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Chicago Tribune
5 hours ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Oswego OKs annexation agreement for proposed residential development at Wolfs Crossing and Douglas roads
The Oswego Village Board recently approved an annexation agreement and rezoning for a proposed multi-unit residential development at Wolfs Crossing and Douglas roads. South Barrington-based Projades LLC proposes to build Jade Estates of Oswego with fewer units than was originally requested. The proposal is now for 52 residential units on about 8 acres on the southwest corner of Wolfs Crossing and Douglas roads in a currently unincorporated part of Kendall County near Oswego. The development would consist of 20 duplex buildings and three townhome buildings with four units each, village officials said. Voting in favor were Oswego Village President Ryan Kauffman and Trustees Andrew Torres, James Cooper, Jennifer Hughes, Rachelle Koenig and Karen Novy. Voting the other way was Trustee Karin McCarthy-Lange. The Oswego Planning and Zoning Commission in May reviewed a site plan for the development featuring 56 duplex villas. However, commissioners had concerns with what they said was the development's relatively high density. The commission voted to deny a favorable recommendation to the Village Board on the project. After receiving the commission's feedback, the developer submitted a revised plan, Oswego Development Services Director Rod Zenner told trustees. Multiple concept plans for the site have been brought before the Village Board, including a 66 duplex unit development, village officials said. 'I appreciate you found a way to get it to 52 units. I think the design is superior to what you brought so far,' Koenig said. McCarthy-Lange objected to the overall project. 'I have not been a fan of this project from day one,' she said. McCarthy-Lange said she voted against the project when it was submitted by another developer. 'I appreciate the work you have done. I just wish it was part of a bigger plan. This is a small parcel that really should be incorporated into a larger land development,' she said. Kauffman said he, too, appreciated the developer's willingness to revise the plans. 'We appreciate that you have been flexible in working with staff to get the number down to 52-units. The end product is nice looking and will be a nice amenity for the community,' the village president said. Trustees approved a rezoning of the site from single-unit dwelling to general residence. The developer has agreed to deliver the village a deed for two acres of right-of-way that will be dedicated for the Wolfs Crossing and Douglas roads roundabout. As part of the annexation agreement, the village and Projades will share a stormwater detention facility that will serve both the development and the village's need for detention related to the Wolfs Crossing improvements, village officials said.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Orland Park projects big deficit on some Centennial Park West concerts; moves Taste of Orland back to Village Green
Orland Park is projecting a loss of more than $500,000 for some upcoming summer concerts scheduled at its new Centennial Park West concert venue. The figure is based on estimated ticket sales for the events scheduled for July and August, and the village is already committed to paying the bands that are lined up, a bill of more than $500,000. New Mayor Jim Dodge, during his campaign in which he defeated two-term Mayor Keith Pekau, was critical of the village spending on the concert venue and said Orland Park was losing money on the events. Orland Park and other communities typically subsidize a good chunk of the cost for special events, such as concerts, hoping to make back some of the money through revenue from things such as ticket sales. Spending and revenue projections were discussed by the Village Board committee meeting Monday. The board narrowly voted to bring the annual Taste of Orland food and music fest back to the Village Green, adjacent to Village Hall and the Civic Center. That's where it has been held until last year, when it was moved to Centennial Park West. Adjacent to the larger Centennial Park, Centennial Park West, 15609 Park Station Blvd., is a 12-acre park and includes a 3,200-square-foot permanent performance stage. The park is also the site of Orland Park's Fourth of July fireworks. Last month, before Dodge and three trustees he ran with were sworn in, the former Village Board approved about $1 million for work at Centennial West, including installation of two large video screens. The screens could be used for showing up-close shots of performers on stage, but also to show movies, village officials said. Several concerts are scheduled for the Centennial Park West venue this summer, including Yacht Rock and Soft Rock Night on July 12, with Firefall and Ambrosia opening for headliner Pablo Cruise. Also on tap are Lynyrd Skynrd performing on Aug. 8 and Trace Adkins on Aug. 30. According to the village, projected revenue, including tickets sold so far, for all three events will be $468,600. Total expenses for the three events are expected to be a bit more than $1 million. The hiring of the headliners and opening acts for all three nights, budgeted at $500,000, will be $561,000, according to the village. The village expects that overall revenues, including beverage sales and future ticket purchases, for the three nights will fall short of expenses by $537,380. While the numbers were discussed by trustees, there was no action taken. All of the acts scheduled to perform are under contract, meaning they'll be paid if the village decided to cancel, said Ray Piattoni, the village's director of recreation and parks. Piattoni said 'special events are very difficult to break even' on, and said the annual Taste event typically costs about $100,000 more to host than is recouped in revenue. He said Orland Park subsidizes 52% of the cost for special events such as concerts and Taste. Piattoni said the Taste draws 20,000 to 30,000 people annually over the course of three days. Resident Joe Solek, before the Village Board voted 4-3 to bring Taste back to Village Green, urged against the move. He said at the Village Green site, the village has to rent a stage, lights and sound equipment, things already in place at the Centennial Park West venue. Solek said it would be 'a step backward in the evolution of the village' to relocate the event. Another resident said he favored bringing Taste back to its original site, calling it 'the heart of the village.' Trustee John Lawler said he spoke with many residents while campaigning and said most were not happy with Taste being moved to Centennial Park West. 