Politics & Government

Strip Mall Needs Road to Be Closed, Memorial Moved

The 10,000-square-foot development is proposed for land next to the Route 59/Main Street Walgreens.

A new strip mall will be built on Route 59 near Main Street – if the village agrees to close a portion of Oak Street and move the American Legion war memorial to to accommodate the project.

The 10,000-square-foot development on a site next to the Walgreens at 14902 S. Route 59 needs the additional land in order to be economically viable, village Planner Michael Garrigan said Monday. The space would allow for up to eight new storefronts to be built, one of which could have a drive-through window, he said.

A concept plan submitted by developer Lee Fry Companies Inc. of Naperville won the village plan commission’s endorsement last week, and will go before the next week, Garrigan said.

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Were approval to be granted, a final development plan could be submitted over the winter and construction could begin as soon as spring, he said.

But two fairly significant aspects of the project – the war memorial and the public street closure – will need to be negotiated so the village is compensated for the property and the cost to move the monument, Garrigan said.

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Both are doable, he said, but village trustees have not had a chance to publicly weigh in on either.

A proposal to close the one-block portion of Oak Street that intersects with Route 59 was broached earlier this year when Route 59 reconstruction and widening was under way. At that time, some residents objected to the idea because of the inconvenience of losing a street they routinely use. It was also suggested a one-block portion of Arnold Street, which is one block south of Oak, could be closed instead.

There are no houses or businesses on either street.


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