A developer and the city are in the preliminary stages of making revisions to NB&T square in the hopes of creating a communiversity area.

The area is located on Lincoln Highway between First and Pearl streets. The plan for the project is to provide a gateway between the city and the campus as part of NIU President Doug Baker and Mayor John Rey’s “communiversity” goal.

“I would hope to see something that would attract customers to the downtown, and from there we could grow with the community,” Rey said.

Before moving forward with the project, City Council has to decide what it wants to do with the property.

“There’s really three or four different options,” said ShoDeen Construction President Dave Patzelt. “We’re asking City Council what they would want.”

One option is a mixed development area with retail stores on the ground level and residential dwellings above. Another option is having single-story commercial properties.

“If you look at the historic nature of downtown DeKalb, its mostly first-floor retail and apartments above,” Patzelt said. “That’s what most people envision when you’re in a downtown area.”

Other options include a hotel with conference space without any retail space.

“The hotel and conference space would work well for the university, and the hotel would be within walking distance of the campus and could provide great opportunities for visitors,” Patzelt said.

Two other options include doing nothing with the property or selling NB&T Square to the city, but Patzelt said those options are unlikely to happen.

In upcoming council meetings Rey will appoint a project management team which will be in charge of oversight of the project and turning the council’s visions into reality.

“I want to work with council to see which of the options fit their vision,” Rey said. “The project management team would incorporate different teams reviewing options.”

One major factor in what will happen with the project is the economic factor of NB&T Square.

“It’s yet to be seen what is economically feasible; that is what will dictate what is ultimately established for that property,” said fifth ward Alderman Ron Naylor. “I don’t have any preconceived uses for it. We need to let the market dictate.”

January is the proposed month for when City Council and ShoDeen construction will meet and start making concrete plans for NB&T square.