'It's the center of Orland Park and appeals to more people there,' Lawler said. Trustee Cynthia Katsenes, who voted against the move, said she's heard just the opposite, with many 'folks saying how they liked it better' at the new site. Trustee Bill Healy, also voting against moving Taste, said he thought it went 'splendidly' at Centennial Park West. 'Long term, that's the future of it,' Healy said. Trustee Dina Lawrence, who supported bringing the event back to Village Green, said it had more of a 'neighborly' feel there. 'Maybe we won't do it forever (at Village Green), maybe we'll change our minds,' she said.
Chicago Tribune
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Orland Park projects big deficit on some Centennial Park West concerts; moves Taste of Orland back to Village Green
Orland Park is projecting a loss of more than $500,000 for some upcoming summer concerts scheduled at its new Centennial Park West concert venue. The figure is based on estimated ticket sales for the events scheduled for July and August, and the village is already committed to paying the bands that are lined up, a bill of more than $500,000. New Mayor Jim Dodge, during his campaign in which he defeated two-term Mayor Keith Pekau, was critical of the village spending on the concert venue and said Orland Park was losing money on the events. Orland Park and other communities typically subsidize a good chunk of the cost for special events, such as concerts, hoping to make back some of the money through revenue from things such as ticket sales. Spending and revenue projections were discussed by the Village Board committee meeting Monday. The board narrowly voted to bring the annual Taste of Orland food and music fest back to the Village Green, adjacent to Village Hall and the Civic Center. That's where it has been held until last year, when it was moved to Centennial Park West. Adjacent to the larger Centennial Park, Centennial Park West, 15609 Park Station Blvd., is a 12-acre park and includes a 3,200-square-foot permanent performance stage. The park is also the site of Orland Park's Fourth of July fireworks. Last month, before Dodge and three trustees he ran with were sworn in, the former Village Board approved about $1 million for work at Centennial West, including installation of two large video screens. The screens could be used for showing up-close shots of performers on stage, but also to show movies, village officials said. Several concerts are scheduled for the Centennial Park West venue this summer, including Yacht Rock and Soft Rock Night on July 12, with Firefall and Ambrosia opening for headliner Pablo Cruise. Also on tap are Lynyrd Skynrd performing on Aug. 8 and Trace Adkins on Aug. 30. According to the village, projected revenue, including tickets sold so far, for all three events will be $468,600. Total expenses for the three events are expected to be a bit more than $1 million. The hiring of the headliners and opening acts for all three nights, budgeted at $500,000, will be $561,000, according to the village. The village expects that overall revenues, including beverage sales and future ticket purchases, for the three nights will fall short of expenses by $537,380. While the numbers were discussed by trustees, there was no action taken. All of the acts scheduled to perform are under contract, meaning they'll be paid if the village decided to cancel, said Ray Piattoni, the village's director of recreation and parks. Piattoni said 'special events are very difficult to break even' on, and said the annual Taste event typically costs about $100,000 more to host than is recouped in revenue. He said Orland Park subsidizes 52% of the cost for special events such as concerts and Taste. Piattoni said the Taste draws 20,000 to 30,000 people annually over the course of three days. Resident Joe Solek, before the Village Board voted 4-3 to bring Taste back to Village Green, urged against the move. He said at the Village Green site, the village has to rent a stage, lights and sound equipment, things already in place at the Centennial Park West venue. Solek said it would be 'a step backward in the evolution of the village' to relocate the event. Another resident said he favored bringing Taste back to its original site, calling it 'the heart of the village.' Trustee John Lawler said he spoke with many residents while campaigning and said most were not happy with Taste being moved to Centennial Park West. 'It's the center of Orland Park and appeals to more people there,' Lawler said. Trustee Cynthia Katsenes, who voted against the move, said she's heard just the opposite, with many 'folks saying how they liked it better' at the new site. Trustee Bill Healy, also voting against moving Taste, said he thought it went 'splendidly' at Centennial Park West. 'Long term, that's the future of it,' Healy said. Trustee Dina Lawrence, who supported bringing the event back to Village Green, said it had more of a 'neighborly' feel there. 'Maybe we won't do it forever (at Village Green), maybe we'll change our minds,' she said.
