Official: Acquiring riverside property 'first step' of West Dundee redevelopment

West Dundee officials said they are beginning to implement their new downtown plan with plans to acquire and redevelop properties on the corner of Main and First streets.

Pending a 48-hour review period for trustees, the village board voted 4-1 Monday to enter a contract to purchase two riverside properties from current owner Greg Samata, a former West Dundee businessman. The lots - 89 Main St. and the area south of that building along the river - would cost the village about $400,000, said Village Manager Joe Cavallaro.

"They are key pieces of property that were identified as part of our recently adopted redevelopment plan," he said. "This is really the first step in terms of the implementation of that plan."

Working with the village is Tom Roeser, president of Otto Engineering in Carpentersville, who Cavallaro said will purchase the remaining four Samata properties: the two buildings adjacent to 89 Main St., a former bowling alley at 101 S. First St., and the building occupied by Around the Corner Candy at 99 W. Main St.

A VFW, which will likely remain as part of the redevelopment, also sits on that corner, Roeser said, along with two village-owned buildings.

The idea, Cavallaro said, is to redevelop that site once all the properties have been purchased.

"We're trying to see how all of these properties would fit into our downtown plan," Cavallaro said. "It's all starting to come together."

But Trustee Dan Wilbrandt, who voted against the measure, said he is not comfortable approving a contract for a purchase when methods of funding the project are not yet determined.

Village President Chris Nelson said once details are ironed out, the redevelopment plans for that site will return to the village board and the public for review, feedback and approval.

Though contracts and a redevelopment plan have not yet been finalized, Roeser said he is already thinking ahead. At the minimum, he said, he would like to create a riverfront park, knock down some of the buildings and renovate those that remain.

What will occupy those buildings has yet to be determined, he said, though he wouldn't mind adding some residential space.

"We aren't exactly sure what we're going to do yet," Roeser said, "but I'm excited about it. I think we could make that entire corner terrific."

Part of the plan for that site would likely include some additional parking and greenery, he said.

The downtown area has a lot of potential to become a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood where people can live, work, eat and shop, Roeser said.

"In West Dundee, people know a downtown is there, but they go right through it," he said. "Now, maybe we can hook them."