BATAVIA – As work winds down on the North River Street streetscape project, aldermen Monday recommended pushing ahead with streetscape improvements for Wilson Street while delaying Houston Street’s streetscape project.

The Houston Street project already had been put on hold until early next year. City officials now have recommended putting off the project until 2014 for several reasons, including that the city already has received a $1.5 million Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program grant for the Wilson Street streetscape project, plus $656,000 in state funds to improve and modernize the traffic signals on Wilson Street in the downtown.

Batavia Mayor Jeff Schielke had voiced concerns the city could lose the funding if it doesn’t use it. The issue was discussed Monday at the City Council’s Community Development Committee meeting.