The new Lincoln Highway designed to make downtown DeKalb more pedestrian friendly is now fully open to traffic.

Construction barriers on Lincoln Highway between First and Fourth Street were removed Aug. 19 following re-striping, which restored on-street parking to both sides of the roadway. 

The overall project is nearly complete. New storm catch basins have not yet been delivered due to supply chain delays but are scheduled to be installed this fall.

Narrowing Lincoln Highway from four lanes to three lanes, including a center turning lane, will calm truck traffic through the downtown, making it more inviting to pedestrians. The fourth lane has been replaced by five feet of sidewalk space on each side of the road. An added benefit of this additional space is that it can be used by the downtown businesses and restaurants for sidewalk sales and outdoor dining.

The City of DeKalb would like to thank the downtown visitors and motorists for their patience during construction. We also extend a special thank you to the downtown merchants who worked cooperatively with the City and construction crews and remained opened for business throughout the project.

This drone video shows the narrowed and repaved Lincoln Highway along with the expanded sidewalks in downtown DeKalb.

In This Issue

Corn Fest, held over the last weekend in August, served as the first in a series of downtown events. The NIU Homecoming Block Party is Oct. 6 and Back Alley Market is set for Oct. 8. Also, the Farmers’ Market continues each Thursday through Sept. 22.

Project Wildcat (rendering shown above) will be built on the northside of Gurler Road in the ChicagoWest Business Center.

For the fourth time in fewer than three years, a major development that will create hundreds of jobs has been approved for the ChicagoWest Business Center (CWBC) in DeKalb.

The DeKalb City Council unanimously approved plans Aug. 8 for a distribution, packaging and storage facility known as Project Wildcat on 160 acres of property on the north side of Gurler Road between Crego Road and Peace Road.

The project will be built in several phases and Project Wildcat will total more than 2.1-million square feet, creating new community value that can be leveraged to expand services while lowering local property taxes.

An aggressive construction timeline has been set with site work beginning right after Labor Day, adding to the economic development activity happening in the CWBC.

“This project represents another very substantial contribution to the City’s property tax base and employment opportunities,” said City Manager Bill Nicklas “The ChicagoWest and Trammell Crow development team have once again collaboratively negotiated impactful terms which will positively serve the best interests of the DeKalb community for generations to come.”

Project Wildcat is the latest in a rapid series of project announcements in the CWBC, which was founded by the Krusinski Construction Company. Since the Fall of 2019, Ferrara Candy Company has opened 1.6 million square feet of distribution space, Amazon has nearly completed 700,000 square feet of distribution and sortation space, and Meta has deepened its commitment to DeKalb, expanding its data center to five buildings and over $1 billion in investment.

“ChicagoWest is proud to have put over a 1,000 acres into development since 2019 in the Chicago West Business Center,” said Jerry Krusinski, CEO of Krusinski Construction Company and one of the principals of the ChicagoWest Business Center.

These economic development successes involve multiple partners to create a business-friendly climate and include the Kishwaukee Water Reclamation District, ComEd and Nicor, the State of Illinois for its support of critical infrastructure improvements, and the DeKalb County Enterprise Zone.

For Project Wildcat, the Phase 1 building core and shell is scheduled to be completed by the first quarter of 2024 with the building fully operational by early 2025.

New signs and banners showing DeKalb’s Huskie pride went up just before the return of Northern Illinois University students.

The Greek Row street signs were manufactured inhouse by the DeKalb Public Works Department. The Huskie Nation banners were a partnership between the university, which created them, and the City, which installed them.

The DeKalb City Council unanimously approved an agreement Aug. 8 aiding the sale of Suburban Estates and Apartments, rehabilitation of the complex and infrastructure upgrades to provide reliable water service.

The purchaser of the 530-unit apartment complex at North Annie Glidden and Twombly Road is The Terraces of DeKalb, which is represented by the same investment firm that last year purchased several distressed Hunter properties.

The firm plans to purchase and rehabilitate the Suburban complex to market standards at a cost of $30 million.

To facilitate the purchase, the City has agreed to improve the water infrastructure at the complex. The work will be funded by DeKalb County. The complex is currently outside the City, within the County’s jurisdiction. The 80-acre property will be annexed to the City.

