09/09/2026
The DeKalb City Council is supporting repairs to the grand entrance of a longtime business and a security enhancement for downtown’s crown jewel.
The Council unanimously approved a $25,000 Architectural Improvement Program incentive for the Egyptian Theatre on Aug. 10. The funding will help install protective bollards outside the historic theater following a security review that included the DeKalb Police Department. The bollards will help protect the theater’s glass front doors from vehicles that could accidentally or intentionally strike the entrance.
Second Ward Alderwoman Barb Larson said the improvements will help protect both visitors and a building that has received national recognition for its architecture.
“Theaters help bring people together to learn and laugh and just be community,” Larson said, quoting a comment she read about historic theaters. “And the Egyptian just does that. It just shows us exactly seamlessly how to do it.”
The Council also unanimously approved a $724 incentive for Found, 153 E. Lincoln Highway, to help pay for an emergency window replacement. City Manager Bill Nicklas described the storefront as one of those grand old entryways with display space on either side. A crack in the glass had worsened, creating a potential hazard for employees and people passing by.
Seventh Ward Alderman John Walker said Found owner Leslie Conklin, who is also an organizer of the popular Back Alley Market events, has long been part of what makes downtown DeKalb what it is.
“Leslie is definitely a fabric of the community, 100%,” Walker said. “You deserve this for sure.”
Architectural Improvement Program incentives are funded through the Downtown Tax Increment Financing District. Similar incentives are available to businesses outside the City’s TIF districts through the Fund 400 program.
