$97,847Average Value$95Average Price per Sq Ft4Homes For Sale
Midtown District makes a grand return
Rockford's Midtown District was already on an upswing when community leader Keith Young opened Midtown Fitness in 2019. Over the past two decades, the area witnessed a renewal period as family-owned restaurants, art hubs and community centers occupied vacant buildings. "We put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into renovating our building—' sweat equity,' so to speak," says Young, who is now the Executive Director of the Midtown District Association, a coalition of residents, business owners, builders and more in the area. "We've been there ever since and served the community as far as having the fitness center when west of 7th Street there are none. It's also helpful being there and being the executive director so I can help where needed in every angle and aspect." Midtown's proximity to downtown Rockford and surrounding residential streets makes it an optimal location to drive foot traffic, especially as the city reinvests in its sidewalks and roadways. Key stakeholders like Rockford Public Schools and the UW Health SwedishAmerican Hospital make their home here and give back to the community financially, encouraging more locals to explore their business ideas in a creative atmosphere.
From Ernie's Midtown Pub to Katie's Cup and beyond
Most of this community's businesses are relatively new, despite their old exteriors. The Midtown District Association works with local movers and shakers to utilize its historic infrastructure. What was once a vacated pharmacy on 7th Street is now Katie's Cup, a cozy coffee shop and community center giving back through programs like the Midtown Free Library. Meanwhile, the historic Faust building is now home to Ernie's Midtown Pub, a craft beer spot that trades the ultra-sleek vibes of many modern breweries for a cozy, vintage feel. Newspaper clippings and Rockford memorabilia create nostalgia for the city's past amid servings of Chicago-style foods like Italian beef. Hai Quynh sits across the street from Midtown Fitness, serving pho noodle soup and other Vietnamese and Chinese fare, including refreshing boba teas and smoothies.
Other community spaces include Inscape Collective, a live music and art gallery, and Three Ravens Pottery, which offers open studio times and reservation-based classes. Nicholson Hardware, established in 1945, is one of a few longstanding businesses in the district. Midtown Fresh Market is an option within walking distance for fresh produce, household items, and hot servings of nachos and other to-go bites. The nearest big-box grocer is Schnuck's, sitting beside chain restaurants in Rockford Plaza about 1.5 miles away.
Ernie's Pub is the busiest during lunch time on week days near Midtown District.
Pubs and bars can be found as a staple of the Midtown District area.
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Visiting Midtown during special events
Vendors and shops set up once a week from June through September for the Rockford Midtown Market, a dog and bike-friendly opportunity to support small businesses. Inscape Collective on 7th Street offers workshops, classes and other programs in their community room focused on women's personal and economic development. And there's always something on the calendar at Ernie's Midtown Pub—Tuesday Trivia Nights carry themes from Jersey Shore to Ben Stiller movies. The Midtown Dog Walk benefits Winnebago County Animal Services through games and treats for visitors and their furry friends.
The Midtown District also plants the seeds of change through community beautification projects. "We just did Adopt a Pot Day where we filled all the planters around town with flowers, and we're piecing together metal artwork to have on the corner of 3rd and 7th," Young says. Members of the Rockford Peaches, the city's revolutionary women's baseball team from the 1950s, welcome Midtown visitors from a mural on the corner of 1st Avenue and 7th Street. The mural is a stop on Rockford's Peaches Fan Trail leading to Beyers Peaches Stadium, less than a mile past Kishwaukee Avenue.
Cars & Coffee takes place throughout the summer in Rockford's Midtown District.
Midtown Farmer's Market is a dog and bike-friendly opportunity to support small businesses.
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Reinvesting in the Midtown District's housing stock
The central commercial area is encompassed by residential streets. Traditional single-family homes and brick or wood-sided duplexes have stood strong since the early to mid-1900s. Though varied in size and shape, many of these homes have stood vacant for years and need extensive repairs to be move-in ready. ZION Development, the brainchild of Zion Lutheran Church on 5th Avenue in the neighborhood, has rehabbed over 160 homes to create viable housing options. Incoming buyers also have opportunities to reinvest in mixed commercial and residential properties. Recent listings for homes across the spectrum range from about $50,000 to $150,000.
Rows of closely nestled homes can be found within the Midtown District area.
Grand homes near the edge of Midtown District can be found as well.
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Traveling to Rockford's parks
While green spaces within the Midtown District are few and far between, parks are less than a mile away. Tenth Avenue Park provides open green space, and Ingersoll Centennial Park offers a playground close to the downtown area. The UW Health Sports Factory pairs extensive indoor athletic courts with close Rocky River views. About 2 miles away, Sinnissippi Park is a Rockford staple along the riverfront with a playground, picnic shelters, tree shade and a golf course. It’s an access point for the 10-mile Rock River Recreational Path.
Attend a local music festival at the Sinnissippi Park Music Shell.
UW Health Sports Factory offers basketball for local Rockford residents.
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Public, charter and private schools for Midtown kids
Public school students in the neighborhood are zoned for nearby Constance Lane Elementary School or Riverdahl Elementary School. Niche gives Riverdahl a C-minus but does not have a rating for Constance Lane, which opened in 2019. They feed into Lincoln Middle School, which earns a C-minus, and Rockford East High School, which earns a C-plus. Many residents opt to apply for local charter and private schools as well, according to Young. Jackson Charter School, which scores a C-minus, provides free transportation to Rockford residents and curates a STEM-focused education. Kids in Rockford get priority registration at tuition-based All Saints Catholic Academy, which teaches prekindergarten through 8th grade; Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Academy teaches prekindergarten through 12th grade and earns a B-plus from Niche.
Jackson Charter School is a private school near Midtown District.
Constance Lane Elementary School offers public school to the kids of Midtown District.
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Getting around Rockford from Midtown
Owning a car may be optional for those living in the Midtown District. "We are a commercial area in the middle of a residential area, so a lot of people walk to what they need," Young says. Rockford Mass Transit District (RMTD) buses run daily to stops along 7th Street, Kishwaukee Avenue and Broadway. Car owners will likely face more traffic the closer they get to the UW Health SwedishAmerican Hospital campus on the community's north end. Residents are about 5 miles north of Chicago Rockford International Airport and can also find bus schedules to the terminal.
As the Midtown District continues to expand, so will its convenience. "With the redevelopment of Main Street and 7th Street we'll put in new sidewalks with brick portions, and new lamp posts will be put in all the way from the south end of Main to the north," Young says. "6th Street's gonna be a two way, not a one- way, which will slow traffic down and bring more people to our area. And with the redevelopment of the south main area as well as downtown, we're almost like a triangle now—we're starting to become a go-to area in the city."
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On average, homes in Midtown District, Rockford sell after 32 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Midtown District, Rockford over the last 12 months is $99,000, up 32% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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