Economic Development & Neighborhood Renewal

COMMISSION FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & NEIGHBORHOOD RENEWAL MEETING MINUTES July 31, 2014 Persons in attendance: Executive Committee: Chuck Ostman – Executive Director Ross Klicker – Associate Executive Director Cathy Spadoni – Secretary Village Manager Steve Vinezeano Joe Bialko Alan Zielinski Mayor Andrew Przybylo – Ex-Officio Stakeholders: Alberto DeCicco Jacob K. Ehrensaft Iwona Filipiak Steve Greif Carol Harczak Michael Kim Rich Mangold Joe Marcheschi Denise McCreery Judy McNulty Barry Mueller Lynda Stoops Rich Wlodarski Persons absent: Executive Committee: Mike Shields Trustee Joe LoVerde – Ex-Officio Stakeholders: Ilir Ademaj Julie Genualdi Sunghae Kim Paul Kolpak Brandon Leavitt Anthony Ori Vicki Peake Thomas Poszdol Katie Schneider John Thomas I. Call to Order Chuck Ostman called the meeting to order at 6:06 p.m. in the Council Chambers, Village of Niles Administration Building. II. Approval of Minutes Steve Vinezeano made a motion, seconded by Joe Bialko, to approve the minutes of the April 21, 2014 Executive Committee meeting. On voice vote, all concurred.  Economic Development/Neighborhood Renewal July 31, 2014 III. Façade Grant Applications Ross Klicker stated that the Sheepskin Depot submitted an application for a Façade Improvement Grant to replace the awnings and lighting on the exterior of the building at 7507 N. Waukegan Road. The project will cost in excess of $10,000, which qualifies them for the maximum grant amount of $5,000. Staff has reviewed the request and recommends approval. Alan Zielinski made a motion, seconded by Joe Bialko, to approve the Façade Improvement Grant application for the Sheepskin Depot at 7507 N. Waukegan Road. On roll call of the Executive Committee, all concurred. IV. Touhy Corridor Study Ross Klicker presented an update of the Touhy Avenue Triangle study. The triangle is bordered by Touhy, Lehigh and Gross Point and has been proclaimed by the Mayor to be the economic development and cultural corridor for the community. Based on the fact that three properties in this triangle are currently being redeveloped – the Grainger property on Lehigh, the Adams Elevator building on Howard and the Landmark Ford building on Touhy – we have found that we need to be proactive rather than reactive to when a developer comes in and anticipate what will be desirable for the Village. To this end, we have retained the services of a planning consulting firm, Houseal Lavigne, who prepared the Touhy Triangle Market Study and Development Concept that provides a long-term (15 to 20 years) development concept for the site. It is divided into a market assessment, potential development program and site concept plan. The market assessment shows that this corridor is not going to be a strong retail corridor for Niles residents but will be a regional destination for visitors. The Leaning Tower is already utilized by our current businesses as a focal point. The Tower, in conjunction other hospitality and entertainment possibilities, will allow us to bring this vision of a regional destination to reality. Mr. Klicker reviewed the North and South Perspectives of the Niles Touhy Subarea Plan which includes retail; parking; a hotel; mixed-use buildings; open public areas; restaurants; a fitness/sports facility; and residential, office and industrial space. Some of the current industrial spaces are obsolete; the plan allows for redevelopment into a modern, industrial model (larger buildings, higher ceilings, reorganized loading docks, possibly instituting a grid network of the road system). The plan is not a blueprint; it is a visualization and a concept of what we would like to see in this area. Comments from Executive Committee members, Stakeholders and the public:  Hotel developers have shown interest and the Village is exploring options at this time.  At this time, we do not know who would own and operate the parking structures.  The plan includes creating a pedestrian-friendly environment. Streetscape is a major component of the plan.  The Village has been in discussion with existing businesses owners about the plan and the general feedback has been very positive.  The future ownership of the Leaning Tower is still uncertain. 2  Economic Development/Neighborhood Renewal July 31, 2014  In order for the development of this area to be truly successful, the Village, the consultants and the industry believe that a full service hotel is necessary.  The plan is a realistic one because of the size of the parcels. Redevelopment can be easier when dealing with large parcels versus many small ones.  The first step is to promote the concept of the plan. Then, if the plan is accepted, we need to decide if the development will be market-driven, Village-driven, or if the Village will be an active partner.  The Village does not currently own any of the land in the triangle. The Village leases the Leaning Tower from the YMCA for $1 per year.  There is no unimproved land in the triangle; everything would be considered a redevelopment.  Transit-oriented development patterns will be huge over the next 20 to 30 years as people’s driving habits change. If a Metra station on the site becomes a reality, a transit- oriented development – a retail, mixed-use complex – in the triangle is highly probable.  The financial commitment from the Village if we adopt this plan as our visualization at this time is zero.  Currently, our roadways meet traffic standards, but the potential for a traffic nightmare is great if the plan is adopted. While the State does not have a lot of money for road improvements, they do provide improvements and new roadway systems to areas that have long-term plans. As the plan proceeds, we can go to IDOT.  