According to City Manager Bill Nicklas, these upgrades will “bring clean and reliable water service to the residents of the Suburban complex who have experienced years of unreliable water service from an old well system for which there is no record of regular testing according to generally accepted industry standards.”

The agreement also includes provisions to improve safety for Suburban’s residents. Security cameras will be required in all public and common areas with feeds to DeKalb Police and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, security personnel will be provided as needed and the new owner will allow security walk-throughs by law enforcement.

A map shows water system infrastructure improvements planned at Suburban Apartments and Estates.

Comprehensive Plan Updated

An updated comprehensive land use plan for DeKalb sets the stage for more economic development while preserving areas for agriculture.

The DeKalb City Council Aug. 22 unanimously approved the 2022 update to the Comprehensive Plan. 

Approval came after public comments on the draft plan were gathered in several ways. The draft plan was reviewed at four Planning and Zoning Commission meetings, and the Commission also held a public hearing on the Plan. Two open houses were held to hear from community members, and comments could be submitted by mail and e-mail.

City Manager Bill Nicklas said the document is a guide for managing land use in the City and 1.5 miles from its borders.

“It’s not a zoning plan,” said Nicklas. “It’s basically a canvas which paints with very broad strokes and dramatic primary colors the essential land uses where they exist and how they might expand or be contracted.”

Land is designated in the Plan to continue the economic growth DeKalb has seen in recent years with Meta’s DeKalb Data Center, Ferrara Candy Company, Amazon and Project Wildcat, all along Gurler Road. Additional sites are designated as industrial near Gurler Road as well as east of Peace Road between Gurler Road and Route 38 and along Peace Road between Route 38 and Wirsing Parkway.

The Plan also calls for the preservation of farmland in areas. Large swaths of agricultural uses are designated northwest and west of the City limits in keeping with the DeKalb County Unified Future Use Plan and its preference for growth extending from municipalities instead of development in remote agricultural areas.

Within the City, First Ward Alderwoman Carolyn Morris (left in photo above) supports the Plan’s promotion of creating neighborhood clusters where residential districts are combined with schools, day care centers, small markets and other services.

“I really appreciate that being a focal point,” said Morris. “In my experience, having lived all over the country, that’s really what makes a community amazing.”

Other key components include:

• Limited new low-density residential sites in anticipation of measured residential expansion,
• Preservation of open spaces along the Kishwaukee River and
• Mixed-use designations on Lucinda Avenue and in the core of the Annie Glidden North neighborhood.

The 2022 Comprehensive Plan can be viewed here.

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The repaving of the Knolls subdivision is beginning following approval of the project by the DeKalb City Council on Aug. 22.

The central loop including Knolls Avenue and adjacent roads in the subdivision will be resurfaced this year. The remainder of the neighborhood will be completed over the next two paving seasons.

Curran Contracting will be paid just under $500,000 for this year’s work.

The Knolls is the last piece of this year’s street maintenance program. The work also includes resurfacing portions of North 13th and 14th Street with the installation of new water mains and water service lines.

Practice Fire Safety Both On & Off Campus

Every September, Campus Fire Safety Month raises awareness about the threat of fires in both on- and off-campus housing and puts relevant information in the hands of students, their parents, and campus housing staff and administrators who are encouraged to take proactive measures to protect themselves, their family, and peers from fires and make living spaces as safe as possible upon a student’s return to school.

According to data from the Center for Campus Fire Safety, from January 2000 to April 2022, 94 fatal fires have been documented that occurred on a college campus, in Greek housing, or in off-campus housing within three miles of the campus and claimed 134 lives.

Of the 94 fires documented, 38 were accidental and involved cooking, candles, smoking, or electrical equipment, and took the lives of 51 students. NFPA research shows that September and October are the peak months for campus fires, particularly during the evening between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

These tips can help students reduce the risk of fires and save lives:

• Know and practice the building’s evacuation plan, as well as alternate routes out of the building.
• Cook in intended areas only, and never leave cooking equipment unattended when in use, even briefly.
• Test smoke alarms monthly in an apartment or a house. Ensure smoke alarms are installed in all sleeping areas, outside of all sleeping areas, and on every level of the apartment or house. Never remove or disable smoke alarms.
• Keep combustible items away from heat sources and never overload electrical outlets, extension cords, or power strips. Many fires are caused by portable light and heat sources, like space heaters and halogen lamps.
• Keep common areas and hallways free of possessions and debris. Never block exit routes.

