Rockford has reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development over potential Civil Rights Act violations.
Federal authorities launched an investigation in November 2015, when Rockford debated a plan to replace Fairgrounds Valley housing units with The Grove at Keith Creek, an 65-unit affordable housing development on South New Towne Drive.
The Rockford Register Star reportsneighbors and aldermen had objected to the plan, but HUD officials said denying the proposal violated the Civil Rights Act.
A 49-unit project ultimately was approved in January 2016, and the site is currently undergoing demolition.
Under the settlement, Rockford admits no wrongdoing and HUD makes no "finding of non-compliance." The city also recognizes that deconcentration of affordable housing is a primary goal of fair housing measures, but that goal should not be the sole reason to deny a project.