Route 25 corridor needs help, C'ville candidates say

Candidates for Carpentersville village trustee agree rejuvenating the Route 25 corridor is needed to boost the village's economy.

But they have different ideas about how to spur development in the area.

While some say a special taxing district would entice potential and current business owners to improve the area, others say repairing roads and beautifying the surrounding neighborhoods would encourage revitalization.

During a recent Daily Herald candidate endorsement interview, some hopefuls said the disintegrated condition of Route 25 from Interstate 90 in Elgin through East Dundee and into Carpentersville is a negative first impression for potential business owners and customers.

Incumbent trustee Kay Teeter said funding is available to fix Route 25 from Interstate 90 to Route 72. Although that stretch does not lie within Carpentersville's borders, Teeter said the village would benefit from the improvement.

"That road right now is horrendous," she said. "That's the way businesses are coming in - they are coming off the Tollway on to Route 25 to get to Carpentersville. That's a bad taste that's impacting us."

Challengers Kenneth Andresen and Kent Baldwin also said the pothole-riddled road dissuades visitors.

"These roads are in terrible condition," Andresen said. "We need to take care of our major thoroughfares as soon as possible."

Cleaning up nearby neighborhoods on the village's east side is also vital to the area's rejuvenation, challenger Patricia Schultz said.

"We need the neighborhoods cleaned up so when we do invite businesses to come they won't see the illusion of Route 25," Schultz said. "They need to see that residents in the neighborhood are spending money in those stores."

Creating a tax increment financing district or business district would help fund development and road repairs along Route 25, incumbent trustee Linda Ramirez-Sliwinski said.

"We have been talking about doing a TIF to help redevelop the Meadowdale Shopping center as well as the northeast and northwest corners at Hazard Road," Ramirez-Sliwinski said. "We are working with the property owner to see what will work there."

That communication between the village and business owners is vital, challenger Debra Lowen said.

"We need to work with the person responsible for bringing in businesses and see how we can coordinate with her and network to reach out to businesses," Lowen said.

Candidates Bradford McFeggan and Joseph Haimann did not attend the candidate interview.