Receive important notifications from the City by signing up for ALERT DeKalb. Text, email, and phone messages are used to alert the public to emergency situations, severe weather, and traffic disruptions.

Users can also text ALERTDEKALB to 67283 to report criminal or suspicious activity and quality of life concerns.

With the community’s help, the DeKalb Police Department was able to raise nearly $2,000 for Special Olympics Illinois during Cop on a Rooftop. Officers were on top of Dunkin’ at West Lincoln Highway and Annie Glidden Road for six hours on Aug. 19 collecting donations. 

The DeKalb City Council will hold a second listening session on the community’s ideas for the Hillcrest/Blackhawk property on Sept. 12.

As part of $4.5 million the City has invested in the Annie Glidden North neighborhood, $2.5 million was directed to acquiring and clearing the 4.9-acre property that was the former site of Campus Cinemas and the Hunter Hillcrest shopping center.

Collecting public input on the best possible uses for the property at West Hillcrest Drive and Blackhawk Road is the next step in the redevelopment process.

The Council heard from a cross section of the community during the first listening session on July 25. The second session is scheduled for the Council’s meeting on Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. in the Yusunas Meeting Room at the DeKalb Public Library.

Additional listening sessions will be held by Opportunity DeKalb, a nonprofit organization implementing the Annie Glidden North Revitalization Plan.

The input that is gathered will be used to create a development profile for circulation to prospective development interests.

Nearly 100 people got an up-close look at DeKalb Airport Aug. 23 as 14th District Congresswoman Lauren Underwood hosted a town hall in the Community Hangar. The Congresswoman and her staff said it was the most unique site they have ever held a town hall.

Mayor Cohen Barnes served as the event’s moderator as Congresswoman Underwood delivered a legislative update and took questions from constituents.

September Community Events

DeKalb Chamber of Commerce

DeKalb Farmers' Market

Van Buer Plaza, N. 2nd & Locust St.

The weekly market features vendors that provide the community with locally grown produce, bread, baked goods, olive oil, honey, coffee, flowers, food trucks and live music.

Every Thursday through September 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

More information can be found here.

Trash Squirrels Clean Up

Meet at the DeKalb Police Department, 700 W. Lincoln Hwy, for the group's 14th clean up of the season. Look for the There's Fun In Store/Trash Squirrels tent. Trash bags, pullers, wagons, gloves, safety vests and water will be provided.

Saturday, Sept. 10, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

See the group's Facebook page for more information.

DeKalb Public Library

309 Oak Street

8 Countries in 1 Day

Travel the globe without leaving DeKalb. Gobble down smørrebrød in Denmark, build your own paper circuit constellations in Greece, play Congkak and Batu Seremban in Malaysia, learn how to make Mate in Uruguay, and much more. No registration is required for this free event.

Saturday, Sept. 17 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

See all of the library's programs on its calendar.

Egyptian Theatre

135 North Second Street

The Big Sing

The 2nd annual community choral concert will feature 5 choirs: Cor Cantiamo, Northern Illinois University Concert Choir, DeKalb High School Concert Choir, Kaneland High School Concert Choir and Sycamore High School Concert Choir.

Sunday, Sept. 18 at 3 p.m.

Purchase tickets here. Learn about more events on the Theatre's Events Schedule.

Stage Coach Players

126 South Fifth Street

The Crucible

The Stage Coach Players present one of Arthur Miller’s greatest plays, The Crucible, a story that revolves around the Salem Witch Trials and those who became wrongly accused of practicing witchcraft.  

Sept. 22-Oct. 2

Purchase tickets here, and view the theater's full schedule.

Submit your event to be considered for the City's Community Events Calendar by sending an e-mail here.

Get community news all month long by following the City of DeKalb on social media.

City Hall          

164 E. Lincoln Highway

Monday - Friday  

8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Police Station

700 West Lincoln Highway

Monday - Friday   

8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Public Works

1216 Market Street

Monday - Friday

7 a.m. - 4 p.m.

DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport    

3232 Pleasant Street  

Monday - Friday     

8 a.m. - 5 p.m.