Historic Rockford News Tower to Become Luxury Lofts and Riverfront Shops

One of the most recognizable buildings in the city, the Rockford News Tower, has new owners with big glow-up plans for a downtown destination.

The Revitalization of Downtown Rockford

As a lifelong resident of the Rockford, Illinois area, I love all the changes we've seen in the city's downtown over the last decade.

New businesses have opened. Old eyesore buildings have come down, and it looks like the next two years will see even bigger changes coming to Downtown Rockford.

Here are a few of the exciting things we can look forward to in 2026:

1. Davis Park will reopen with new river walk paths, a playground, skatepark, and more in spring 2026.
2. A new wine bar will be opening in the former Palace Shoe Repair location.
3. The new Cahoots family entertainment destination will open in the old Coca-Cola bottling plant on Prairie Street.

When it comes to the redevelopment of old buildings in Downtown Rockford, there is one that has been ignored for far too long...the Rockford News Tower.

New Owners and New Plans For Rockford News Tower

For nearly 90 years, the Rockford Register Star was operated out of the historic Rockford News Tower building at 99 E State St. The building was sold in 2021 to Iconic Energy, and now it has been sold to Urban Equity Properties who have big plans for its future.

The Rockford Register Star reports:

Urban Equity CEO Justin Fern said the property was acquired via a business entity of Urban Equity Properties with plans to transform the former home of the Rockford Register Star at 99 E. State St. into the News Tower Lofts, a mixed-use development with 80 luxury loft apartments and an indoor mall of a dozen retail locations and a riverfront eatery.

Urban Equity's plans include adding a floor to the old warehouse section of the building for more apartments, plus private parking and outdoor space for all tenants to enjoy. The company also hopes to create a "museum honoring Rockford's publishing industry" within the space as well.

Construction on the News Tower Lofts is expected to begin in 2027, and will take about two years to complete.