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- From charm to challenges: Tri-Cities residents share their views on local downtown areas
From charm to challenges: Tri-Cities residents share their views on local downtown areas
Downtown development is a hot topic in the Tri-Cities, with residents weighing in on what’s working — and what’s missing. From thriving nightlife to empty storefronts, here’s what locals had to say about the current state and future of their downtowns.
Sam Kraft
February 19, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes
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On Monday, we polled Tri-Cities Central readers about their views on the direction of the downtown areas across Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles.
The responses came in strong: 58% said they’re happy with it, 18% said they’re not happy, and 24% said “it depends.”
Here’s what stood out.
Batavia: High hopes, but slow-ish progress
General consensus: Most Batavia residents expressed support and positivity for the ongoing downtown revitalization while acknowledging that it’s a work in progress. Though many appreciate the vision, some folks have grown impatient with delays and stalled projects.
Local perspectives
“I moved here in 2001 and hoped at that time that our Batavia downtown would improve given our proximity to St Charles and Geneva. That process has been very slow in my opinion. I'm hoping the current improvements will be the first of many.”
“The boardwalk incubator project seems to have been successful, offering small businesses a chance to test the market with their products and ideas. We still have storefronts to fill, but I think we are moving in the right direction.”
“Batavia certainly has some enviable space for development compared to the others in the Tri-Cities".”
“Batavia has a nice mix of bars, restaurants and boutique shops downtown. Randall Road is for big box stores and essentials. I would like to see more development using the river view.”
What's next? For Batavia, the path forward might simply be turning enthusiasm into even more tangible results. Continuing to build momentum and spur more community involvement may be a solid bet.
Geneva: Balancing charm with change
General consensus: Geneva readers highlighted the balance between preserving the city’s historic charm and ensuring the downtown remains vibrant and accessible for both residents and visitors. Many respondents appreciate the city’s character, but several comments suggest that there’s room for improvement in areas like parking availability, business diversity and filling empty storefronts.
Local perspectives
“Geneva continues to attract unique shops and restaurants. It has a critical mass of destination shops (Little Traveler, Grahams & Cocoon, to name a few) and smaller specialty shops, which makes it an attractive destination.”
“Geneva, over the years, has progressed in a positive direction for the people who live here and has so much appeal for visitors. It will always be one of the most beautiful towns to live in with its wonderful shops, restaurants, festivals and more.”
“Too many shuttered store fronts. I’ve lived here for over 25 years and have seen the city of Geneva stagnate while Batavia and St Charles are investing in their future.”
“I would love to see small businesses that provide goods for residents that encourage us to shop downtown instead of Randall Road. Consider stores that provide groceries, art supplies, clothing (not tourist boutique clothing). How about entertainment? Theatre, music venues? We don’t need any more eateries and bars.”
What's next? Addressing the perceived challenge of empty storefronts with a more diverse mix of businesses could help Geneva maintain its stellar reputation as a shopping and dining destination. Improvements to the East State Street corridor — which many respondents cited as lacking — should help in the near future.
St. Charles: Positive developments, but too many bars
General consensus: Commentary from St. Charles respondents ranged from highly optimistic about the downtown’s evolution to disgruntled with the large number of bars and taverns. Several readers feel that while nightlife has flourished, other types of businesses — especially family-friendly spots — would benefit the area.
Local perspectives
“We need more retail and less bars/taverns! Quit issuing so many liquor licenses, St. Charles.”
“It’s important to revitalize the downtown for multi-use and keeping an eye on all age groups. We have a lot of public space and that brings all ages and socio-economic levels, which enhances the vitality of St. Charles.”
“The city’s done a nice job redeveloping 1st Street and bringing new venues to the EAST side of the river.”
“St. Charles is skewed in favor of downtown business and the bars. All they want is tax money! They want to build more apartments to feed into downtown entertainment district.”
What's next? Many readers hope to see a broader mix of businesses, from unique retail shops to more family-oriented attractions, that would make downtown St. Charles appealing beyond just an evening out.
Final word
Readers from surrounding communities weighed in as well, including a few from North Aurora who lamented the lack of attention to the Route 31 corridor.
“We live in North Aurora, been here for 40 some years. We have witnessed a lot of changes on Randall Road but feel that Route 31 is always ignored,” one respondent said. “Roads are beat up and narrow and buildings are old and tired. I don’t feel that there is a plan in place to make our town more inviting, like Batavia and Geneva.”
Wherever they live, most respondents are happy and hopeful about downtown improvements and the growing vibrancy of their towns. A smaller contingent worries that changes could diminish what makes each city unique, fearing it’s leading to a loss of local charm.
"I love that we’re getting new businesses, but I also don’t want to see our downtowns turn into another generic shopping center,” said one respondent. “We have history and personality in this area — let’s not lose it in the process."
📖 Thanks for reading
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