Phase 3 of the First Street project in St. Charles includes construction of three mixed-use buildings and a two level public parking deck in an area bounded by 1st Street, Illinois Street and the Fox River.

Construction fencing will be going up in downtown St. Charles over the next two weeks as preliminary site work for First Street’s Phase 3 project gets underway.

Phase 3 includes construction of three mixed-use buildings and a two level public parking deck in an area bounded by 1st Street, Illinois Street and the Fox River.

“We have been working with the developer in earnest since the City Council approved the preliminary site plans in March,” said Community and Economic Development Director Rita Tungare. “We recently met with surrounding businesses in the area to update them on the latest developments so they are aware of what to expect regarding the upcoming construction and its related impacts. We are looking forward to this important phase of the project getting underway.”

Building No. 1, which will be located on the northeast corner of Illinois and First streets, will be the first constructed on the site and feature upper level office space, street level retail space and private underground parking. Office floors will be fully occupied by ALE Solutions, which will be consolidating some of its operations downtown.

Construction of a parking deck is also expected to begin this fall.

City staff is reviewing building permit and engineering plans for Building No. 1. Once construction fencing is up, site utility work and excavation for the underground parking level will begin.

State and federal approvals related to utilities and floodplain regulations on the site are pending. After these approvals are secured, the construction of the building will proceed.

No major road closures are anticipated other than temporary lane closings for utility work.

It is anticipated that Building No. 1 and the parking deck will be completed in 2016. Construction of Building No. 2, which will front on First Street north and contain upper level residential space and ground floor retail space, will begin Spring/Summer 2016. Anticipated construction for Building No. 3 is 2017.

For more information, visit the project’s website at www.1ststreetstc.org. Or, contact the Community & Economic Development Department at (630) 377-4443, or email 1ststreet@stcharlesil.gov.

— Site work to begin on phase 3 of St. Charles’ First Street project  —