Once the plan is in place, we can look for funding to provide incentives to make pedestrian improvements and for grants for the streetscape.  The Village is in the process of rewriting its zoning codes which will allow for the developments outlined in the plan. The plan will assist in providing the appropriate guidelines.  The availability of parking would be a big draw. The Village could be proactive by either acquiring or building parking areas.  The athletic field shown in the plan is part of the plan’s fitness facility and is not a public field.  We want to attract entertainment uses to the area such as a performing arts facility or a band shell in the public gather space. The area around the Leaning Tower could become an arts and entertainment/retail area. There being no further discussion of the Touhy Triangle Market Study and Development Concept, Barry Mueller made a motion, seconded by Lynda Stoops, to recommend this plan to the Village Board. On roll call of the Executive Committee and the Stakeholders, all concurred. V. Dine-In Update and Discussion Ross Klicker provided an assessment of the Dine-in-Niles program. We are in the second three- month cycle using the Groupon type of coupon. In the first cycle, approximately 1,900 coupons were either picked up or downloaded off of our website. In this cycle, 245 coupons were downloaded off of our website and more than 800 paper coupons were picked up at our three Village locations. This leads us to ask if the program is meeting its goal of being more modern if more people are picking them up rather than going online. Some restaurants have commented 3  Economic Development/Neighborhood Renewal July 31, 2014 that they actually prefer the static 10% card, which is opposite of what they said before we started this program. We also received a comment about the environmental aspect of printing coupons versus having a static card. Some details about the current program: In both cycles, 15 restaurants have participated; the restaurants have not been the same; the offers have not been the same. If we want to continue the program, we need to ask the restaurants if they wish to continue to participate, as the current cycle ends at the end of August. Ross Klicker asked for input. Comments were as follows:  To announce the program, we could utilize the Chamber of Commerce guide which is distributed not only to residents, but to businesses and area hotels as well.  In order to accommodate seniors, we still need the pre-printed cards.  In order to accommodate young people, keep the online program.  To eliminate paper and reduce costs, download a code that could be shown to the restaurant.  Create an app for Smart Phone use, which would allow us to track usage.  More restaurants need to be involved to make the program more enticing.  Some businesses are not particularly tech-savvy, so the paper coupons and the pre-printed cards are better for them.  Use the Village website “Notify Me” feature to send updated information via email to a subscriber.  Give the program as much exposure as possible: Announce it on the water bills, put it in the newsletter and in the Chamber of Commerce guide, and leave it on the website. Ross Klicker stated that he’ll use a hybrid approach: keep our online presence where the restaurants can offer more than the static program; have a static pre-printed card; announce the program in the newsletter, the Chamber of Commerce guide and on our website; and work to get more restaurants to participate. VI. Open Discussion Chuck Ostman opened the floor to discussion of any topic of general interest to the Commission.  The Park District purchased two residential lots near Oasis Pool for use as a park and for pool expansion. There has been no land swap between the Park District and Jerry’s Fruit Market.  The Our Lady of Ransom flood abatement project is scheduled to be completed by November.  Fresh Farms is going in to the space in Four Flags formerly occupied by Jewel Foods. It is scheduled to be open for business by January 1, 2015, but it is uncertain if that deadline will be met.  A convenient store/gas station is being built at the northeast corner of Greenwood and Dempster, but progress has been slow. Rich Wlodarski will have an update at the next meeting. 4  Economic Development/Neighborhood Renewal July 31, 2014  Chuck Ostman is aware of the weeds growing on Milwaukee Avenue and will address the situation with staff.  The Park District is responsible for any construction on the playground at Greenwood Park.  There are 34 roses throughout town as part of the Public Art Program conducted by the Chamber of Commerce. There is a brochure telling of their locations. The roses will be displayed in the center court of Golf Mill Mall at the end of the summer before being auctioned off at the Niles Night of Roses in November.  Topic for discussion at the next meeting: Is there anything that commission members can do to help staff, such as contacting businesses to promote the façade program? VII. Next Meeting Date The next meeting will be held in the last week of August and will include discussion of the Milwaukee Avenue plan. VIII. Adjournment There being no further business to come before the Commission, Joe Bialko made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Ross Klicker. On voice vote, all concurred. The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m. 2014-2015 Ad Hoc Commission for Economic Development & Neighborhood Renewal Executive Committee Members Administrative Officers Members Chuck Ostman – Executive Director Steven Vinezeano – Village Manager Ross Klicker – Assoc Executive Director Joe Bialko – resident Cathy Spadoni – Secretary Mike Shields – resident Alan Zielinski - resident Ex Officio Members Mayor Andrew Przybylo Trustee Joe LoVerde 5