Another new development knocking on Roselle's door

Development in Roselle is blooming. That's especially the case on Gary Avenue and Lake Street.

Another large development is on the horizon in the area. In the coming weeks, Roselle village officials will discuss a proposal for a 58-acre business park slated for the southeast corner of Gary and Central avenues. Plans call for six 139,000-square-foot buildings. Roughly 90 percent of the space would be used for warehouse purposes and the rest for office space.

"We're anxious to see some development there," Director of Development Patrick Watkins said. "We're excited to see it under way. It's been a couple years coming."

The village has wanted to develop the area since the early '90s. The issue was on the village board's agenda Monday, but officials tabled it to give the developer and staff more time to iron out minor details. If approved, the project could break ground as early as April, Watkins said.

The new development would border another giant on Gary and Lake Street. Last month, a developer broke ground on a Country Inn and Suites hotel and banquet hall. The 67,526-square-foot hotel with more than 100 rooms could be complete by August. It will be attached to a 23,548-square-foot banquet hall and conference center.

The hotel is only a portion of a 20-acre development at that intersection. A retail center, called Cornerstone Plaza, broke ground at the northeast corner of Lake and Gary. Three commercial buildings that could house anywhere from 18 to 24 retail businesses already have popped up.

In addition, construction started on roughly 34 townhouses west of the existing Waterbury subdivision. That entire development could be complete by fall.