Mount Prospect looking for new community development director

For the first time in about three decades, Mount Prospect is looking to fill the post of community development director.

Bill Cooney, who has held that post since January 1994, is retiring, intending to wrap up his duties in April.

“I’ve always looked at turning 60 as kind of the timeline I was looking at (to retire), and I’ll be 60 April 8,” he said.

April 12 will be his last day with the village.

Cooney said he does not plan to work over the summer, although after it, he will explore options in consulting or development.

Cooney said he was drawn to Mount Prospect by the opportunities the village offered. He had worked in Arlington Heights the previous five years, lastly as deputy director of planning and community development under Charles Witherington-Perkins.

He said he did not expect to stay around for 30 years, but added, “It’s a good thing I didn’t stick around Arlington. Charles has been there the whole time I've been here.”

Cooney's impact can be seen throughout the village, in the redevelopment of Randhurst, the mushrooming development of the downtown, and the emergence of the south, where the CloudHQ data center development is on the old United Airlines property.

“It’s the biggest investment ever in town — $2.5 billion. To give you an idea, the Randhurst redo was about $150 million,” he said. “It’s a project that ... is going to benefit the community with various revenue sources from utility taxes, property taxes and finances for the community for a long long time.”

"When you think of someone in the director position for 30 years, it's an amazing record and a very strong legacy," Village Manager Michael Cassady said.

Cassady said Cooney was a valuable part of the village’s leadership team.

“Bill’s been on the forefront of everything happening,” said Mayor Paul Hoefert, a village trustee when Cooney was hired. “Downtown development’s had its ups and downs over that time, but he’s been right there through all of that.”

Hoefert also said Cooney was part of the creation of the Prospect and Main and South Mount Prospect tax increment financing districts.

“He was certainly an integral part of the South Mount Prospect Plan,“ Hoefert said. “He also sourced a number of businesses. He worked closely with new businesses that were coming in.“

Cooney said there will be plenty of work for his successor.

“Randhurst is always a challenge. We’re going to work with DLC (Management Corp.) on getting that Main Street enlivened a little bit more,” he said.

He also said the downtown makes him think twice about leaving before the summer.

“This summer, the downtown is going to pop, with all the restaurants that are going to be opening up,” he said. “I’ll be watching that.”