Are We Ready to Make History, WestEnders?
How many WestEnders live East of Central Ave.?
If you've ever watched the famous BBC program EastEnders, you know it's all about a proud, tight-knit community navigating life together. Well, right here in the 61101 and 61102 zip codes, we are the WestEnders-and it's our turn to write a historic new chapter for our neighborhood.
I've built a website tailored specifically to our area, and I'm inviting our entire community to unite as the AvonX Charter Group. Together, we have a window of opportunity to guide our own economic, academic, and community destiny.
The Momentum Happening Right Now
Our neighborhood is on the verge of the largest residential addition we have seen since the 1950s. Within months, construction is set to bring brand-new neighbors into our area via:
A 64-unit apartment complex on the west side of South Avon Street (between Green and Preston Streets).
Numerous new duplexes.
Several beautiful single-family homes.
Ongoing Neighborhood Development
Construction is slated to begin this summer, but the neighborhood evolution is already in full swing:
Infrastructure Upgrades:
The Water Dept. project is active all along Preston Street between South Avon and Tay Street, bringing infrastructure upgrades.
Facility Updates:
The Water Dept. building is undergoing internal construction, expanding its parking lot into the former basketball court.
Green Space:
A brand-new, one-block walkway for Memorial Park is coming between Stanley and Tay Streets, improving community access and connectivity.
Your Voice Needed:
The Park District is currently undecided on whether to light the grounds of this new facility. This is exactly where our collective voice comes in!
Reclaiming Our Legacy
The closest our area ever came to an expansion this large was the Fairgrounds project in the 70s. Back then, we had an impeccably beautiful neighborhood with an unshakeable reputation as a safe, family- first community.
While we've had our share of neighborhood drama over the decades, look where we stand today. We have a golden opportunity to redefine the West End. Let's showcase our community's true valuation in real wealth, built on the incredible, high-level legacy that still thrives in our households.
The Ask: Let's Build Our Future
I am asking everyone who cares about our neighborhood's future to check out the website I created.
This site outlines the power and leverage we hold when we organize. Our goal is to use this platform to establish:
Private local businesses owned by us.
Academic pipelines to guarantee our kids have the resources to make great life choices. Generational family wealth kept entirely within our two zip codes.
The Vision Ahead
This is a structured, long-term play for community independence. As we select our community officers, elect board members, and adopt formal business plans, we will monetize this platform to directly create local jobs and resources.
We aren't starting from scratch, either. We have an existing, for-profit sister company with 16 years of exemplary equity at our disposal, alongside a dedicated non-profit arm established in 2022 to protect our neighborhood identity.
Many across Rockford recognize that we, the people, need to take control of our own oversight so the benefits stay with the residents. Not everyone can see the unique leverage we have in our hands right now-but I know the West End can.