ALLENIA owner and designer Astrid Haryati and City Administrator Dave Dyer are pictured in the newly designed portion of the former Cresent City “Swamp” which housed a party room until a few months ago. ALLENIA won the city’s SPARK contest, after Cresent City, Hometown Consulting and city officials selected them for the award. [Photo by Diana Whitney]

In an effort to bring more retail business to Galva, city officials combined forces with Hometown Consulting Inc., and Crescent City Tap to create the “SPARK” contest nearly a year ago.

Entrepreneurs and established businesses were encouraged to apply, with the winner awarded the space formerly occupied by Crescent City’s “Swamp” that was used as a party center. The first year’s rent, utilities, and phone service were included in the package. Upon being chosen, the winner had to agree to a three-year contract. 

ALLENIA Design Center was selected as the winner several months ago and is busy remaking the building into a space for art, music, and contemporary furnishings. 

Plans to add a coffee bar, movies, plays, galleries, community programs, and events are in the works. Seasonal installations will be featured in both indoor and outdoor spaces throughout the year. 

ALLENIA, LLC is registered in Illinois and fully owned by Astrid Haryati and her brother Ajie Tresnohany. Haryati is an award-winning singer, architect, and urban designer who produces residential, commercial, public, and governmental facilities in major US and global cities. 

Tresnohany is an urban planner, specializing in ways to deliver the customer’s vision. They are joined by Jeremy Enriquez, a top Billboard Independent singer/songwriter who combines classical design with modern art.  

Haryati resides in Henry, Ill. with her young daughter, Cattleya. She is a licensed landscape architect and a principal in her architectural firm. Her work in Henry currently centers around assisting them with the city’s waterfront design project. 

“Making the area family-friendly is important,” said Haryati, adding, “Offering community programs that give the town a voice is one of our goals.” 

Hoping to work with other organizations, she stressed the importance of creating a mixture of programs to enrich Galva. 

“Filling empty storefronts with art and helping to fill vacant spots is possible in any sized city,” she said. “Galva has a lot of potential and we are here to showcase those possibilities.”

She and her team are hosting a soft opening for the public on Saturday, Nov. 9 from 4-6 p.m. Light refreshments will be served and after a short presentation, the audience will be free to comment and ask questions.