This property at 1519 Oakes Avenue in Rockford is slated to be demolished along with four other properties in the city. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The city will tear down five more properties as it works to remove blight and potentially dangerous structures from its neighborhoods.

City Council members on Monday approved a contract with N-TRAK Group of Loves Park to raze 1025 N. Church St., 1519 Oakes Ave., 719 Maple St., 951 N. Horsman St. and 129 N. Day Ave. at a cost of $77,089.

The latest round of demolitions is on top of more than 20 blighted properties the city has already razed this year.

The city has demolished approximately 100 residential properties a year for several years, according to Karl Franzen, the city’s director of community and economic development. That number has dipped in recent years for several reasons, including additional intervention options such as the land bank, which can help put problem properties back into the hands of responsible owners, he said.

Related: How this Belvidere home went from problem property to $190K listing

The city now budgets to raze roughly 40-60 abandoned homes each year.

2022 demolitions

  • 2624 S. Fifth St.
  • 3018 10th St.
  • 728 Bruce St.
  • 1729 Clifton Ave.
  • 1019 S. Court St.
  • 3518 Gilbert Ave.
  • 1621 Green St.
  • 2915 W. State St.
  • 1014 N. Winnebago St.
  • 949 S. Third St.
  • 1615 Ninth Ave.
  • 920 Kent St.
  • 1511 Midway Drive
  • 2106 School St.
  • 3049 Kishwaukee St.
  • 3045 Kishwaukee St.
  • 1406 School St.
  • 3135 Searles Ave.
  • 409 Kishwaukee St.
  • 411 Kishwaukee St.
  • 415 Kishwaukee St.

Pending demolition

  • 719 Maple St.
  • 1519 Oakes Ave.
  • 951 N. Horsman St.
  • 128 N. Day Ave.
  • 1025 N. Church St.

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas.