Improvements coming to Wheeling Town Center

Visiting the Wheeling Town Center commercial and apartment complex may soon be a more enjoyable experience, thanks to some planned, publicly funded improvements.

Roadways within the 16-acre complex on Dundee Road at Northgate Parkway will be realigned to improve traffic flow, said Len Becker, Wheeling’s economic development director. Additionally, sidewalks will be expanded to improve general safety and access for people with disabilities.

New trees, bushes and other landscaping elements also are planned, as are new public gathering spaces.

Tall monument signs at the Dundee Road entrances will be replaced, too. One will have an LED display for messages, Becker said.

The improvements “will enhance the overall functionality and appearance of the site,” he said.

The village board on Monday approved a nearly $1.5 million contract with Gilberts-based Copenhaver Construction to handle the work. The board also approved a $162,100 contract with Kimley-Horn and Associates for project oversight, documents indicate. Kimley-Horn designed the project.

While Wheeling Town Center is privately owned, the pending improvements are being funded with public money because the center sits within a special taxing district that diverts money for economic development and infrastructure improvements as property tax revenue increases.

“These enhancements are intended to benefit the broader community, including businesses, residents, visitors, Metra riders and users of nearby public amenities such as Heritage Park and the Wheeling municipal complex,” Becker said.

The contracts were approved without discussion during a section of the meeting reserved for routine matters.

Work is expected to begin in May and wrap up by October.

Constructed about eight years ago, Wheeling Town Center includes restaurants, a Cinergy movie theater, other businesses and a 300-unit apartment complex. It’s a venue for seasonal, outdoor concerts and other community events, too.