Residents Share their Vision for Romeoville's East Side
October 7, 2011
Romeoville resident Christopher Benigno would like more of an old-style look for the east side of Romeoville.“Maybe cobblestone streets with nice restaurants and businesses,” said Benigno, 44. Benigno and dozens of other residents shared their ideas and vision for the East Side, mostly industrial and undeveloped open space, at a workshop meeting Sept 28. The East Side has a lot of potential, according to village officials, who have also been pushing for a Metra train station there. | Print Version
Residents prepare for revival of Old King's Orchard neighborhood
May 24, 2011
DECATUR - Monday's party at the Old King's Orchard Community Center represented an opportunity for city personnel and other neighborhood allies to take the first step in a plan to revitalize the surrounding community.
The city partnered with a private firm to craft a study on ways to improve neighborhoods with an eye toward energy and land efficiency, then selected Old King's Orchard as the first place to move forward with the plan. Neighborhood organization members helped the company create a block-by-block map of the community, highlighting vacant lots, abandoned homes and community assets like parks and churches. Click here for full article! | Print Version
Village of Lombard Approves Downtown Plan
March 25, 2011
After a collaborative effort of the Teska Associates consulting team and 45 Lombard residents, a preliminary development plan for a new downtown concept was presented through numerous open houses to the public at Lombard's Village Hall. From there, the village took community feedback and edited the plan to fit the general response.
What happened
The Village Board of Trustees approved the final draft of the Downtown Lombard Revitalization project Guidebook/Plan at a March 3 village board of trustees meeting. At the second monthly board of trustees meeting Wednesday, the board gave the document final approval and it passed on second reading.
Kendall County may ask state to ease path to more jobs
March 16, 2011
The Herald News | March 14th, 2011 | Article by Steve Lords
YORKVILLE - Last year, Kendall County did its 10-year survey of residents and learned that people are concerned about one thing more than any other: jobs.
"The key reason people are most likely to leave is a lack of jobs in the county," said Mike Hoffman, a planner with Teska & Associates who does contract planning work for Kendall County.
It's called job disconnect among regional planners, and it's the phenomenon of people having to drive a long way to work. And and as a region, the Chicago area has a high job disconnect.
That leads to longer commutes, higher traffic congestion, longer time spent getting to and from work and a higher cost of transportation. It's no wonder with time at a premium and gas heading toward $5 a gallon that living closer to work is becoming a more sought-after commodity.
That's one of the reasons Kendall County Board members want to take a more aggressive approach toward economic development. They see that as a way of retaining residents and making Kendall County a place more people want to move to. Moreover, jobs are the fuel that drives the local economic engine.
Board members are looking to prod the state Legislature to change state law so Kendall can take advantage of some economic development incentives, such as enterprise zones and economic development areas.
Click here for full article | Print Version
