Council Approves Downtown Business Development District

District will include additional 1 percent sales tax in businesses operating within the boundaries. All the businesses would be part of Imperial Investments group.

Editor's Note: This article has been changed to note Alderman Funkhouser's employment is with Imperial Construction, not Imperial Investments. Yorkville officials approved the establishment of a business development district that will increase sales tax by 1 percent for businesses operating within the established boundaries. The district will benefit businesses owned by Imperial Investments, including Cobblestone Bakery and Bistro and The Follies Theatre. The boundaries of the district stretch from Hydraulic Street to Von Emmon Avenue and from the west alley to Route 47, said City Administrator Bart Olson. Aldermen overwhelmingly supported the plan with Ward 3 Alderman Chris Funkhouser abstaining, citing a conflict of interest. Imperial …

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Council Approves Sale of Parking Lot to Downtown Developer

Lot will be sold for $13,500 and will partially be used for a pedestrian mall.

Yorkville officials overwhelmingly approved the sale of a parking lot to a downtown developer for $13,500. In early November Imperial Investments bid $13,500 to buy and redevelop a parking lot behind the Cobblestone Building, on Van Emmon Street. The lot is about 1/10 of an acre. Before approving the sale, the city had to rewrite the contract to allow Imperial to turn a portion of the lot into a pedestrian mall. On Tuesday the board approved the plan with Ward 3 Alderman Chris Funkhouser abstaining. Ward 3 Alderman Marty Munns was absent. Any parking spaces lost by turning the eastern portion of the lot behind the Cobblestone Building, on Van Emmon Street would be made up at another site owned by the developer, said City Administrator Bart…

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City Rewriting Parking Lot Sale Contract

Downtown developer looking to turn portion of lot into pedestrian mall.

Yorkville officials are rewriting a contract to sell a parking lot to a downtown developer for use as pedestrian mall as well as a parking lot. The sale of the lot to Imperial Investments for $13,500 was tabled until Dec. 11 so staff can rewrite the agreement. The initial agreement only allowed for the property to be used as a parking lot, said City Administrator Bart Olson. Any parking spaces lost by turning the eastern portion of the lot behind the Cobblestone Building, on Van Emmon Street would be made up at another site owned by the developer, Olson said. Alderman Carlo Colosimo said he wanted to make sure the city would not lose parking. He said he did not want to see parking turned into a paid commodity. Alderman Larry Kot questioned…

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Imperial Investments Bids on Old Jail, Parking Lot

Rick Tollefsun, owner of Imperial Development, asked the city to deed the Old Jail to him in exchange for funding a $250,000 renovation project.

A downtown developer has bid to purchase two downtown properties, including the Old City Jail, from the city of Yorkville. Rick Tollefsun, owner of Imperial Development, asked the city to deed the Old Jail to him in exchange for funding a $250,000 renovation project. His proposal was the only bid for the Old Jail, 111 W. Madison St. Tollefson said his intention is to use the building for private purposes, but wants to include a museum dedicated to the city’s history. He told city council his goal is “to preserve as much history as he can.” Tollefson was receptive to Ward 4 Alderman Diane Teeling’s suggestion she would like to hear the opinion of the historical society on the proposal. He also said he was open to finding out if the building…

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Yorkville Exploring Possible Pollution, Clean Up at Downtown Sites

The brownfield study will include the former Grainco FS property, which Imperial Investments owns.

Rivers Edge Theatre's First Show Friday

Musician Jon Conover is handing booking for the theatre in the former location of The Follies Theatre downtown.

Yorkville's new downtown theatre's debut show will feature three singer-songwriters Friday in the former location of The Follies Theatre. Here is a news release provided by Rivers Edge Theatre: Musicians/Singers/Songwriters Jon Conover, Leslie Beukelman and Miles Nielsen will kick off the start of the singer/songwriter series at the new Rivers Edge Theatre. This series will bring the region’s best songwriters out to tell the stories behind their music every Friday in August and September. Conover, whose first album was recorded in Chicago in 2006, and most recent album last year in Los Angeles, has recently taken over booking for the Rivers Edge Theatre. This seemed like a good fit for Conover who has a large fan base and many talented …

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Follies Theatre Could Remain in the Area

The theatre group is considering a handful of locations as developers move forward with other plans at their downtown Yorkville location.

The Follies Theatre group is looking for a new location in the surrounding area after performing the last show Sunday in the downtown theatre that opened New Year's Eve. The Follies wish developer Rick Tollefson, of Imperial Investments, the best in its next phase of downtown redevelopment, Follies producer Don Grant Zellmer said.The developer plans to expands Cobblestone Bakery & Bistro and maintains a performance area with a variety of acts in the space that had housed The Follies Theatre. Other plans for downtown Yorkville include a Mongolian barbeque-style restaurant and revamping Kendall Pub into Kendall Grille. The Follies moved to Yorkville about seven months ago from Utica, where they had performed for about three years. Recent …

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What's Next for Yorkville Downtown: A Visual Tour

Kendall Pub is getting a new name and atmosphere, Cobblestone is getting more space, and the town is getting a whole new restaurant.

Related articles: • Tollefson Shares Plans for Revamping Downtown • Tollefson Purchases Kendall Pub • Aldermen Approve Incentives for Cobblestone Developer • Photos: Visual Tour of Yorkville's Downtown Construction Plans • Cobblestone More than a Bakery • YEDC Speaker: 'It's Risky Business' • Sugar Shack Bakery Opens in Downtown Yorkville

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Aldermen Approve Incentives for Cobblestone Developer

The agreement provides TIF money for downtown improvements, including incentives associated with work already done on Cobblestone Bakery & Bistro and The Follies Theatre.