City of	N
Phase II Environmental Assessment		12/01/2014	01/27/2015	Rockford, City of	N
Phase II Environmental Assessment		12/01/2014	01/27/2015	Rockford, City of	N
Phase II Environmental Assessment		12/01/2014	01/27/2015	Rockford, City of	N
Phase II Environmental Assessment		12/01/2014	01/27/2015	Rockford, City of	N
Phase II Environmental Assessment		12/01/2014	01/27/2015	Rockford, City of	N
Phase II Environmental Assessment		12/02/2013	01/27/2015	Rockford, City of	N
Phase II Environmental Assessment		12/02/2013	01/27/2015	Rockford, City of	N
Phase II Environmental Assessment		12/02/2013	01/27/2015	Rockford, City of	N
Phase II Environmental Assessment		12/02/2013	02/03/2014	Rockford, City of	N
Phase II Environmental Assessment		12/02/2013	02/03/2014	Rockford, City of	N
Phase II Environmental Assessment		12/02/2013	02/03/2014	Rockford, City of	N
Supplemental Assessment		12/01/2014	01/27/2015	Rockford, City of	N
Supplemental Assessment		12/01/2014	01/27/2015	Rockford, City of	N
Supplemental Assessment		12/01/2014	01/27/2015	Rockford, City of	N

Is Cleanup Necessary? Yes
EPA Assessment Funding: $27,436.77
Leveraged Funding: $172,976.88
Total Funding: $200,413.65

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Climate Adaption and Mitigation - Planning or Assessment

There is no data for Climate Adaption and Mitigation - Planning or Assessment.

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Contaminants and Media

Contaminant Found

Asbestos
PAHS
PCBS

Remediating Action for Contaminants

Cleaned Up
Cleaned Up
Cleaned Up

Media Affected

Building Materials
Soil

Remediating Action for Media

Cleaned Up
Cleaned Up

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Cleanup Activities

Start Date	EPA Funding	Completion Date	CA	Accomplishment Counted?
04/13/2015		06/15/2015	Rockford, City of	Yes
04/13/2015		06/15/2015	Rockford, City of	Yes
04/13/2015		06/15/2015	Rockford, City of	Yes
01/22/2021		11/01/2021	City of Rockford	Yes
01/22/2021		11/01/2021	City of Rockford	Yes
01/22/2021		11/01/2021	City of Rockford	Yes
01/22/2021		11/01/2021	City of Rockford	Yes
01/22/2021		11/01/2021	City of Rockford	Yes
01/22/2021		11/01/2021	City of Rockford	Yes
01/22/2021	$23,006.50	11/01/2021	City of Rockford	Yes
01/22/2021	$23,006.50	11/01/2021	City of Rockford	Yes
01/22/2021	$23,006.50	11/01/2021	City of Rockford	Yes
01/22/2021	$156,382.33	11/01/2021	City of Rockford	Yes
01/22/2021	$156,382.33	11/01/2021	City of Rockford	Yes
01/22/2021	$156,382.33	11/01/2021	City of Rockford	Yes
01/20/2015		07/07/2016	Rockford, City of	Yes
01/20/2015		07/07/2016	Rockford, City of	Yes
01/20/2015		07/07/2016	Rockford, City of	Yes
01/20/2015		07/07/2016	Rockford, City of	Yes
01/20/2015		07/07/2016	Rockford, City of	Yes
01/20/2015		07/07/2016	Rockford, City of	Yes
01/20/2015	$84,213.33	07/07/2016	Rockford, City of	Yes
01/20/2015	$84,213.33	07/07/2016	Rockford, City of	Yes
01/20/2015	$84,213.33	07/07/2016	Rockford, City of	Yes
01/20/2015	$142,517.00	07/07/2016	Rockford, City of	Yes
01/20/2015	$142,517.00	07/07/2016	Rockford, City of	Yes
01/20/2015	$142,517.00	07/07/2016	Rockford, City of	Yes
01/20/2015		07/07/2016	Rockford, City of	Yes
01/20/2015		07/07/2016	Rockford, City of	Yes
01/20/2015		07/07/2016	Rockford, City of	Yes

