East Dundee seeks input on Dundee Crossings area

The village of East Dundee is approaching an economic crossroads, and village leaders want to hear from residents, developers and business owners on how to create jobs in one of the village's main corridors: Dundee Crossings.

The village, in cooperation with the Regional Transportation Authority and Pace, as well as Chicago-based urban planner Lakota Group and real estate experts S.B Friedman and Co., have worked on plans to improve public transportation to Dundee Crossings to further encourage development in the area bounded by Routes 68, Route 72 and Route 25. Dundee Crossings includes the former Santa's Village site, River Valley Square Mall, as well as the Walmart property.

An information session is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 25, at the Dundee Township Senior Center, 665 Barrington Ave., East Dundee.

Last year, the RTA undertook a study to find ways to enhance access to jobs for local residents in areas east on Route 72 in nearby Hoffman Estates and Schaumburg. The village received an $80,000 grant from the RTA and used money generated from the Dundee Crossings business development district to cover the additional $20,000.

But the assessment of the area found the ridership did not justify an expanded transportation route, Village Administrator Frank Koehler said.

"There is vacant land and the prospect for industrial development," Koehler said. "We can use transportation and access to jobs as the nexus for development. Rather than have our people go out of town for jobs, why don't we bring jobs here?"

The village could use development incentives such as special taxing districts to attract potential developers to the area. Portions of Dundee Crossings are positioned within a tax increment financing district, as well as a business development district.

While job creation has been slow in the area, the plans would position the village at the forefront of economic development once the economy starts turning around, Koehler said.

"It is an area that is the most opportune," Koehler said. "As far as the potential for new development and new businesses, the vacant land presents itself as a suitable site."