THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 2008
Village Eyes Next Plan To Revitalize Business Park
By TOM ROBB
Journal Reporter
In June of 1998 Elk Grove Village launched an ambitious project to revitalize the village's business park, one of the largest in the country.
Ten years and $30 million later, that improvement project is coming to an end just as a new 10-year improvement project is beginning.
The first 10-year plan was launched in 1998 out of fears the village's economic engine was facing competition and needed to be kept up to date.
Business park improvements are funded through a 3% telecommunication tax.
Village Economic Development Director Nancy Carlson said that though everyone pays the tax, the users of the business park pay a higher proportion of it as their businesses tend to use larger more expensive multi-line phone systems.
She said residents benefit from low village taxes offset from tax revenue generated by the business park.
Many of the improvements related to widening roads for larger trucks that need a larger turning radius. Others included improvements in lighting, signs and the addition of bus shelters.
The village also installed small "pocket parks" around the park for workers to enjoy their lunch in the sunshine.
According to Carlson, the village sent out a request for proposals (RFP) last month for a long term business park improvement plan for the next 10 years. The village has received three RFP's already.
In 1998, Planning Solutions received the contract to create a master plan the village has been following for the last 10 years.
A 15 member Revitalization Commission consisting of 11 business people who have businesses in the park, along with village trustees Sam Lissner and James Petri, Carlson, and Deputy Public Works Director Vito Sanmarko will review village staff's recommendations for RFP's and make a recommendation of their own to the full Village Board.
Carlson said village staff is expected to make their recommendations to the Revitalization Commission by the end of the month.
The village is expected to make a decision on a vendor by November of this year so plans can be drawn up over the winter and work can begin in the spring.