Efforts by developer Don Rage to bring two 19th century buildings in downtown Elgin into the 21st century were boosted by the city council approving a facade grant of about $26,000.
The money, from the Central Business District TIF, goes toward the total project cost of $74,500, and illustrates how TIF funds should be used, Councilmember Toby Shaw said at last week’s meeting. Councilmember Rich Dunne complimented Rage on the work.
“Boy, what an improvement to those buildings,” Dunne said. “They’ve really come along quite a bit.”
Rage is rehabbing 19 – 21 Douglas Ave., spots familiar to longtime Elgin residents for once being home to Keeney’s Sporting Goods and Beck’s Office Supplies. He has worked with Elgin Historic Preservation planner Christen Sundquist to keep the buildings reflective of the era in which they were built
“That was important,” Rage said, and added to the cost, but the grant will help cover them.
Sundquist said she worked with Rage and his architect on fine-tuning details.
“The city is excited to see this happen,” Sundquist said.
Rage hopes to have the work completed in July, if he can resolve issues regarding a sprinkler system. He said has tenants lined up for two second floor apartments and for one of the two street-level retail spots.
“This is part of the good improvements going on in downtown Elgin that include the Tower Building, that, when complete, will add another 45 residences to the area,” Rage said. “The city has a positive approach.”
Rage, a former Kane County Board member, purchased the formerly baby-blue storefront that was Keeney’s at 19 Douglas Ave. about a year ago for $35,000. Pat Keeney, who died on Dec. 27, 2010 at the age of 62, co-owned Keeney’s Sporting Goods and PK’s Antiques (in the basement) with her mother, Kathryn, who died four days after her.
Keeney’s family had been in business in Elgin since 1883, first running a general store, a drug store and then the sporting goods shop, which was along Douglas from about 1945. The store was known to generations of locals as the place students would go for gym uniforms and letter jackets.
Rage said he purchased what had been Beck’s 11 years or so ago for $135,000. His health and the recession delayed any work on that building, he said.
Sundquist said the buildings apparently date back to the 1880s. Her research showed original tenants at 21 Douglas Ave. included a dry goods crockery with a saloon in the basement, and H. & C.’s Clothing Store at 19 Douglas Ave. By 1897, 21 Douglas Ave. was a cigar factory, while the other space continued as a dry goods store with the saloon in the basement.
Maps indicate the cigar factory remained in business until at least 1913, Sundquist said, and by 1950, the building became as a variety store. By 1903, 19 Douglas Ave. developed into a general variety store and remained that until Keeney’s opened.
Rage’s rehab has included fixing leaky roofs, gutting the upstairs of both buildings, removing the old facade, putting in new windows and unboarding ones that had been shuttered for at least 20 years, taking bars off windows, putting in a new deck for the second floors, paving a back parking lot and removing musty carpeting.
