Palatine juggling Rand Road development initiatives

The village of Palatine is juggling a number of initiatives, both big and small, that officials hope will continue the Rand Road corridor down a revenue-generating path.

One spot of special interest given its sales tax revenue potential is the vacant Menards building temporarily home to Wolff’s Flea Market.

The council Monday unanimously approved renewing — for a second time — a one-year listing agreement with Bradford Real Estate Cos., which is charged with marketing and brokering a deal to unload the village-owned property for a 6 percent commission.

“We’re hopeful that we’ll see something come forward in the next year,” Village Manager Reid Ottesen said.

Ottesen said parties have shown interest in a segment of the parcel, but none have committed to taking on the property, which is approximately 10 acres. Further limiting potential buyers is the lack of expansion possibilities given the Civil War-era cemetery behind the building.

On a positive note, Bridgestone Tires purchased the vacant site next to the Tore and Luke’s restaurant and is expected to seek approval for its proposal within the next couple of months.

Further north, the Arlington Toyota dealership at Rand and Hicks roads has been doing well since opening last year, Ottesen said, and was granted a request to demolish the former self-serve carwash to make room for more inventory.

Hoping to move farther south on Rand Road is Las Adas Liquor, which will come before the council next week with a proposal to relocate into a storefront in the Chicago Clock Tower shopping center just north of Dundee Road.

The zoning board of appeals recommended against allowing the move, citing the Teddy’s Liquors located just 600 feet away and the adjacent neighborhood, which recently spoke out and swayed the council not to allow a tattoo studio in a nearby strip mall.