Rockford Renewal acquired the property from the Rockford Diocese earlier this year, and has renamed it St. Mary's Place. Office spaces in the building will be divisible to 750 square feet and targeted toward use by professional services firms, doctors, accounting firms and technology companies. It offers proximity to the Winnebago County Justice Center and a federal courthouse which will open soon, making the space also ideal for law firms and other legal service providers.

"St. Mary Place represents a unique opportunity to lease space in a one-of-a-kind historic building in the heart of downtown Rockford," Joe Anderson, managing partner of Rockford Renewal, says. The offices will offer 12-foot-high ceilings and nine-foot-tall windows, and has been redesigned to be fully accessible and ADA compliant, featuring an elevator and private parking. The building was upgraded with a new roof, Wi-Fi connectivity, and mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems.

The property is expected to attain LEED Silver certification and become one of Rockford's first green buildings. Melissa Miller, commercial broker/associate for Century 21 County North and a member of the Rockford Area Association of Realtors, is leasing the property. Asking lease rates there are around $16 per square foot net.