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Prospect Heights spending $500,000 to spruce up tourism district

The Prospect Heights City Council approved a $508,538 landscaping project Monday to improve appearances and attract business along Milwaukee Avenue and Palatine Road, in the city's tourism district.

The beautification project will add trees, perennials and shrubs along three medians and one embankment in the area. The project's cost includes irrigation and electrical work, and is funded through a 5 percent hotel room tax.

Mayor Nick Helmer said he is unsure if landscapers will be able to begin the project this year with only one full month left in summer.

Plans for beautification projects in that part of the city began in March 2014, when the Prospect Heights Tourism District board and city alderman created a list of visual enhancements they'd like to see for the tourism district. The district includes several hotels stretching from Milwaukee Avenue and River Road to Chicago Executive Airport.

The project's cost initially came in $83,806 over budget. Some items were removed from the plan, and alderman agreed to use $75,550 from the city's general fund to complete it. It will take two years for the city's tourism funds to repay the general fund, Finance Director Stephanie Hannon said.

Aldermen also considered splitting the work into separate phases, but it would cost an additional $71,000 to do the project separately, according to Hannon, who added that the city is $1 million ahead of revenue projections this year, based on a recently conducted audit.

Maintenance for the medians and embankment is estimated to cost $55,000 a year. Third Ward Alderman Scott Williamson stressed the need to ensure the maintenance is done.

"I'd hate to see an investment like that where we have nothing in place to mandate that this maintenance has to be done," Williamson said. "It can't just be mowed over."

The city's public works department will assist with street cleaning and road closure to help keep the project's cost low, said John Zachara, project manager for contractor Integrated Facilities Solutions.

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