Wheeling Fresh Farms developer expands project

Now that the Wheeling Village Board approved demolition of a small building at Dundee Road and Milwaukee Avenue, the Fresh Farms expansion project finally will begin this month, officials say.

The Fresh Farms plan includes reconstructing all existing buildings 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. Plans call to demolish the existing strip center that houses a dry cleaner, check cashing store and tax preparation office and relocate them to the new center.

Developers will keep the existing Fresh Farms grocery store open while they construct a new store behind it, said Mark Janeck, Wheeling's director of community development.

The site's developer recently added plans for another 12,000-square-foot retail center along Milwaukee Avenue to be built at the same time as the new Fresh Farms building. Plans for the new retail center will go before the village's plan commission in June and eventually before the full village board for final approval.

Officials say the project, which also will include a bank, will transform the corner into a more upscale shopping center and improve traffic flow.

Wheeling officials approved $5.25 million in tax incentives to redevelop Fresh Farms International Market in early 2009. That includes $1.5 million paid upfront from increased property tax revenues collected through a special taxing district, and $3.75 million in property and sales tax rebates over 20 years.

While plans for the Fresh Farms are moving ahead, the same can't be said for a proposed clock tower near the site.

In August, designers proposed a 15-foot solar clock tower, benches and a tiered planter for the southwest corner of Dundee Road and Milwaukee Avenue. But those plans are on hold now because of budget constraints, officials said.

The intersection already features two water fountains and several flag poles, but the southwest corner has remained vacant while village officials worked out the development deal with Fresh Farms International Market.