Riverbend Renewal

10/13/2026

Saturday was the perfect day for the Window Workshop.

Eric covered why historic windows are important, safety, window anatomy, paint and glazing removal methods, glass cutting and replacement, wood repair, and glazing.

Participants had the opportunity to try out various tools and methods and gained an understanding and appreciation for wood window construction.

Even more impactful was spending the afternoon with our neighbors, appreciating history and learning something new.

The more you know 💡

10/11/2026

Many thanks to Elevated Mobile Restrooms for their generosity in providing a stylish restroom experience for today’s historic window workshop—we appreciate your support! 🤍

10/09/2026

There’s still time to join us! We have 9 spots left for tomorrow’s Window Restoration Workshop at the Bruch-Guertler House, and we’d love to have you there.

Join Riverbend Renewal Saturday, October 10, at noon as we uncover the front window sashes for the first time in many years. We’ll explore how double-hung windows work, remove the sashes, and review paint and glazing removal, wood repairs, glass replacement, re-glazing, and installing sash cords and weights.

Come a few minutes early to say hello and tour the house. Wear comfortable clothes you don’t mind getting dirty and closed-toe shoes. We’ll provide safety glasses, masks, and gloves, plus water and light snacks. Participants will sign a liability waiver.

A special thank-you to Elevated Mobile Restrooms for providing onsite portable restrooms!
https://www.elevatedmobilerestrooms.com/

Whether you have old windows of your own or simply want to learn, we’d be glad to spend the afternoon with you.

Reserve your spot: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/window-restoration-workshop

Love where you live, save what you love.

The problem with historic wood windows isn’t that they can’t be repaired. It’s that fewer people know how.For generations, craftspeople knew how to build,…

10/06/2026

TONIGHT: Help us save another piece of historic Alton.

Many of you have been following the restoration of the Bruch-Guertler House. You have seen a completely gutted building—being slowly being brought back to life. The work is difficult and expensive, but preserving something irreplaceable is worth doing.

Tonight, another historic Alton property needs our support.

The Alton Historical Commission will consider a request to demolish 427 East Fourth Street, the historic multifamily building pictured here. It has stood in Middletown since at least 1885 and may date to the 1850s.

The property is owned by Giant City Properties I, LLC. The owner has submitted a brief structural assessment recommending demolition, but it does not establish that the house is beyond saving or that rehabilitation is impossible.

Demolition may be easier and less expensive than restoration. That is not the same as proving that demolition is necessary.

We believe this ownership entity has the resources to stabilize the house, restore it, pursue a preservation partnership or offer it for sale at a realistic price. Choosing demolition without exhausting those alternatives would be unacceptable and irresponsible stewardship of a contributing historic property.

This decision reaches far beyond one building. Alton’s three historic districts contain approximately 1,000 properties, with countless other historic structures beyond their boundaries. If cost and convenience become sufficient reasons for demolition, all of them become more vulnerable.

Please attend tonight’s meeting and respectfully ask the Commission to deny the demolition permit.

7:00 p.m.
Alton City Hall Council Chambers
101 East Third Street

When we lose a historic building, we lose part of Alton’s story—and no one can build it back.

Love where you live. Save what you love.

09/01/2026

Join us Saturday, October 10th for a hands-on Historic Window Repair Workshop at the Bruch-Guertler House.

Join us for an informative and hands-on window workshop presented by Riverbend Renewal & Eric Lavelle. Hosted at the historic Bruch-Guertler House in Alton, Illinois. We will explore the history and anatomy of wood windows and participants will get the opportunity to try out various techniq

08/04/2026

We're partnering with Eric LaVelle to host a historic window workshop on Saturday, October 10th.

The informative and hands on event will be held at the historic Bruch-Guertler House in Alton, Illinois.

Mark your calendars now--more details to follow!

03/07/2026

One thing we were reminded of recently while attending an in-depth workshop on historic masonry and stone repair: water will always win.

Many of the brick homes built in the late 1800s were constructed with soft, breathable materials — brick and lime mortar that allow moisture to move through the wall and dry out naturally. It’s part of why so many of them have stood for well over a century.

Historic buildings are remarkably resilient when they’re maintained and allowed to function the way they were designed.