Chicago Tribune
21-05-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Village of Dolton wants to acquire Pope Leo XIV's boyhood home, either through direct purchase or eminent domain
Although the owner of Pope Leo XIV's boyhood home in south suburban Dolton has announced plans to auction the house in mid-June, village leaders in the south suburb have decided to pursue acquiring the house on East 141st Place through either direct purchase or, failing that, through eminent domain. Village Attorney Burton Odelson told Elite Street that Dolton's recently sworn-in mayor, Jason House, made the decision to proceed with the acquisition with the consent of the Village Board. Leaders have not yet decided how the three-bedroom home would be used, however, Odelson said. Born Robert Prevost, the new pontiff is a Dolton native, as his family lived in the home from his birth until his parents sold it in 1996. Since Prevost was named the leader of the Roman Catholic Church on May 8, the house has drawn significant interest from onlookers, prompting Dolton officials to station a police car on the block, Odelson said. Homer Glen-based rehabber Pawel Radzik paid $66,000 last year for the house — before anyone knew that Prevost would become the first American-born pope — and he gave it a major haul, telling the Tribune that '80% of it is new — new flooring, new cabinets, new electrical, new kitchen.' He then listed it in January for $219,000 before cutting his asking price to $205,000 later that month and then to $199,900 in February. With the news that the new pontiff had spent many years of his youth living in the 141st Place home, Radzik decided to take the home off the market and consider his options. On May 15, he decided to place the house up for auction on June 18, working with New York auction house Paramount and listing a $250,000 reserve price, or minimum bid to be accepted. Now, those plans would seem to be at least somewhat up in the air, as Dolton officials plainly want the house. Odelson said negotiations with Radzik have not been fruitful. 'We sought to buy the house from the owner. The mayor met with the owner, and he wanted too much money for it,' Odelson said. 'So we turned out attention to the auctioneer, to let the auctioneer know that you've got to tell the prospective buyers that if they buy it, they're not going to have it for very long. Either we're going to buy it or we're going (to use) eminent domain (to acquire it).' Under eminent domain, a court ultimately could determine the amount that the village would have to pay, although the fact that the East 141st Place is the only boyhood home of the only American pope in history would present a challenge in finding any sales of comparable properties. In theory, an auction could provide a fresh, open-market value for the home that could prove useful in a court proceeding and related negotiations. Odelson dismissed any other option, such as allowing a low-profile residential buyer to own and occupy the house. 'The answer is no,' he said. 'The direction I have is to work with the archdiocese to do what they want to do with the house.' Odelson noted that he has spent three days straight working with leaders from the Archdiocese of Chicago, including its vicar general, and that they're 'very responsive' and 'very, very interested to make it special.' How the home ultimately would be used, however, remains to be determined. The village's purchase at least in part is to prevent some other buyer from attempting to commercialize a house in a residential neighborhood, even if the area's residential zoning would preclude such uses. 'You got me,' said Odelson, in answer to a question about how the house would be used. 'We're just in the first steps — we're doing a couple of first steps to declare it a historic preservation site and to get the cooperation of the archdiocese and to purchase it and protect it. We've had hourly patrols (since Prevost was named pope), and a lot of people have come with flowers, crosses and pictures, and our job is to protect the neighborhood and to protect the site. I'll tell you this — it's not going to be a (bed-and-breakfast inn). That's what we're trying to prevent. We, the Village of Dolton, want to make sure the site is preserved as a treasure, as a national historic site for people to come and do what they need to do — we do not want it to become an amusement park-type thing.' Odelson suggested that village ownership of the onetime Prevost family home actually could benefit the neighborhood. 'Speaking to the mayor today, we're going to look to improve the sidewalks and the streets, and making sure that everybody's grass is cut and that there's police protection, and it's orderly,' he said. 