Since first learning in September 2019 of pending plans by DC Cook to demolish the historic former office building facing Grove Ave., NENA has actively advocated for preservation of the building and has led the way to explore potential adaptive reuse of the property. So far this year, NENA has already connected two residential developers to DC Cook.  It is our understanding that the parties have communicated and and that the developers are being granted site visits which now include the interior. We’ll keep you posted! In the meantime, please share with us any connection or link that you have in the adaptive reuse world! We’ll do our best to follow-up. 

Finding a new life for an old building can be challenging.  But the hard work is rewarded with a unique and enduring outcome that brings new energy and people into the community.  Several exciting examples of successful adaptive reuse can be found here in Elgin: the Haight; Imago; the Shoe Factory Lofts; Old Main; the Tower Building; and many more.  Adaptive reuse of historic buildings is foundational to many cities (Aurora, e.g., info):  Rockford’s Burnham Lofts (info); Aurora’s Keystone Lofts (info); Chicago’s The Plant (info), Pullman Neighborhood (info),  Water Tower Pumping Station (info); and Madison’s Garver Feed Mill (info).

The DC Cook property is one of the last of its kind in northern Illinois:  authentic, beautiful turn-of-the-century classical architecture set in an established, higher-end neighborhood, near a vital downtown, alongside the Fox River! The front administration building is approximately 24,000 sq ft, the back buildings total 200,000 sq ft. 

Additional DC Cook amenities:

• 100 feet from the bike trail and the Fox River (& county-owned woods); 
• A riverside pocket park with a boat launch to the north; 
• Beautiful residential neighborhood; 
• 1 mile to downtown (Metra station, Hemmens auditorium, rec center, library, cafes, restaurants); 
• 2 miles to I-90 interchange (25 mins to airport on a good day); and
• A “neighbor” to the south which is a private club on a pretty wooded site.

Here’s what the DC Cook property can offer developers as an adaptive reuse:

• Rivers Edge Redevelopment Zone
• State Historic Tax Credits if the property is locally or federally landmarked
• Federal Historic Tax Credits if federally landmarked 
• Potential for a TIF district if the City approves (Link to Elgin TIF Map)
• Neighborhood (NENA) support for a proposal that saves the front building
• Likely City support for an adaptive reuse that generates tax revenue with little or no financial costs to the City

Important dates–SHOW UP!  

• March 3, 7 pm, City Hall: Elgin Heritage Commission Meeting to recommend Landmark designation
• April 22, 7 pm, City Hall:  Elgin City Council Meeting to vote on Landmark Recommendation
• April 22 is also the date Landmarks Illinois will announce its 10 Most Endangered Buildings (DC Cook is a candidate)

Thank you!

NENA Property Development Work Group