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Chicago Tribune
a day ago
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Column: Former Aurora Central principal now back in area as pastor in Sugar Grove
After serving more than two decades as a priest of the Rockford Diocese in his hometown of Aurora, the Rev. William Etheredge did not have a lot of experience with packing up and moving. Unlike most Catholic priests who tend to be relocated every six to 12 years by the bishop, he was comfortably situated in his role as principal of Aurora Central Catholic High School and superintendent of the Catholic schools here. And as he crept closer to age 70, he'd hoped to ease into retirement there. But God — and/or the bishop – had other plans. In the past three years, Etheredge has certainly been on the move, relocating from Aurora in July of 2022 to St. Mary Catholic Church in Sycamore, and now, the popular priest has been transferred again, this time back home. Or at least, darn close to home. On June 18, after only a few years at St. Mary, Etheredge officially became the new pastor of St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Church in Sugar Grove. That's no doubt great news for hundreds if not thousands of his fans who were as much devastated as disappointed when Bishop David Malloy, who Etheredge has known since their seminary days, moved him from Aurora Central Catholic, which had thrived under his leadership. The announcement led to a whole lot of tears, not to mention hundreds of names on petitions to the diocese asking that the popular priest be left in Aurora. Etheredge was disappointed, too. But he also was well aware of the Catholic priest shortage, and moved from his hometown to Sycamore with a great attitude and that seemingly ever-present smile on his face. That move came out of the blue, he told me back in June of 2022 when we sat down to talk about his exodus from ACC. And so also has this most recent relocation, which follows the retirement of St. Katharine Drexel Pastor Stephen St. Jules, who arrived in Sugar Grove four years ago. Yes, 'I was very surprised,' admitted Etheredge, noting with a laugh that, 'in the past three years I've been in three places. Before that, in 40 years, I was in three places.' I have no doubt the members of St. Mary Parish loved him as much as any of us who know Father Etheredge or ever listened to one of his sermons or Gospel readings — which usually are recited by heart as he steps down off the altar and walks close to the congregation. The humble, affable priest – frequently described as 'one of a kind' – certainly developed close relationships in his few years with this DeKalb County parish. Still, Etheredge is looking at this latest move as a 'real blessing.' For one thing, when St. Katharine Drexel was founded in October of 2008 – the first new parish in the Rockford Diocese since 1989 and largely due to a major gift from the Anthony Rich family which owns the prestigious Rich Harvest Farms golf course – Etheredge was part of those early efforts, including moving tables and chairs to set up for Mass in the gymnasium of John Shields Elementary School to the eventual groundbreaking. 'It really does feel like I'm coming home,' he said, noting there are still 'many families I know' at St. Katharine's, including those who had or have children at ACC. 'I certainly feel very welcomed back.' Of course, he quickly noted, the moves are 'not getting any easier. 'I'm still in boxes but have found the essentials,' said Etheredge when I caught up with him last week. 'I'm meeting with people here; with staff and volunteers. I'm learning about the nuts and bolts …' Still, he misses education and working with young people, one reason he was thrilled St. Mary Parish included an elementary school. But this move brings him closer to his beloved ACC, making it 'much easier,' he acknowledged, to get to sporting events, plays and other high school activities. 'It is hard to leave where I was,' he said. 'But it also is so good to be back in the area.'
Chicago Tribune
29-01-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Aurora City Council approves micro-unit apartment plan for historic former hotel
The Aurora City Council approved Tuesday a developer's plan to rehab the historic Galena Hotel in downtown Aurora into over 20 micro-unit apartments, which is a new concept for the city. Developer Fernando Barrera, an East Side Aurora native and Aurora Central Catholic High School graduate, plans to convert the building at 116 W. Galena Blvd. into apartments ranging in size from 260 square feet to 550 square feet to be priced from $1,050 per month to $1,350 per month. The former hotel has sat vacant since 2020, and Barrera first purchased the building in 2023. The Galena Hotel building was first constructed in 1862, making it one of the oldest in the city. It was previously owned by E.D. Huntoon, a one-time board member of the town of Aurora, and was known as Huntoon House, the finest hotel in Aurora, according to past reporting. At Tuesday's City Council meeting, Aurora aldermen voted 10-1 without any discussion to approve the plan and a special zoning designation for the project, called a Conditional Use Planned Development. Ald. John Laesch, at-large, voted against the project while Ald. Ron Woerman, at-large, recused himself due to a conflict of interest. Five units are planned for the building's downstairs, with the lobby also being converted into an apartment. The second and third floors would each hold seven units, and the fourth floor would hold two larger units. The interior of the building is planned to be reconfigured, but the center stairwell corridors, which a staff report about the project called 'the building's most significant and intact pubic spaces,' are set to be restored. The only major changes to the building would be a new addition on the back that will hold an elevator for residents, which could only be accessed from inside the building, and a new stairwell also on the back of the building, according to past reporting. The developer has worked with both the city and the state Historic Preservation Office, along with others, to make sure that the additions have little impact on the historic building since Barrera plans to use historic preservation tax credits for the project, city staff previously said. City staff also worked with Barrera early in the planning process to better understand micro-units, since it is a new concept for the city. Information provided to the city showed that the micro-units are affordable for those who want to live in urban areas, provide convenient access to jobs and amenities, typically have a higher occupancy rate than other types of apartments, rent at higher prices per square footage than other units, are sustainable and will fill an untapped market within the city, in addition to preserving a historic building, staff previously said. Barrera told the Aurora City Council's Building, Zoning and Economic Development Committee earlier this month that the plan is to target working-class professionals to live in the units, and all the leases would be for a minimum of 12 months. The units will not have dedicated parking spaces. Instead, those who live in the apartments will need to get permits to park long-term in city lots, staff previously said. The Aurora City Council approved last September a $1.3 million incentive for the micro-unit project at the historic hotel, according to previous reporting. These funds are set to come from the city's tax on gaming Barrera said at the time that he is planning to primarily finance the project, which is set to cost a total of $6.65 million, through the sale of historic tax credits, which the building is eligible to receive because it's on the National Register of Historic Places and in Aurora's Riveredge Redevelopment Zone. The building is also in the tax increment financing, or TIF, district that was created for the historic Hobbs Building project across Galena Boulevard. Barrera will get back 80% of the difference between the building's current property tax and the future property tax from after the project is completed because of the TIF district, according to past reporting. City officials previously estimated that the building's property taxes would increase from about $4,000 a year to between roughly $20,000 and $25,000 when the project is completed.
