Wood Dale unveils plan for Thorndale Avenue
As plans for western access to O'Hare International Airport become a reality, Wood Dale leaders are moving ahead with their own plans to capitalize on the development.
City officials and staff and business owners met Wednesday to review Wood Dale's plans for the Thorndale Avenue corridor, which they dubbed a "corporate main street." Mayor Ken Johnson officially adopted the plan at the Salt Creek Golf Club in Wood Dale.
Created within about one year by the Chicago-based Lakota Group, the plans span south of the proposed Elgin-O'Hare expansion, north of Foster Avenue, and run east from Wood Dale Road to Route 83. The area will include a mix of office space, hotels, restaurants and retail, an industrial area, parking and a recreation center.
John LaMotte of the Lakota Group said the idea is to create an attractive, walkable area that capitalizes on the new expressway traffic.
"Instead of going to a corporate campus with a lot of geese and ponds and nowhere to go for lunch ... this is the new wave of how to develop corporate facilities," LaMotte said. "This is transit-oriented development that aims to provide a lot of opportunities for people to work and, possibly, live."
City officials say the plan will take 10 to 15 years to come to fruition, as they wait for the Elgin-O'Hare expansion to break ground and since current businesses and homes stand in the area.
Ross Klicker, Wood Dale's planning and development coordinator, said the next step will be to explore zoning options and economic planning. Mayor Ken Johnson added that Wood Dale hopes to work with businesses and homeowners currently residing in the corridor to create financial arrangements that work for both parties.
LaMotte encouraged local business owners to think ahead and contact Wood Dale leaders now so they are in the loop on how development might affect them as it continues.
State Sen. Carole Pankau, who attended the event, also praised Wood Dale for thinking ahead on its plan and not waiting to see what state and federal funds are promised.
"I'm very happy you guys are thinking about the planning process now," Pankau said. "This is not going to be one project by itself. Everyone is going to have to work together. State money, federal money and city money will be needed. But in these economic times, we all have to work together or nothing is going to come about."
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