Northwest suburbs in 60 seconds

Wheeling OKs Fresh Farms

The Wheeling village board has agreed to provide $5.25 million in tax incentives to redevelop Fresh Farms International Market and shopping center on the southwest corner of Milwaukee Avenue and Dundee Road. That includes $1.5 million paid upfront from increased property tax revenue collected through a special taxing district established for redevelopment, and $3.75 million in property and sales taxes rebated over 20 years. Per the deal, the village is giving up 100 percent of future increased property taxes generated from the Fresh Farms redevelopment during the life of the TIF, which ends in 2019. The village also would rebate 66 percent of the increased sales tax to facilitate the $26 million project. The village board approved a preliminary planned unit development and site plans for the project in December. It calls for rebuilding everything on the site, more than doubling the size of the grocery store from 11,000 square feet to 31,000 square feet, and building a new 15,000-square-foot attached retail center. Demolition and construction is expected to begin late fall with project completion within 18 months.

Ontarioville art fest canceled

The Ontarioville Fine Art Fair, held for the past two Septembers in Hanover Park, will not be put on this coming fall. The festival co-sponsors - the village and the Ontarioville Arts and Music League - mutually agreed to take this year off amid concerns about the economy, said league member Anita Komorski. She said members will reassess next year and see if they want to re-establish the event and seek village sponsorship.

Council call for artists

The Northwest Cultural Council is now accepting applications from two- and three-dimensional artists for its Corporate Gallery Program. Exhibitions are displayed for three months at a time at participating corporate spaces. There is a $25 jury fee. For details, visit northwestculturalcouncil.org.