But those systems rely on two things working properly: the building being able to breathe, and water being carried away from the structure.

That’s why two of the biggest challenges for historic brick homes are failing gutters and modern paint coatings.

Box gutters and downspouts were designed to move huge amounts of water away from the roof. When they stop working properly, water can end up running down the face of the building instead.

At the same time, many historic brick houses have been painted with modern latex paint at some point in their lives. The problem is that these coatings can trap moisture inside masonry that was designed to dry out.

Over time, trapped moisture combined with repeated freeze–thaw cycles can weaken mortar and damage brick.

It’s a good reminder that caring for historic buildings often comes down to understanding how they work — and making sure water always has somewhere else to go.

At Riverbend Renewal, part of our mission is helping share the knowledge and skills that keep historic homes standing for the next hundred years.

03/05/2026

Update: John Sutter House – 427 East Fourth Street

Thank you to everyone who attended the Historic Commission meeting in support of preserving the John Sutter House. Seven community members were present, and three spoke during public comment advocating for preservation. Notably, no nearby homeowners spoke in support of demolition.

Giant City Properties, the current owner, did not present documented evidence demonstrating that demolition is necessary. The primary argument offered was that restoring the structure would be too expensive relative to the potential return.

The Historic Commission did not make a decision on the demolition request. Instead, they directed the owner to consult with a realtor about developing a more appropriate strategy for marketing the property to someone interested in restoring it.

The Commission will revisit the matter at its next meeting on April 7.

This is not a tear-down situation—it’s a question of economics. The right buyer with vision could restore this historic multi-family property and potentially benefit from historic tax credits and other financial incentives.

Those who care about preserving Alton’s historic architecture are encouraged to attend the April 7 Historic Commission meeting and share their support for thoughtful stewardship of this 150-year-old property.

03/03/2026

Today is Dr. Seuss’s birthday, and I’ve been thinking about the Lorax — the one who speaks for the trees.

At Riverbend Renewal, we try to speak for the houses.

Tomorrow, the Alton Historic Commission will consider an application to demolish 427 East Fourth Street and replace it with new construction.

This brick duplex likely dates back to the mid-19th century. It sits about halfway up the bluff on East Fourth Street — just steps from shops, restaurants, City Hall, and everything that makes downtown Alton vibrant and walkable. With its view of the river, it’s easy to see why it would be considered a developer’s dream location.

But it’s also something more.

When I drive into Alton from the Clark Bridge, I look up at the layered city rising along the bluff — the brick buildings, the varied rooflines, the texture and character that make our skyline unmistakably ours. That view isn’t just pretty. It’s meaningful. It tells me I’m home.

427 East Fourth is part of that view. Part of that texture.

Historic districts aren’t defined only by grand landmarks. They’re shaped by the full collection of buildings — modest and magnificent — that together create our sense of place. When one is removed, that fabric shifts permanently.

A new house can be built.
But it cannot carry generations of history.

If you care about preserving the character and authenticity of Alton — the very things that make arriving here feel special — I hope you’ll consider attending tomorrow’s Historic Commission meeting.

Sometimes loving a place means showing up for it.

Historic Commission Meeting
Alton City Hall - Council Chambers
Tuesday, March 3rd @ 7pm

02/17/2026

Join us for the Landmarks Illinois & International Masonry Institute Annual Historic Preservation Event:
Masonry Facade Repair Strategies in Adaptive Reuse Projects 🏗️
🗓️ When: Thursday, February 19, 2026 | 8:30 AM - 12:45 PM CST
💻 Where: Virtual (via Zoom)
🎓 Earn 4.0 LU/HSW Credits (pending approval)
🌟 FREE to Attend

📋 Program Highlights:
✔️ Case studies on adaptive reuse projects
✔️ Expert presentations from architects, engineers, and contractors

Register Today! https://ow.ly/853g50Y92KH

Industry education provided to you through the support of the Tuckpointing Industry Promotional Trust, Landmarks Illinois, the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers – Pointers, Cleaners and Caulkers, the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers District Council Illinois Training Center, and the International Masonry Institute.

📸Walker Consultants — Ryan Griffin-Stegink, Creative Lead, Corporate Marketing. Rector Building at 79 W. Monroe St.