Mike Jenny on 2021: Proactive and productive
Editor's note: The Herald asked Glenview Village President Mike Jenny for his thoughts on 2021 in Glenview, and perhaps a look forward to 2022. He graciously responded.
Jan. 1 marks the start of a new year - the third year in which a global pandemic will be part of our lives.
As we look back on 2021 and ahead to 2022, COVID-19, unfortunately, remains an ever-present reality, and the Glenview board of trustees along with village staff will continue working through how to keep residents safe, protect employee health and maintain Village operations.
The village has been proactive - both in our communication and our budgeting - when it comes to COVID. Staff has diligently worked with the Cook County Department of Public Health and other jurisdictions to spread the word about the latest guidelines, testing sites, local vaccination events and to keep people informed about conditions locally. We've also supported the restaurant industry by creating additional opportunities for outdoor dining and providing sales tax rebates.
Despite the pandemic, 2021 was a highly productive year in the village. I'm proud of what we've accomplished and excited about what's ahead in 2022. Here are a few of the highlights:
Concluding the Glen TIF
The conclusion of the TIF marks the end of a historic, landmark redevelopment that brought 5,500 residents, thousands of new jobs, and nearly 1.9 million square feet of retail, restaurant, hotel and office space to the Village of Glenview. The award-winning redevelopment of the Glenview Naval Air Station has become the model for how to close and redevelop decommissioned American military bases. This was a 20-plus year project that ended ahead of schedule with all its obligations paid in full. It's a government success story and one that demonstrates how effective local governance and financial responsibility can be in positively impacting the lives of residents and business owners.
New movie theater
The board passed a development agreement to bring a new movie theater into the existing space at The Glen Town Center. Feedback we received as part of the Glenview Connect process indicated a strong desire for a new movie theater, which is set to open in the summer of 2022. It will support the vibrancy of the area, the nearby restaurants and the overall shopping center experience at The Glen.
Adding affordable housing
At our final board meeting of the year, the Village Board unanimously approved an agreement to maximize the number of affordable housing units at Thomas Place senior center. Village financial assistance will help Thomas Place make 130 of its 144 units affordable, which represents an 84% increase in the number of affordable units.
Streamlined governance
We want it to be easy for residents and businesses to work with the village. This year, we consolidated the Zoning Board, Appearance Commission and Planning Commission into a single body: The Development Commission. This change has allowed us to take a more comprehensive view at new and existing developments and make holistic recommendations, rather than getting differing opinions from three different bodies.
Economic Development Strategic Plan
Even before the pandemic, the Village Board recognized a need to be proactive, adapt to market conditions and protect the economic vitality of the village. COVID, of course, reinforced that need. We created the Economic Development Strategic Plan to recruit and retain businesses, particularly in our Downtown area. We identified opportunity sites - what we called Spark Sites - as prime areas to recruit new development, and we solicited community feedback about what sorts of development residents desired. We're also looking at business support opportunities to help commercial property owners update and improve their facilities while still offering reasonable rents to retain and attract tenants.
As we turn the page on 2021, I want to say thank you to all the members of our community and village staff who have been supporting health care professionals, essential front-line workers and local businesses. And a special thank you to our village first responders in the police, fire and 9-1-1 dispatch centers for all you've done to protect our community.
Wishing everyone a happy, healthy 2022,
Mike Jenny
Glenview Village President