The year in preview: What will make news in DuPage Co. in 2008

Addison

More shops, food, fun

This is the year for retail and housing developments in Addison. Two vacant areas along Lake Street will be filled. Starbucks will move in just east of Addison Road on the south side of the street, and Gene & Jude's hot dogs will set up on the northwest corner of Lake and Mill Road.

Adding to the village's entertainment corridor that already houses Dave & Buster's, Chicago Indoor Racing will open on Army Trail Road, just west of Swift Road.

The shopping center that houses Eleganza Imports at 109 E. Lake St. will open an 18,000-square-foot retail space and nine condominiums, with retail parking just east of the current store.

The Janko group will also begin construction on Country Club Manor at Mill and Army Trail roads. The development, located on the former Addison Golf Club site, will be a mix of condos, town houses and single family homes aimed at active adults ages 55 and older.

Parks seek tax hike

If voters approve a tax increase on Feb. 5, the money will fund the construction of an aquatic center and two soccer fields in Centennial Park that will cost almost $14 million. The aquatic center will replace the aging pool on Oak Street and construction would begin in spring 2009. The new splash pad unveiled last summer will remain in tact as the old pool site becomes part of the Addison Town Center project.

Library due in summer

The new, 54,000-square-foot library is set to open at 4 Friendship Plaza around June or July. The $15 million building, which is almost double the size of the old library, will feature a drive-up book drop and Internet café. The old library site will then become administrative offices for DuPage High School District 88.

School improvements

After voters approved a tax increase of almost $105 million, DuPage High School District 88 is finalizing construction and renovation plans to break ground at Addison Trail and Willowbrook high schools in spring.

Construction will begin before the close of the 2007-08 school year and is scheduled for completion in fall 2010. Technology enhancements will be a hallmark of project and the infrastructure will be updated to make wireless capability available by next school year.

In addition, the district office will move to the current Addison Public Library building in fall 2008. This move will allow Willowbrook High School to reclaim the north administrative wing for student classrooms.

Aurora

Planned Parenthood

The Planned Parenthood clinic on Aurora's far east side may have opened in October, but abortion opponents are far from giving up the fight. They plan to continue holding a large protest on-site each month. A couple Planned Parenthood-related matters already are in court, and it's possible more could come.

Police complex to be built

Much of the new Aurora police complex will take shape this year. The estimated $75 million complex includes a staff garage, a training and support building and police headquarters at 1200 E. Indian Trail Road. The support building could open by the end of the year, but the main headquarters won't be done until late 2009 or 2010.

A new Aurora library?

Aurora Public Library leaders this year could decide the fate of their main downtown branch, which they say doesn't adequately serve their ever-growing needs. The facility, 1 E. Benton St., was built in 1901 and has had extensive renovations. Leaders will tackle the topic early this year after hearing the results of a consultant survey in December.

Park district referendum

On Feb. 5, Fox Valley Park District residents will vote on a $45 million tax increase request for capital projects. Park leaders say their funds are nearly depleted and they're at a point where facilities only will continue to deteriorate without more money. Funds would pay for buying open land, improving regional trails, updating parks and renovating athletic fields.

Bensenville

O'Hare expansion

The City of Chicago plans to finish acquiring most of the properties it needs to make room for an expansion to O'Hare International Airport. The city has already acquired more than 400 properties. Eventually, it plans to bulldoze more than 500 homes and businesses in Bensenville and Elk Grove Village to make room for the expansion. But Chicago faces a few pending lawsuits by opponents who hope to stall expansion plans through federal court.

Bloomingdale

Stratford Square mall

Mayor Bob Iden said the village is looking forward to continuation of "calmness and prosperity." Iden said a highlight will be further revitalization of the Stratford Square Shopping Center. "If the $72 million revitalization that we are expecting occurs, it will be very positive for the village," he said.

Carol Stream

Bike path along Kuhn Road

The village of Carol Stream and the Carol Stream Park District will be partnering on a plan to build a 10-foot-wide asphalt bike path along Kuhn Road. The project will eventually provide Carol Stream residents with direct access to the Illinois Prairie Path by way of an underpass at North Avenue. Most of the $1.5 million project cost will be paid for by state and federal grants. The village and park district are responsible for roughly $356,000 of that total tab. Construction should be completed by the end of 2008.

Dangerous intersections

Some of Carol Stream's most crash-prone intersections, including sections of North Avenue, are expected to come under red-light surveillance sometime this summer as police attempt to keep motorists from running those red lights.

Glen Ellyn

New park district facility

The construction of the new Ackerman Athletic Complex is expected to begin and finish in 2008. The 45,000-square-foot facility should take one year to complete. The building will include three full-size basketball courts, a three-lane walking track, locker rooms, a small meeting area and a multipurpose athletic area for other sports. Residents agreed in fall of 2006 to give the park district $11.9 million for land acquisition, renovation of Main Street Recreation Center and the construction of the new recreational facility at Ackerman Park.

Downtown improvements

Glen Ellyn leaders will put a downtown strategic plan into place to help boost business and foot-traffic within the area. Officials will pay a consulting group about $100,000 to conduct the study, and from there the plan will be implemented. With no increase in sales and a decline in retailers, officials are anxious to get the plan moving.

