Mount Prospect adding new park to downtown revival

Mount Prospect's downtown is undergoing significant changes, with plans for a six-story apartment building on the long-dormant Busse Triangle, a $7 million rowhome project and redevelopment of the current police and fire headquarters.

Now the village is adding new open space to the mix, with last week's purchase of two properties across from village hall from a member of one of Mount Prospect's founding families.

Plans are to demolish the homes at 19 and 21 S. Emerson St. to create a municipal park named Edwin and Elsie (Meyn) Busse Park.

The park also will feature a bench or plaque in honor of Wallace E. Busse and Marion Busse, the former owners of both homes.

The village acquired the homes for a combined $850,000, using funds from the Prospect and Main tax increment financing district.

Community Development Director William Cooney said the properties, owned by the Busse family for decades, have been in the village's sights for years.

They sit near the intersection of Busse Avenue and Emerson Street, home to several village festivals, and officials have long sought space for a small park to complement those events, Cooney said.

"With the potential redevelopment of the 111 E. Busse property, the Chase Bank building as it is known by many, the area that we have for those festivals is going to most likely be reduced in some format, if a full redevelopment takes place at that time," he said. "Having these properties on the corner really gives us that opportunity to further those downtown events, which are very popular throughout the community."

With the death last year of Gary Busse, Wallace and Marion's son, the properties become available for purchase.

"It has been on our radar for a long, long time," Mayor Arlene Juracek said. "It is unfortunate that it was a death in the family, but we are fortunate that the Busse family was willing to work with us. They worked with us tremendously during the (Mount Prospect) Centennial, and this is just a nice cap to that relationship."

"Amidst all the potential development that's going on downtown, I'm thrilled that we actually have an opportunity to provide more green space," Trustee Michael Zadel said.

According to the Mount Prospect Historical Society, Edwin Busse lived at 21 S. Emerson St. and ran Busse Market out of the building at the corner of Northwest Highway and Emerson. The building later became the home of Annen and Busse Realty.

Edwin Busse also served as the village clerk from 1924 through 1941, was a member of the Mount Prospect Volunteer Fire Department for 43 years and served on the board of Elementary School District 57. He was married to Elsie Meyn, with whom he had two children, Edward J. and Wallace E. Busse.