Wheaton candidates talk priorities in downtown development

The four candidates for two open at-large seats on the Wheaton City Council agree that a $65 million, 20-year plan to revitalize the downtown area is full of great ideas, but they differ on which steps they think should be taken first to make some of the ideas become a reality.

Attorney Ron Almiron, 48, said he believes the downtown area is on "the upswing" and thinks as the economy improves, it will too. However, he doesn't think the city council should "just sit on its hands" and wait for businesses to move in.

"Hopefully within the next two to five years or so, there will be as much growth as there was in the '80s, or maybe 10 years ago. Part of preparing for that would be just to maintain good communications with other businesses," he said. "I think once other businesses were to come and see what Wheaton's about, they'll buy it. The location is outstanding, the people, the families that these businesses would serve, they're there."

Almiron also thinks the council should be more proactive in helping find investors and developers who would restore the Wheaton Grand Theater into a multipurpose space that could be used for theater productions, movie showings and school groups.

"I think it could be a centerpiece for the (downtown) redevelopment," he said. "It's something that the entire city can be proud of."

Attorney Suzanne Fitch said she thinks it is important to focus first on making improvements to the downtown area located south of the train tracks, so the city can "better connect the south with the north."

"We need some economic development there," she said. "I think if we invest in some improvement in that south end, we could drive more developers and business owners to want to invest there. I just want to see the south looking as vibrant as the north."

Fitch said she believes the abundance of parking on the south side of the tracks, including a city-owned parking garage, should be a draw. Other parts of the downtown plan that Fitch likes include the pedestrian friendly, wider sidewalks; streetscape improvements; and the development of a central park south of the tracks. She added that she is a proponent of letting the market dictate what type of businesses move into the downtown area. As a member of the city's planning and zoning board, Fitch stood up against a suggestion from city staff that hair stylists should be made a special use instead of a permitted use, due to their recent influx in the downtown area.

"I don't think it's the city's role to say, 'OK this is how many hair stylists we're going to have,'" she said, adding that she feels the same about restaurants and other businesses.

As for the Wheaton Grand, Fitch said she respects the response of the residents.

"If there are ways the city can help out in that endeavor without it being a huge expenditure of taxpayer funds, then great. But I think that's going to mostly be private," she said.

Retired school psychologist Tony Lyons, 62, said he believes the key to building a better downtown is first figuring out what kind of businesses belong there.

"We've got some great restaurants and we've got some great clothes stores, but I'd like to see some things that might lean more toward entertaining," he said.

Lyons knows there are several areas the city should look at when it considers ways to increase the arts and entertainment in the downtown area, but he doesn't think the Wheaton Grand should be ignored.

When an advisory referendum question was put on the ballot a few years ago asking residents if they think the city should use taxpayer money to help restore the theater, Lyons was on the fence for which way to vote. He said he was pleased, however, when a private investor purchased the property.

"I believe those kinds of buildings that have a bit of a pull to the older days, if you will, are a draw," he said, adding that he would like to see the theater restored to look like it did in its "glory days" and mimic what is being done at the Paramount Theater in Aurora.

Some other ideas Lyons likes in the downtown development plan include festival streets and markers to make it more clear to visitors that they're entering the downtown area when they come from the north or the south.

Incumbent John Prendiville, 52, said he believes the $65 million plan is "a laundry list of good ideas." He especially likes the suggestion of building a permanent, year-round French Market structure soon, but said fixing up the infrastructure in the downtown area needs to be a top priority too.

"I envision the entire downtown area as an arts and entertainment district primarily, with some specialty shops, as we have now," he said.

Prendiville said he thinks if progress continues to be halted in restoring the Wheaton Grand it will be a significant flaw in the downtown development plan. He was "a big advocate" for the city to be involved in restoring it because he believes it is an "important cog in downtown," but realizes there is little that can be done now that the voters have spoken.

"I can't say I'm optimistic," he said. "I'm not pessimistic, but I just don't know where it's going to go and I don't know what the city can do to spur that along, other than do these other things downtown to make it a more attractive property."

While Prendiville said he sees the downtown as "the identity of the city" there's other things the council needs to consider when it comes to development.

"We've got other areas in the city that need assistance - North Main Street, Roosevelt Road. Some improvements have been made, but we've got a long way to go," he added. "While I'd like to focus on downtown we can't forget about those other districts as well."