Cleanup/Treatment Implemented: Y
Cleanup/Treatement Categories:
Addl Cleanup/Treatment info: Multiple cleanup activities have occurred on the property. Initial soil cleanup occurred in response to a release from PCB containing electrical transformers during decommissioning activities. Additionally, low level PNA impacted soil was removed to make grade for the new parking lot that supports the adjacent UW Sports Factory venue. Asbestos abatement is addressed in two phases. The first phase is complete and included abatement from former additions to the Watch Factory structure on the property prior to their demolition. The second phase included asbestos abatement from the remaining historic Watch Factory Structure, which began in early 2021 with the project planning and the procurement of an asbestos abatement contractor. Interior abatement work occurred in April and May of 2021, with asbestos containing roofing materials removed in late fall. A new roof was completed to weatherproof the historic structure prior to redevelopment.
Address of Data Source:

Total ACRES Cleaned Up: 4.62
Number of Cleanup Jobs Leveraged: 360
EPA Cleanup Funding: $1,218,357.48
Leveraged Funding: $98,944.59
Cost Share Funding: $172,542.21
Total Funding: $1,489,844.28

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Climate Adaption and Mitigation - Demolition or Cleanup

There is no data for Climate Adaption and Mitigation - Demolition or Cleanup.

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Institutional and Engineering Controls

Indicate whether Institutional Controls are required

Categories of Controls

Additional Institutional Controls Information

Address of Data Source (URL if available)

Are Institutional Controls in Place

Date Institutional Controls were put in place

Indicate whether Engineering Controls are required

Categories of Controls

Additional Engineering controls information

Address of Data Source (URL if available)

Indicate whether Engineering Controls are in place

Date Engineering Controls were put in place

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Redevelopment and Other Leveraged Accomplishments

Start Date	Leveraged Funding	CA
11/01/2021	$108,700.00	City of Rockford
11/01/2021	$108,700.00	City of Rockford
11/01/2021	$108,700.00	City of Rockford
03/10/2015	$4,870,425.00	Rockford, City of
03/10/2015	$4,870,425.00	Rockford, City of
03/10/2015	$4,870,425.00	Rockford, City of

Number of Redevelopment Jobs Leveraged:
Actual Acreage of Greenspace Created:
Leveraged Funding:

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Climate Adaption and Mitigation - Redevelopment

There is no data for Climate Adaption and Mitigation – Redevelopment

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Additional Property Attributes

Property Highlights

The eastern portion of the property historically contained the Rockford Public School (RPS) District 205 Administration Building. The western portion contains the historic Rockford Watch Factory that was originally constructed in 1875-1876. The Rockford Watch Company closed its doors in 1915. Following closure, the building was subject to several additions that housed a diverse set of users over time. The Rockford Board of Education occupied the building immediately post and into the early 1950s, where the building was utilized for office and classroom space. From the 1950s until the City purchased the property in 2015, the original Watch Factory structure was used for office space to support several industrial operations that occupied the additions.
The property acquisition was crucial to support redevelopment of the $24 million UW Health Sports Factory located immediately west along the Rock River. Shortly after the City's purchase, several additions to the original Watch Factory structure along with the RPS 205 building were razed to provide additional parking for users of the Sports Factory, which is one of the largest indoor sports tournament venues in the Midwest.
The historic Watch Factory building was stabilized and is currently awaiting adaptive reuse to complete the full redevelopment of the property. Redevelopment of the approximately 22,895 square foot Watch Factory would be a final complement to the Sports Factory and the other downtown developments. The Watch Factory building is within the boundary of the Haight Village Historical District, a district that is registered on the United States National Register of Historic Places. A USEPA Cleanup Grant was most recently used to abate asbestos, weatherproof, and secure the historic building to make it more marketable for redevelopment. On October 2, 2023, a development agreement with a local developer was approved by City Council to adaptively reuse the structure into a mixed-use building.

Predominant Past Usage

Commercial (2.17) Industry (2.45)

What types of funding are being used on this property?

State and Tribal Program Information

Date No Further Action Letter Received

Date Letter/Signed Report Received from a Qualified Professional

06/15/2015