By Kate Reynolds
North Utica Village was notified in August 2022 that they had received a $1,249,969 Rebuild Illinois Downtowns and Main Streets grant to build an outdoor vendor courtyard. The funds, which include a $250,000 village match, are being used to create ‘the Shoppes at Mill Street Market.’ The vacant land is at the northwest edge of downtown, where the site of The Milestone Restaurant and Lounge before the 2004 tornado flattened it.
The village has presented a plan to build 12 seasonal, portable retail stalls, each 12 feet square with a 4-foot porch. The stalls are moveable in the case of flooding. The design shows a faux stone retaining wall to protect the plaza if a flash flood at Clark’s Run Creek occurs.*
The proposed ‘Shoppes at Mill Street Market’ was inspired by Batavia Main Street (https://downtownbatavia.com/batavia-boardwalk-vendor-info/)
The village would own the portable structures and lease them to vendors from May to December. Other enhancements include a public restroom and some centralized displays. There is room for adding more stalls if the plan succeeds.
“This is a big area we’re talking about,” Mayor David Stewart said, “and we’re only going to start with 12 stalls. We’ve got some ideas out there and want to finalize them.”
The village board is also discussing plans to extend the Mill Street Beautification program a block north to include build ‘the Shoppes at Mill Street Market’ and the old fire station across the street.
An open house is tentatively scheduled for Monday, Oct. 16, to discuss improving north Mill Street.
*The village has experienced periodic flood damage ranging from annual flooding to widespread damage due to Clark Run Creek overflows. Clark Run’s 100-year flood plain included most of the majority of commercial and municipal buildings. Potential developers interested in the vacant space just north of Clark’s Creek Run were reluctant to consider the property because of flooding