Source: 1902 Rockford Illinois, Press of Horner Printing Company, Rockford, ILL, 1902, p. 93.
Hotels
“Hotels lose without Waterfront, Airfest” – 2013
3 sections below
Source: Rockford Register Star 8/11/2013
“Metro tax endorsed by council” – April 1978
Source: Rockford Morning Star 4/4/1978; by Tom Schafer
“Home prices stage reversal of fortune” – 2012, by Alex Gary
Source: Rockford Register Star May 13, 2012, by Alex Gary; Editor: Annette LaCross front page of Local & State Section
“The Road to Recession, then to recovery” – 12/30/2012
Source: Rockford Register-Star December 30, 2012, 2006 through 2012
Groundbreaking for Embassy Suites – 2018, Amerock/Ziock
Source: Photograph emailed/donated by Don, Friends of Ziock, dated 4/10/2018
“Civic Center Bill Gets OK” – 6/15/1977
Source: Rockford Register-Republic 6/15/1977 by Sharen Johnson, and/or Rockfordiana: Municipal Centers – 1, p. 108
“Shop on Broadway; Harvest of Values” – 1972, Rockford Labor News
Source: Rockford Labor News, Friday October 27, 1972, page 5
“Local Execs…” – 4/4/1968
“New taxes urged for civic center” – 1975, home rule added tax
Source: Rockford Morning Star 1/24/2012
Second column, last full paragraph refers to ability to levy additional tax to city motels and hotels under Home Rule
The civic center (which became MetroCentre) was proposed in the 1920’s (see The Roper Plan) and voted down each time it was proposed in an election for 50 years until the MetroCentre was built.