East Dundee residential project back on track

A residential development project in East Dundee - once thought to be an economic casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic - is back on track.

Village officials on Monday approved a development agreement with Joe Billitteri of Billitteri Enterprises that establishes deadlines to acquire the vacant lot at 855 E. Main St. and apply for the necessary permits. The two planned buildings will be nearly identical to the ones finished by Billitteri nearby at 811 E. Main St. that feature one- and two-bedroom apartments.

"This is all good for us," said East Dundee Village Administrator Jennifer Johnsen, who anticipates construction to begin in the spring. "This is progress in an area that needs progress."

After the success and popularity of the first complex, the village granted financial incentives in early March for Billitteri to begin work on the second phase at 855 E. Main. In June, the village amended its code and rezoned the property in hopes of construction starting in September.

In August, however, Billitteri notified the village of his desire to terminate the project because of pandemic-related difficulties.

Just when the village was beginning the process of starting over with the property, Billitteri notified officials again in mid-November to express his desire to restart the project.

It's been a mix of ups and downs for the village trying to get the development off the ground, but Johnsen said it's simply part of doing business in the middle of the pandemic.

"At the end of the day the developer still wants to do the project, so we're thrilled," Johnsen said. "There was this slight delay because of the pandemic but we obviously understood that."

While the complex at 811 E. Main features 18 one-bedroom and 18 two-bedroom units, the anticipated demand shifted the layout of the complex at 855 E. Main to include 24 one-bedroom and 12 two-bedroom units.

Village officials hope the additional rooftops near the downtown area will attract more people to local shops and restaurants.

"He's actually on a fast track to get it started and get it done," Johnsen said. "It's a pretty aggressive timeline."