Glendale Heights

Store to fill vacant spot

International fresh market Valli Produce will open at 151 E. North Ave. The store will take up a 65,000-square-foot space at the shopping center located at the southwest corner of Bloomingdale Road and North Avenue. Valli Produce will take the place of the former Dominick's that shut its doors in May 2001. Village officials are anticipating the grand opening, as shopping should boost Glendale Heights' sales tax dollars.

Itasca

Focus on downtown

Village manager Dave Williams said the village will have a full plate in 2008 with a "tremendous focus" on re-developing the business and downtown business districts and making Itasca a destination place in DuPage County. To that end, Williams said the top priorities will include the development of the Itasca Riverwalk, the beautifying of Orchard Square and several upgrades to make the Veterans' Memorial at Usher Park more accessible. Subtle improvements are also scheduled for the Spring Brook Nature Center to make it more of an educational and recreational tool for the community.

New superintendent

Early in 2008, possibly as early as January, the district expects to name a new superintendent to replace the retiring Ken Cull.

Lisle

New leadership for schools

Lisle Unit District 202 will undergo a change at the top when new Superintendent Patricia Wernet takes the reins July 1 to replace the retiring Peter Lueck, who has held the post for 11 years. Wernet most recently served four years as the head of South Berwyn School District 100.

Lombard

Revamp for Roosevelt Road

Several new businesses are expected to open along Roosevelt Road in Lombard. A retail center at Highland Avenue expects to house a Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar, a Chase Bank, CD1 Price Cleaners and Hair Cuttery.

West of Highland, the Sports Authority and Marshall's stores, which have opened new locations at Yorktown Center, will be closing. Hobby Lobby, Main Street and Roosevelt, will move into the Sports Authority space, and Harbor Freight Tools will take over the Marshall's site. Starbucks will remove its kiosk and replace it with a sit-down coffee shop nearby in the same complex. Roundheads Pizza sports bar and grill will move into the shuttered Pizzeria Uno's.

Expansion at Montini

Montini Catholic High School in Lombard expects to raze one of its buildings and replace it with one nearly twice the size. The 32,000-square-foot, one-story structure houses a new administration center, guidance and athletic offices, reception area, learning resource center with computer laboratory, six new science labs and washrooms. Administrators hope the estimated $4.5 million project will get under way in the spring and be complete in September.

Naperville

Hunt for new city manager

The hunt for a new city manager will be the council's primary focus for what could take up much of the first part of the year. Peter Burchard resigned in December after 10 years as Naperville's top administrator to take a job in the health industry. His departure came shortly after City Councilman Richard Furstenau filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city stemming from a battery arrest against a police officer he was acquitted of in May. Days before leaving his post, Burchard fired off an open letter describing a number of abuses by Furstenau.

Public works facility site

What the city will do with its soon-to-be-vacated public works facility along Fifth Avenue will be hotly debated for most of 2008. The city is building a new multi-million dollar facility on the west side of the city to house the department, leaving the high-priced parcel vacant. Neighbors have expressed concerns about potential condominium construction at the site. The city is in the midst of studying uses for the land with input from residents.

Search for parks director

The Naperville Park District's new executive director is expected to start shortly after the beginning of the year. The board was still interviewing finalists in late December. The new leader will be the district's sixth in 12 years. The most recent, Barbara Heller, left in March after less than three years when conflicts with the board over an ill-fated recreation center proposal came to a head.

District 203 referendum

Naperville Unit District 203 will be coming to voters Feb. 5 to ask for $43 million to put toward $115 million in facility improvement projects around the district. Projects include an $87.7 million major renovation of Naperville Central, which officials say is aging and overcrowded. The district also would build an $11 million early childhood center and spend $7.3 million to renovate Mill Street Elementary. There would be $5.2 million in improvements at Naperville North, and $700,000 in security improvements at Prairie, Ranch View and Washington. The tax hike would cost the average taxpayer an additional $82 a year in property taxes for each of the next 20 years.

Will Metea find a home?

Indian Prairie Unit District 204 has yet to purchase property on which to build Metea Valley High School despite already getting voter approval for the project. The district had planned to purchase 55 acres of land off Route 59 near 75th Street and Commons Drive in Aurora, owned by the Brach-Brodie trust, to combine with 25 acres it already owns, but a jury set the price at $17 million more than it had anticipated. District officials are negotiating with the trust and several other landowners to find an affordable site for the school. Construction is a year behind on the 3,000-student facility that was originally scheduled to open in 2009.

Oak Brook

Big development on track

Oak Brook will welcome Clearwater, a 500,000-square-foot mixed-use development, at the northwest corner of York Road and 22nd Street. Officials say the project is being headed by the John Buck Co. and will cost more than $150 million.

It will include a six-story hotel, a 50,000-square-foot health club, a 14-story luxury condo tower and 100,000 square feet of upscale retail space.

Workers are now demolishing old buildings on the site and Oak Brook officials say Clearwater should break ground by March.

