The Miracle Mile rebound: A Rockford TIF success story
September 1, 2010
Article in the Rockford Register Star | RRStar.com | By Corina Curry
Teska Assisted TIF Proves Major Success in Rockford's Primary Commercial Corridor: "Shopping centers have new facades. Stores and restaurants are making interior upgrades. New sidewalks have been added. Two hotels were remodeled. A new drugstore opened. The bowling alley got a face-lift and added a new off-track betting business from up the street."
FACTS: "The State Alpine TIF has a positive fund balance of $321,300. It produces $262,500 worth of property taxes each year that can be used to subsidize future projects. By the time the district closes in 2029, the district will have generated $4.74 million, money that the organization likely will use to tackle the vacant grocery."
Click here to view the full article
"Tharr She Blows!" - Mike Hoffman Speaks on Wind Turbines in Kendall County
August 13, 2010
Article in the Ledger-Sentinel | By Matt Schury
Kendall County Planning Consortium met last Thursday and heard how wind turbines are installed and regulated in unincorporated areas of the county. Speaking to the group were Mike Hoffman, vice president of Teska and Associates who is the county's planning consultant, and Mark Sullivan, managing partner with Sullivan Energy Group.
Sullivan's company recently installed the first vertical axis wind turbine in Illinois. Hoffman contended that the turbines are still in the beginning stage of being used at residential homes. However, with a $40,000 average price tag and a 10 to 15 year payback it will still take a few years for the technology to get off the ground.
"I don't expect to see a bazillion of these popping up all over the place but I do expect to see kind of a gradual increase on it," Hoffman said. Click here to view the full article and read more about the stipulations the county puts on the devices like Sullivan's turbine.
Presidents Plaza Atrium Planters
July 27, 2010
A landscape that looks and sounds attractive! When GlenStar Properties acquired the 810,000 s.f. President's Plaza office complex near O'Hare airport in late 2007, they immediately began improving the common areas. Teska Associates assisted GlenStar Properties in redesigning the highly visible atrium planters, working closely with Moore Landscapes, Inc. who was contracted to install and maintain the design.
Click here for PDF Print Version [displayed right]
Questions or Comments? Email Jeff Martin at jmartin@teskaassociates.com
Aerial view of landscaped atrium
Thumbs Up on Prairie Grove Town Center
May 27, 2010
The Prairie Grove Planning and Zoning Commission gave a thumbs up Tuesday to the village's downtown vision. The recommendation now goes to the Village Board for final approval, which will vote on the plan June 15. A $118,000 grant from the Regional Transportation Authority allowed the village to create the plan. There would be a Metra station, a Pace bus route and stop, and 516,000 square-feet of commercial space, which would include small businesses and office space.
The plan calls for avoiding big-box stores. Residents preferred smaller businesses such as coffee shops, doctors offices, insurance offices, hardware stores, book stores, restaurants and perhaps a grocery store | Click here to read full article
