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Chicago Tribune
3 days ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
State grant to fuel improvements at 55th Street and Western Avenue in Clarendon Hills
Clarendon Hills has been approved for a $1 million legislative grant for planned intersection improvements at 55th Street and Western Avenue. The state grant was garnered with support from state Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton, D-24th, and state Rep. Martha Deuter, D-45th, according to Clarendon Hills Village President Eric Tech. 'Staff is working diligently with DuPage County to get the residents south of 55th Street safe access to the north side of town,' he said. Village Manager Zach Creer said there is documented desire for improving this intersection, going back to the South of 55th Subarea Plan adopted in November 2017. He said a 2022 development proposal for a Dunkin Donuts, which was voted down by the Village Board after numerous residents expressed opposition, refocused interest in the intersection. He said a tax increment financing district was established last year 'as a way to find a funding source for the intersection improvements.' 'The intersection has a lot of car crashes,' Creer said. 'It is a long distance between pedestrian crossings, and this area should be connected to the rest of the town. It's still easily within walking distance of the train station and downtown.' Creer said there have been 18 vehicle crashes at the intersection between 2019 and 2024. A major component of intersection improvements sought by the village is the addition of a traffic signal. 'The Dunkin Donuts proposal was rejected, in part, due to concerns about children trying to cross there without a signal,' Creer said. He said approval would be needed from DuPage County to add a traffic signal at the intersection. 'The warrants for a stop signal upgrade require a certain amount of traffic and a certain amount of crashes,' Creer said. 'In order to justify the warrants for a signal, additional traffic needs to be anticipated.' He said the $1 million grant from the state could take up to a few years to receive, and the village likely would use TIF funds to make up the difference between the grant money and any additional costs. The total anticipated cost of the project is design dependent, Creer said, with a basic traffic signal expected to cost upward of $1 million. 'However, adding lanes or straightening the road could be extremely expensive,' he said. 'It's somewhat development dependent. In order to justify the warrants for a signal, additional traffic needs to be anticipated from the redevelopment of the Tracy's Tavern site (at the southwest edge of the intersection). The village has continued to seek a developer for the former Tracy's Tavern site. 'The last development proposal for a daycare seems to be on pause,' Creer said. 'No new proposal has come forward. If the intersection improvement was unable to move forward, then the money could be repurposed to another village project. The grant is not dependent on any development.' A new two-townhouse development has been approved by the village for an empty lot at 5740 Concord Lane, about a mile and a half from the 55th Street/Western Avenue intersection. Community Development Director Ed Cage said the property is approximately 0.20 acres and is adjacent to a similar property developed in unincorporated DuPage County. Estimated costs for the completed townhomes will be between $300,000 and $400,000, depending on upgrades and options, he said.
Chicago Tribune
02-07-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Dolton buying Pope Leo XIV's childhood home in village, price uncertain
Dolton officials are moving ahead with plans to buy Pope Leo XIV's childhood home in the village, hoping to snap up the modest brick home that has gained international attention ahead of a planned auction. The Village Board at a special meeting Tuesday voted unanimously to move forward on buying the house at 212 East 141st Place, and said there are plans to buy an adjacent home. Mayor Jason House told reporters after the meeting he hoped the village could close on the purchase in a couple of weeks, but that the final purchase price is still up in the air. House said that the chance to buy the home is a 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' and a 'historic movement moving forward' for Dolton. 'We can either seize the moment and move it forward or we can let that moment to go an investor,' House told the audience. An auction of the home by New York-based Paramount Realty USA is scheduled to close by 4 p.m. Chicago time July 17, according to Paramount's website. A reserve price of $250,000 is set for the home. The auction was to close last month but was extended. A resident filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block the village from using taxpayer funds to buy the home, but a judge recently said Dolton could proceed with plans to secure the property through its current owner. Robert Francis Prevost lived with his parents and sibilings for many years in the home, and it's become a tourist destination since his election as pope. Dolton has had to have police regularly patrol the neighborhood. Before the Village Board vote, residents said they were concerned about the money being spent considering the village's financial condition, with a massive backlog of unpaid bills and streets that are in poor condition because the funds are not there to repair them. The Rev. Ryan Reese, a village resident and pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lansing, said board members 'have a difficult situation figuring our the finances of the community' and that 'we need to make sure the funding (the village has) is spent wisely.' Reese said there are numerous infrastructure issues facing the village, such as the condition of streets. 'I'm not sure this is the first priority,' he told trustees before the vote. Resident Mary Avent, recently elected as a trustee in Thornton Township, said that she too is concerned about the state of village finances and not just the initial outlay for the home but also ongoing maintenance costs. 'With the state we're in, my concern is, do we have the money?' she asked. Prevost lived in the home from his birth in 1955, and his parents lived there until they sold it in 1996.