Construction continues

Drivers should brace themselves for continuing roadwork along 22nd Street near Oak Brook's business corridor. Workers for the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority are widening two-mile section along I-88 from Route 83 to York Road, and the project should be complete by 2009. Right now, a special winter configuration is in place and drivers should be alert to lane changes.

The $178 million project, which began last May, includes: Adding a fourth lane in both directions, including a fourth Open Road Tolling lane at the York Road toll plaza; rebuilding the westbound Harger Road entrance ramp; improvements to ramps that link the Tri-State and Reagan tollways; reconstruction of cash lanes in the westbound York Road toll plaza; widening 22nd Street from Jorie Boulevard to McDonald's Drive.

In 2009, workers also will lengthen the bridge that runs over 22nd Street and, soon afterward, widen 1,600 feet of road under the bridge.

Butler District 53

After spending two years developing the curriculum, District 53 will adopt a new reading series for students in kindergarten through fifth grade for the 2007-08 school year.

Workers will also replace doors and windows on the exterior of Brook Forest Elementary School in summer 2008.

Also at Brook Forest, students can participate in a new health initiative called Nutrition Stars, which awards points for making healthy eating and exercise choices, such as running at recess.

Roselle

Lake Street comes alive

Much of the large development at Lake Street and Gary Avenue in Roselle will slowly come to life this year. The area, being developed by three different developers, will be the home of a Country Inn and Suites hotel, gas station, townhouses and three commercial buildings that may house anywhere from 18 to 24 new retail businesses. The entire project could be finished sometime in 2009.

New pool on the way

The long-awaited outdoor swimming pool at Kemmerling Park in Roselle should open Memorial Day weekend in 2008. The $1.6 million project includes other improvements to the park, like new sand volleyball courts, bocce ball courts, playground, horseshoe pits, benches, bike racks and a renovated baseball field and a concession area.

Sirens will sound

In the summer, Roselle residents will finally get their wish for outdoor storm sirens. After years of discussion, the village board approved the project. Possible locations for the sirens include the Metra train station, Manary Park, Lake Park High School West Campus, Clauss Recreation Center or the public works facility at Congress Circle and Central Avenue.

Downtown development

What used to be a largely vacant downtown strip in Roselle will bloom this year. The village's first and long-awaited Starbucks will break ground and could be open by spring 2008 in Town Center, at the northeast corner of Roselle Road and Main Street. It will be joined by a new bank.

Testing treatment system

If the pilot study proves beneficial, Roselle may be among the first few communities in the nation to test a new technology for wastewater treatment. It promises to consume all biological solids in the waste stream. That means it eliminates all costs associated with sludge removal. It would cost the village roughly $12 million.

Warrenville

175th anniversary

Warrenville soon will begin several celebrations of the city's 175th anniversary, beginning Jan. 12 with an outdoor celebration and fireworks show in the city's municipal campus.

Dangerous intersections

Some of Warrenville's most crash-prone intersections, including Winfield and Diehl roads and Route 59 and Butterfield Road, are expected to come under red-light surveillance early this year as police attempt to keep motorists from running those red lights.

West Chicago

New conference

West Chicago Community High School will explore how best to leave the DuPage Valley Conference. The school board last year passed a resolution expressing its intent to investigate ways to join a smaller existing athletics conference in the area or to create a new conference.

Wheaton

Downtown takes shape

The city's quest for a larger downtown grocery store will come to a head as new residents and shoppers begin to flow into the city with the completion of at least two major redevelopment projects. The city will see if its fears about the potential closing of the Jewel Food Store on Willow Avenue come true.

Hubble is the focus

The district will either spend most of 2008 building a new Hubble Middle School or figuring out how to convince voters to approve a November Hubble referendum if the question fails on February ballots. The future needs of a cramped Jefferson Preschool is also expected to be the next major project the district tries to tackle.

Park district looks to future

With the current long-range, master plan nearly complete, park district officials will spend much of 2008 soliciting resident input on what major changes they want in their parks in the next decade. Possible projects include major pool upgrades and repair work on the community center.

Winfield

Central DuPage expansion

Central DuPage Hospital is expected to begin construction on a $7.4 million parking deck on its Winfield campus. The project is part of a planned multimillion-dollar expansion at Central DuPage's sprawling campus that includes a new hospital wing with 202 private rooms. The roughly 150-yard-long structure would be located along the eastern edge of Winfield Road, just north of Highlake Road. The deck would accommodate 370 parking spaces and is expected to be complete by the end of 2008. The hospital will also be seeking state approval early next year to build a new proton therapy cancer treatment center. The center is the second such proposal in the Western suburbs. Northern Illinois University hopes to build a similar facility in West Chicago.

Wood Dale

Changes for train depot

The city is looking ahead to renovating the train depot on Irving Park Road to be more commuter friendly and the continued development of a downtown residential and commercial zone.

Grade-level centers

Wood Dale Elementary District 7 schools will be adjusting to a new grade-level center concept that will combine all sections of each grade into their own buildings and force the construction of a new gymnasium at either Oakbrook or Westview school. The junior high school is also facing the addition of several new family and consumer science classrooms.