Countryside is taking time to celebrate its past during its 50th anniversary celebration this year, but city officials have big plans for the future.
Plans are under way for a mixed-use town center featuring a number of stores and restaurants. Located on historic Route 66, the new center will be surrounded by pedestrian sidewalks along the new streetscape of La Grange Road.
The Town Center will serve as a gateway to the city’s commercial district. Included in the vision for development is an entertainment district, which will offer and intimate dining atmosphere on north La Grange Road.
The process is expected to take three to five years to complete, said City Administrator Ed Bailey. There are no preliminary price estimates on how much the project would cost. The city has found land to redevelop, the majority of which came from the space old auto dealerships once occupied, Bailey said.
Having recently acquired the acreage necessary to expand, city officials must now find a development partner who will help gauge the zoning and financial estimates. Bailey predicts a developer will be settled upon by summer’s end.
Bailey compared the redevelopment process to making lemonade out of lemons. In dire economic straits, undertaking such an expansive project has the potential to go either way, he said. The down cycle of the economy has given the city the chance to develop existing parcels instead of letting the market dictate what happens with them, he added.
“I think it’s exciting for all concerned. There is certainly risk with a project like this,” Bailey said. “We have a chance here that doesn’t come along all too often.”
Additionally, La Grange Road is undergoing a beautification process, which calls for new lighting, landscaping and pedestrian oases at intersections and crosswalks.
Bailey expects those renovations to be completed by the end of the year.
The town center hopes to take advantage of restructuring the community’s sales tax generation, Countryside Mayor Robert Conrad said.
“Countryside has a lot of development potential and we are excited to start pursuing a new vision that will continue to grow our strong economic tax base,” Conrad said. “Our business community is changing, and we want to be ahead of the curve.”
The vision also calls for the city to determine a location of a new City Hall and to pursue a redevelopment plan for Countryside Plaza. Recent developments include renovations and additions at Salem Square Shopping Center, the expansion of Autobarn Mazda and the renovation of Dominick’s.
Despite being years from completion, Conrad said it is important to plan accordingly.
“We want to be proactive in our development strategy and this allows us to invest in the right opportunity for our community,” Conrad said.
