Daily Herald opinion: St. Charles officials remain focused on improving eastern gateway of the city
Gateways into cities and villages are important. They help communities make an impression and attract visitors and new businesses.
It’s something St. Charles City Council members appear to be keenly aware of. After all, officials have sought to improve the city’s eastern entrance along Main Street/Route 64 for years.
So when the city council last week reviewed a proposal to redevelop what remains of the former Pheasant Run Resort site at East Main Street and Kautz Road, it came as no surprise that several council members raised the topic of St. Charles’ eastern gateway.
“Our eastern gateway should be distinct, unique and different from our neighboring communities.” Alderperson Jayme Muenz said.
The area suffered a blow from the closure of Pheasant Run Resort and the hollowing out of the nearby Charlestowne Mall. During its heyday, Pheasant Run was a premier spot for suburban residents seeking a weekend getaway. But times changed, and the resort was in decline when it was shut down in 2020. Then a massive fire in 2022 left the main resort campus in ruins. Charlestowne never recovered from a slow but steady loss of tenants. The interior of the deserted mall closed for good in 2017. Today, only one anchor store and a movie theater remain.
St. Charles officials wisely took steps to ensure that vacant resort buildings were demolished. Meanwhile, portions of the property were sold off for car dealerships and an industrial park. Now SC Landman LLC wants to redevelop the remaining 33.7 acres with a mix of uses. Preliminary plans for the project include a bank, a coffee shop, an oil change facility and a car dealership. There also could be a variety of restaurants and other retail.
While Muenz acknowledges the site needs redevelopment, she said she believes the land should be used for a project “that actually draws people to our community.”
“I think there is an opportunity for that,” Muenz added. “And I’d like to hold out for that for our community because I think they deserve it.”
Alderperson Vicki Spellman said there are concerns about the city’s eastern gateway and a desire for it to be “a little bit special.” She said creating an attractive area on the former resort property would be “a great opportunity to help get the mall redeveloped.”
Meanwhile, Alderperson Ed Bessner says there’s been “some momentum” with redevelopment on the city’s east side, including the Fox Haven Square project at the corner of East Main Street and North Kirk Road.
It will be up to the city council members to decide whether they support the plan currently proposed for the former Pheasant Run Resort site. But we hope St. Charles ends up with a development that provides the boost to the city’s eastern entrance that officials have been looking for.