Chicago Tribune
30-06-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Oswego trustees look at criteria for downtown grant program
Oswego trustees as a committee of the whole recently discussed the eligibility criteria for the Economic Development Incentive Award grant program in the village. The program has undergone revisions from involving facade improvement grants to include various other upgrades over the years. The grant program was last updated in 2018 to permit additional types of improvements. So far this year, $100,000 in grants have been awarded. 'The overall intent is to enhance downtown real estate,' Oswego Economic Development Director Kevin Leighty said in a report to trustees. The program essentially awards grants to businesses as an incentive for exterior improvements to enhance the village's downtown but also permits some interior renovation projects. Eligible applicants can qualify for up to a $40,000 match-based award for a new or existing business within Oswego's downtown TIF district, village officials said. Based on the eligibility and program criteria, applicants must 'contribute to and enhance Oswego's dynamic downtown' by identifying 'real property improvements that are permanently affixed to the property,' Leighty said. There's a list of downtown preferred uses, such as eating and drinking establishments, specialty food establishments, general retail and commercial services, he said. There's another list of preferred projects that include exterior improvements to buildings that would enhance Oswego's downtown appearance as well as basic functional improvements. The Village Board earlier this year began to discuss the eligibility and criteria for the program before authorizing a second round of grants. Functional-related building improvement grants were awarded but the village began to receive requests for maintenance-related projects such as improving parking lots and painting a building, village officials said. 'There was some misunderstanding from applicants as to why those types of improvements were not allowed,' Leighty said. Staff initially presented the current eligibility criteria to the village's Economic Development Commission to provide some feedback to the Village Board as to whether parking lots and painting projects should be included for funding through the grant program. The commission 'understood the most important part of the program is to enhance the quality of real estate, but some consideration should be given to general beautification including some maintenance items,' Leighty told trustees. While the group did advocate for parking lot and painting projects to be included in the grant program, commissioners suggested the village consider placing a cap on that component, he said. The commission further suggested the village provide a list of examples for eligible and ineligible expenses to ensure that prospective applicants in the future have an understanding of how much funding they may qualify for. Commission members were not advocates for roof replacements which currently is a permissible expense under the program, Leighty said. Staff was looking for direction as to whether the Village Board would be supportive of having a list of partially eligible projects – mainly landscaping, masonry work, exterior painting, parking lot improvements and window/door repair or replacements. Staff has suggested a $5,000 cap on partially eligible projects. Trustees said they thought masonry, exterior painting and window/door repair or replacements should be moved under the eligible list of projects, while roof repairs would be listed under a partially eligible list. 'Those things were allowed under the original facade grant program. It makes sense to put those back in there,' Oswego Village Administrator Dan Di Santo said. 'When this first started, it was more about old Main Street and how the village could help keep the older buildings looking good and last for a long time,' Di Santo said. As for need, the village does require a detailed project budget and quotes from contractors plus a detailed project timeline, Leighty said. 'We don't allow them to start the work until they have received grant approval. There is some component of need,' Leighty said. Businesses also have to submit paid invoices before the village remits payment, he said. Trustee Karin McCarthy-Lange noted there weren't a whole lot of applications when the program focused on building facade improvements. 'Even when we opened the program beyond building facades in 2018, we still had years where no one applied,' Di Santo said. Di Santo praised staff for 'selling the program to prospective business owners and existing business owners.' 'It's a more recent thing that people are applying,' Di Santo said.
Chicago Tribune
26-06-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Morton Grove wants to ban THC, kratom products in the village. But leaders say statewide ‘uniform regulation' is more effective.
The Morton Grove Village Board voted to table consideration of a proposed ordinance change that would restrict the sale of THC and kratom products in the village, conceding that a local regulation battle could be futile without support from state leaders. 'This vote is not about inaction, it's about strategic leadership,' Village President Janine Witko said at the June 10 Village Board meeting. The ordinance was on the agenda for a second reading and final consideration. It had been first introduced in April and village leaders at that time said they wanted to have more information. By the June meeting, their desire became to broaden the scope and make a local effort a more encompassing one across the state. 'We must push for uniform regulation that ensures customer safety statewide, not just within our village limits,' said Witko. Illinois legalized recreational use of cannabis – including purchasing, consuming and possessing it – in January 2020. But, the law made no provisions for cannabis-like products, including Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, and kratom, and towns have seen the boom of shops that sell the substances with few restrictions. At the June 10 board meeting, Witko said that rather than move forward with the Morton Grove ordinance, village leaders plan to work with state partners to advocate for stricter regulations overall. 'This is an issue that extends well beyond Morton Grove's borders,' Witko said. 'While local bans may appear proactive, they do not solve the problem. Residents can simply go a mile down the road and purchase the same products in Skokie or surrounding communities.' The proposed ordinance change seeks to address regulatory gaps left after the state's legalization of recreational cannabis, commonly known as marijuana. The ordinance addresses Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which the U.S. Department of Agriculture states is a psychoactive substance typically manufactured from the cannabis plant. THC is synthetically derived and is not regulated. 