Rockford Area Arts Council Armory

The 90-year-old Armory, a former headquarters for the Illinois National Guard, sat unused for 30 years near downtown Rockford. Its deteriorating roof, water-logged floors and peeling paint called for an extensive remediation. It sat vacant for so many years because the space did not qualify for cleanup funding through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields program while being owned by the City of Rockford. So, the City and the Rockford Area Arts Council teamed up with Fehr Graham to develop a solution for the building that could reuse the space, benefiting the community and eliminating the blight.

We’re extremely grateful for Fehr Graham’s bold vision for this brownfields project. This is the first project of its kind for the Arts Council, and Ross Grimes and his team set the tone with an atmosphere of support, giving us guidance and sage advice every step of the way. We feel confident in our vision becoming a reality because we’re working with a trusted and respected firm."

MARY MCNAMARA BERNSTEN
Executive Director
Rockford Area Arts Council

In 2024, Fehr Graham, City of Rockford and Arts Council leaders created a redevelopment strategy to transform the property into a cultural civic center with artisan lofts and creative maker spaces. The Arts Council assembled a team of local developers and key stakeholders. Then the Arts Council prepared to apply for a cleanup grant with the help of Fehr Graham and the City.

Before the application process could begin, Fehr Graham performed Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) to evaluate contamination. The Phase I ESA satisfied ASTM 1527-21 All Appropriate Inquiry standards, listing RAAC as the reliant party to help them establish a Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act's (CERCLA) liability defense. This financially protected the Arts Council as they acquired the property and allowed the nonprofit to qualify for cleanup grant assistance.

Fehr Graham completed a limited Phase II ESA, testing the amount of lead in the Armory's basement shooting range sand. Those tests indicated elevated concentrations that required stabilization before disposal. Our team also conducted asbestos and lead-based paint inspections to determine how much of the building materials needed abatement before starting rehabilitation work.

After completing the assessments, we wrote the U.S. EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant application on behalf of the Arts Council. They were awarded $1.54 million in 2025, priming the property for cleanup starting in 2026 with redevelopment starting as early as 2027.

Cleaning up the property will provide a blank canvas to develop the artisan lofts and creative maker spaces and grow the Rockford area's arts scene grow and thrive for years to come.