Local businessmen buying, renovating downtown W. Dundee properties

Hoping to contribute to West Dundee's redevelopment, two local businessmen are purchasing and renovating downtown properties.

Tim Neff, a partner at United Career Fairs, and Scott Schier, managing broker of Grid 7 Properties, will eventually relocate to 109 and 111 W. Main St., commercial spaces they are in the process of buying.

"We're a pretty young company," Neff said. "Being in an up-and-coming area that's being revitalized is really cool for us."

To help the businesses succeed in a new location, Otto Engineering president Tom Roeser is supervising the exterior renovation of the building, Roeser said.

Outside construction should be completed within the next two months, Roeser said. The village's appearance review commission is expected to vote on the plans for the exterior at the beginning of September.

"We want to get it done so we start to send a signal that West Dundee is going to get a little investment," Roeser said.

From there, Neff and Schier will fix the interior of their buildings, he added.

Because of Roeser's experience purchasing and fixing up other commercial properties in the area, Neff said he welcomes the help.

"(Roeser) has such a great relationship with the village since he's done so much," he said. "We're leaning on him to help us communicate. He's so great to work with in regards to the wisdom that he has."

In addition to wanting to be involved in the redevelopment of downtown West Dundee, Schier and Neff have their own reasons for moving to a new location: company growth.

Over the past two years, Grid 7 has grown exponentially, Schier said. The property management company, which employs seven full-timers and eight independent contractors, was running out of space at its current location, 120 W. Main St.

"Plus, we're renting there," he said. "It'd be nice to own something."

In February, Schier said, he tried buying the 109 Main St. location in a Kane County Sheriff's sale, but Roeser outbid him. Since then, Schier has communicated with Roeser about taking ownership of the property, he said, and is in the process of purchasing it for just over $200,000.

United Career Fairs, a niche recruiting firm that focuses in sales-specific job fairs and career placement, is growing as well, Neff said.

Eight of the company's employees currently work out of an office building owned by Roeser in Carpentersville, he said.

To give the company a commercial space of its own, Neff is purchasing the 111 Main St. property. With interior and exterior renovations, it should cost between $250,000 and $350,000, he said.

Apartments for rent will also be located above both office spaces.

Bringing small businesses, as well as new residents, to the area will contribute largely to future development, Roeser said.

"We're going to get Main Street pretty fixed up over the next year or two," he said. "It's going to be terrific."