Spirit

City Moves Forward with
Neighborhood Stabilization Program

With the City of Elgin planning to rehab between 10 and 12 homes as part of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), prequalification of potential general contractors is required per Elgin Municipal Code.

“The prequalification process serves to make more efficient the bidding process by limiting the number of bidders to a smaller, manageable pool of qualified contractors,” explained Elgin’s Planning Manager Matthew Fitzgibbon. “(The requirement) effectively assists with the timeliness of the bid review and ultimately garners quality bid responses.”

The City issued a request for qualifications in January with applications due in February. Prospective contractors were required to submit an application that included a statement of interest, a narrative detailing qualifications along with financial information. Information detailing a contractor’s ability to rehab homes within a required timeframe and experience was also requested.

The City received 19 proposals of which 12 were determined to have met the submission requirements. The prequalified general contractors are:
  • J.B. Harris and Company, Elgin
  • Pinnacle Contractors, LLC, Palatine
  • Heritage Signature Homes, Inc., Belvidere
  • Kellenberger Construction, Inc., Elgin.
  • Moveout Makeovers, Palatine.
  • J & B Builders, Inc., St. Charles.
  • Xanadu Builders, East Dundee.
  • Homework Construction Services, Inc., Elgin.
  • D. Dorrance & Son Custom Builders, LLC, Elgin.
  • All Around Home Improvements, Elgin.
  • Developmore Inc., Wood Dale.
  • The BL Block Company, Chicago.

NSP is a federal program established to help stabilize communities that suffer from foreclosures and abandonment. NSP provides grants to all states and selected local governments on a formula basis and is part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA) of 2008. The City of Elgin received $2.1 million in NSP funding in April, 2009. That funding must be used by the end of September, 2010.

To date, the City has purchased the following homes:

  • 318 South Street - $83,900
  • 162 Summit - $56,430
  • 485 E. Chicago - $81,180
  • 108-110 S. Channing - $84,900
  • 355 Moseley - $64,900
  • 209 Franklin - $49,900

More homes are expected to be purchased and renovation work should begin in April or May, 2010.