'As a municipality, we are not fully equipped or authorized to regulate these products in a comprehensive or enforceable manner,' said Morton Grove Mayor Janine Witko, explaining the decision to meeting attendees. Witko acknowledged residents' concerns that the state recreational cannabis use law does not provide enough protections. And village leaders have said there's been a concerted effort to locally regulate cannabis products – like vape products, edibles and more. 'However, over the past few years there has been an increase in the availability of 'cannabis-like' products which often contain the same intoxicating effects of cannabis but are sold outside of State-licensed dispensaries. These products are regularly available in stores that sell tobacco and gas stations,' reads a village staff memorandum included with the proposed ordinance change. Village leaders say that not having the regulations for those quasi products 'allows for the sale of these products without restrictions on age or the other deliberate regulations enacted by the Village.' Morton Grove has one state-licensed marijuana dispensary, and zoning rules in the village allow for no more than two in total. But there are at least four times as many vape shops and at least a dozen gas stations that do sell or could carry THC products – which are not allowed to be sold in dispensaries. The ordinance would also put restrictions on the sale of products containing kratom, an herbal ingredient derived from a tree native to southeast Asia. Kratom can produce stimulant and opioid-like effects, and people have reported using it to manage withdrawal symptoms related to opioid use, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. It has been listed as a 'drug of concern' by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, but it is not listed on the nation's schedule of controlled substances. Like some of the other illicit THC products the Morton Grove ordinance seeks to address, some kratom products have been found to contain contaminants, like heavy metals. But a NIDA fact sheet on kratom notes that this is the case with many products marketed as 'herbal supplements.' David King attended the June board meeting with the intent to speak in favor of the ordinance. He was surprised to learn the issue was being tabled. 'I guess I should throw my prepared remarks out the window,' King said during the public comment portion of the meeting. 'But I'm still gonna say them.' King raised concerns about THC's effects on people's judgment, concentration and mood. He declared that people impaired by the substance are a danger to themselves and others whether at home, work or on the roads. For emphasis, King pointed out that testing kits for THC and cocaine are placed right next to each other on pharmacy shelves. 'The reason why is that THC is a bad substance across the board,' he said. 'It's bad whether you eat, inhale, ingest, or smoke it.' King's comments focused mainly on THC, but he said he has concerns about kratom as well. 'Respectfully, I don't think you needed to table this. I don't care what they do one mile down the road, 10 miles down the road,' he said. 'We're here in Morton Grove, and we can make our community safer right now.' Still, Witko said she is committed to advocating for the cause, and that she is working with village staff and legal counsel to advocate for change at the state level.
Chicago Tribune
19-06-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Morton Grove org says some of its gay pride signs posted in planters were removed, vandalized
At least a dozen gay pride signs posted in planters on village of Morton Grove streets have been reported stolen, causing alarm for leaders of a local pride organization that produced them and prompting the mayor to vow the matter will be looked into. The signs read 'Morton Grove Has Pride' and were created and distributed by Morton Grove Pride, a community organization started last year to launch LGBTQ+ pride initiatives in the village for the first time, according to its co-leader Gia Schultz. Morton Grove Village President Janine Witko mentioned the reported thefts at the June 10 Village Board meeting. 'We've been alerted that some signs have been taken out of planters around the village, and specifically pride signs,' Witko said. 'We just want to let everyone know that we take that seriously .. and we will take action.' Schultz said Morton Grove Pride partnered with the village's public library and park district, as well as the Niles and Maine townships, in distributing and publicizing the signs and organizing other events celebrating pride month. A total of 250 plastic,18×24-inch signs with trees the color of the rainbow along the top were created and they sell for $6 each, Schultz said. She explained that local residents have placed signs and decorated their homes to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. However, the signs Schultz and some of her friends purchased and placed in 15 community planters on May 31 were damaged or removed in recent weeks, she said. Schultz said she had not heard of any other pride signs or decorations being taken or damaged in the village, and speculated the signs believed to be stolen from the planters were just more accessible because they were on the sidewalk. 'Everything we have heard has been super positive, people have been thrilled that something is finally happening in Morton Grove,' she said, referring to the organization's pride month efforts. Morton Grove police Commander Dominik Przekota told Pioneer Press that Schultz reported June 9 that 12 signs were stolen from planters at Dempster Street and Menard Avenue, Dempster and Ferris streets, Dempster Street and Fernald Avenue, and Waukegan and Beckwith roads. Przekota said the signs were completely removed or left broken, and there was no damage to the planters. He said the investigation is ongoing, with police checking for surveillance cameras in the area. 'This is the only time anything like this has happened,' Przekota said. Schultz said she filed an additional police report June 12 when the signs she had replaced in the planters were removed again. She even found some of the signs crumbled and stuffed in nearby garbage cans. Authorities reportedly obtained surveillance video showing youth on bikes removing signs, and even a motorist pulling over to remove one, Schultz said she was told. Przekota would not comment on specifics of the investigation.