'That's why we're going to get (the home) — to protect the neighborhood also. When it becomes an historic site and whenever it's turned into whatever it's going to be turned into by the village and the archdiocese, it will be upgraded, with regular hours. The neighbors' houses will be more valuable.' Radzik did not respond to a request for comment. However, Odelson alluded to the controversial and recently concluded reign by Dolton's previous mayor, Tiffany Henyard, when he called the revelation that the pontiff once had lived in the community some 'divine intervention' for the troubled south suburb. 'It's a once in a lifetime opportunity and goodness, hopefully the news people will stop saying that the pope is a Chicago native and start saying that he is a Dolton native,' he said. Odelson said beyond the local historic ordinance, village officials hope to have the house listed on the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places. He added that he didn't know what the ultimate cost would be of neighborhood infrastructure upgrades, stepped-up police protection and of the actual purchase price for the pope's onetime dwelling. 'Let me put it this way: This is something the village has to afford. Can we? We're deeply in debt, and we owe a lot of bills,' he said. 'We don't even know how much we owe. The new mayor has just taken the reins a week ago. However, there are foundations and preservation societies and grants, and I can't imagine that we wouldn't be eligible to get every single one for the American-born pope.'
Chicago Tribune
20-05-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Gurnee considering sales tax increase to replace grocery tax revenue; ‘I think this is a great approach'
Gurnee may increase its home rule sales tax to recoup revenue lost when Illinois officially ends its grocery tax at the start of 2026. When food is taxed at a grocery store, that excess revenue goes back to local municipalities, but that will no longer be the case starting on Jan. 1. After passing House Bill 3144, Illinois is eliminating its 1% grocery tax, but is allowing municipalities to make up that funding by either implementing their own grocery tax, or increasing other taxes. Most groceries are currently taxed at 1.75%, with 1% being returned to municipalities, and .75% going to the Regional Transportation Authority. While Gurnee did not take a vote on what it plans to do at its Village Board meeting Monday, members of the village staff and Board of Trustees discussed a plan to instead increase a home rule sales tax to help alleviate the tax burden on residents. The new law covers most food items that can be purchased at a grocery store, but does not cover alcohol, candy, soft drinks and foods consisting of, or infused with, adult-use cannabis. Those foods will continue to be taxed when purchased throughout the state. Gurnee Finance Director Brian Gosnell said that he's 'not quite sure' the exact amount that the village receives from the grocery tax, but estimated that it's between $2 million and $2.5 million. He added that Gurnee receives approximately $1.1 million from supercenters like Target and Walmart, $670,000 from grocery stores including Aldi, Mariano's and Jewel, up to $480,000 from drugstores and $230,000 from other retailers. In addition to the amount that Gurnee hopes to make up after the grocery tax is removed, Gosnell said that the village is also seeking additional revenue to cover a $3 million upgrade to its water infrastructure, so village officials are looking for options that would bring in about $5.5 million more each year. According to Gosnell, a majority of purchases at Gurnee's grocery stores are made by village residents, and the village hopes to relieve its residents of paying a grocery tax. Instead, he recommended opting for a home rule sales tax. He said that Gurnee would have to increase its home rule sales tax in .25% increments, and a .25% increase would result in $2.89 million more in annual revenue. 'We would need a half-percent to make up the revenue that we need there,' Gosnell said. Ultimately, he recommended that Gurnee not implement a grocery tax, and instead increase its home rule tax rate by .5%, dedicating half of that revenue to infrastructure. 'I think this is a great approach,' Trustee Kevin Woodside said. 'I believe that it does provide those resources necessary to accomplish those long-term goals and the short-term goals. Importantly, in eliminating the grocery tax, which does impact our residents most directly, it does reduce the cost of food, which is essential.' Woodside added that he appreciates that the new plan of increasing sales tax would place more of the tax burden on visitors, rather than Gurnee's residents. Municipalities have until Oct. 1 to enact a tax, without having to go to a referendum. Mayor Tom Hood said that the village will vote on a potential replacement for the grocery tax at an upcoming meeting, although it has yet to be scheduled.
