New Greenspace Plaza Design Is Nod To Original Historic Building

Groundbreaking for the Opera House Plaza has now begun.  The open-air plaza will rehabilitate the empty lot left sitting after the natural gas explosion in 2016 and subsequent demolition of the historic Opera House building in the heart of downtown Canton. 

Built in 1891, the Opera House was a three-story, three-storefront-wide building made of red sandstone block and featured a large arched entry and windows, as well as finely carved details of the time. After the explosion, the building could not be saved, so demolition followed.  After the empty lot sat idle for 8 years, the City Council agreed to use Business Development District funds to develop this plaza which will feature open green space, wide walkways, an open plaza, and a covered performance stage. 

Farnsworth Group of Peoria led the design, incorporating details to replicate and remind of the original structure.   A classic façade will feature a red block arched entry and pillars modeled after the original fluted columns, linked with black wrought iron fencing.  Black metal arches line the entry walkway, and six sizeable trees will provide shade for eventgoers.   The focal point is a raised performance stage covered by a pavilion and includes storage areas and a serving window during events. This open stage just happens to be located on the exact spot where the original stage of the Opera House once was, a stage that hosted decades of music, theater, and film.

This project was sparked by a sketch and an idea, moved along through preliminary architectural renderings, budget estimates, final drawings, bidding, and council approvals, and now at March 1, 2025, is finally breaking ground.  The current timeline anticipates completion in September, 2025.  Leander Construction, Inc. of Canton was selected as the General Contractor, and Aupperle Construction, Kelley Ironworks and RCP Shelters, Inc. are specialty contracts.  Financing is being provided through MidAmerica National Bank, Ipava State Bank and Bank of Farmington. 

Click here to view the Farnsworth Group’s Vision Book featuring renderings of the proposed project as it was presented in March, 2024.