Palatine sees ways to improve downtown

Moving the village hall to downtown Palatine, planning more community events there and strengthening the mix of businesses all are keys to its success, according to a recently released study.

Among the findings, the study says the downtown has several strengths: its growing identification as a restaurant hub; the Jewel-Osco, and music-oriented businesses.

In 2005, retail sales in downtown Palatine were $58.2 million, more than 7 percent of the village's total.

Chicago-based retail experts Melaniphy & Associates were hired last summer to study Palatine's downtown. Results of the $18,000 study were presented to village councilmen this week. From those, village staff will now develop an action plan to be made public in September.

"Downtown Palatine's retail image is poor and the retail component is fragile," the study says.

Because there isn't a major commercial road going into downtown, things are lacking, such as a post office, insurance agencies or real estate companies.

The downtown has about 275,000 square feet of retail, restaurants and service stores. In addition, there is more than 200,000 square feet of office space and about 1,000 new condos.

Restaurants and bars in downtown captured one-third of the total money generated eating and drinking in Palatine, which was a pleasant surprise to many officials.

However, Melaniphy told councilmen it's unlikely a big retail chain like Borders or Barnes & Noble ever will open in downtown Palatine.

For one, he says, they are moving to lifestyle-type centers, such as Deer Park Town Center. He also cites the lack of a major traffic artery to the downtown.

Still, Mayor Rita Mullins says she'd like to see some chain stores open in the area.

"I am still an optimist that we will get those things and it will take time," she said. "We need to have optimism. It is a beautiful downtown."

Councilman Brad Helms, who represents the downtown districts, says it's a good idea to think about moving village hall there.

"Most successful downtowns have their village hall, post office and library in the area to draw people there," he said. "That is something that we've gotten away from."

Helms added he believes downtown Palatine is moving in the right direction but needs a game plan on where to go next.

"We have to identify what is wrong and admit that there's something wrong," he said.

Downtown Palatine

Chicago-based Melaniphy & Associates recently conducted a study of the downtown Palatine area.

Strengths

•Metra brings in 2,000 people a day.

•Jewel-Osco under renovation.

• Restaurants/entertainment in the area.

•Street Fest activities.

•Lots of new housing with unique architecture.

Weaknesses

•Palatine Road not a major thoroughfare

•Railroad tracks split downtown in half

• Not a lot of strong retailers.

•Metra leaves early and arrives late.

•Little promotion of the area.

Recommendations

• Move village hall downtown

•Help strengthen merchants association.

• Review public vs. commuter parking.

•More festivals and special events needed.

•Improve businesses along Palatine Road.

Source: Melaniphy & Associates