Mayor's Message - Fall / Winter 2016

Fall Greetings to all of you. Like all of you we are preparing for the challenges that winter brings, the leaves clogging the storm drains, the snow making travel treacherous and the deep freeze that brings all sorts of physical challenges. My pledge to you is that my Staff stands ready to handle all of these challenges and if you need emergency assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the Village Hall! We have been very busy these past few months as we Move Glenwood Forward. The annexation process for T&J Meats is complete. The owners are hard at work finalizing their plans for an expansion to a full grocery line that will include visible enhancements to the property that serves as a “Front Door” to our community. We welcome the Lilovich Family to Glenwood and will work diligently with them to assure an improved site for years to come.

The Town Center Plaza has seen a flurry of activity the past few months as we worked tirelessly with the owners and prospective tenants to fill the vacant spaces. I ask that you take time to visit the new merchants and patronize them. Small business will not flourish in our community unless we make every effort to “buy local” and support the business people who have chosen to locate here in Glenwood! Emporium Liquors has moved a storefront east and completely remodeled making room for the Food Hub, a full service grocer with a fresh deli, meat market and produce section. Stop in and they will cook your food on site to take home! Krazy Hog BBQ brings the best in barbeque fare to their new store, dine in or carry out. Mias Café is set to open in the coming weeks for a relaxing venue to enjoy your leisure time. A-1 Grille carries a full line of prepared food, snacks and sandwiches. Arrenello’s Pizza continues to be a staple in the center and supply high quality Pizza and Italian Cuisine via carry out and delivery. They have been strong supporters of the Village for many years and I would like to thank the Matokars for their dedication to our town! Chole’s Mexican food is known far and wide for their excellent Mexican food offerings at very reasonable prices! I encourage you to try Chole’s. Plans are in the works to relocate the Allstate Insurance Agency and the Planet Green Cremation, Inc. to new store fronts in the plaza, thus freeing up space in the west building for the expansion of the Little Scholars Child Development Center. The Daycare Center is growing by leaps and bounds. Remodeling has begun on a Tee Shirt and Embroidery store that will locate in the east end of the former Byron’s Bicycle Shop.

I have established a business person’s committee to enhance the presence of our business leaders in helping to determine their needs and wants as we continue to grow our local business base. This group has met several times and has taken on the name of “The Glenwood Business Coalition – GBC”. Similar to local Chambers of Commerce, such as the Homewood Area Chamber of Commerce of which we and many of the businesses are members. This group will concentrate on the issues that are unique to a Glenwood business. It will not only identify their challenges, but have a voice in determining how the concerns can be positively addressed. The meetings are held monthly and will be hosted at different businesses to showcase what we have to offer right here in Glenwood.

The redevelopment of the Glenwood Plaza site continues to consume the majority of our time. You have seen demolition begin and signage improved. Behind the scenes we are working feverishly to provide a roadmap to total development that will allow us to expand the tax base to its maximum while providing the types of venues that you have been asking for. Please visit our website, www.villageofglenwood.com to watch the progress on the Halsted Plaza Redevelopment Timeline. While there are many technical details to work out, it is our goal to begin the revitalization during the winter months. I will be mailing a complete update on this process in the very near future to each resident.

The storm sewer system construction to alleviate overland flooding in the Old Glenwood Neighborhood is nearing completion. This is a project that has been ongoing all summer. Once completed this new line will connect any of the existing sewer lines directly to the creek and will allow us to expand the grid system in the future. Paving and restoration work is all that is left to be completed with the first phase of the project. It will be finished before winter settles in. Thanks for your patience during this project.

The intersection of 187^th and Halsted Streets has been rehabilitated to allow for a right turn lane for westbound cars on 187^th Street onto Halsted Street. This improvement will enhance the flow of traffic through the area and cut down on backups. This project was completed using IDOT Funding.

Work continues on the development of the site for the arrival of KLLM Trucking next to the NICOR property on Glenwood-Chicago Heights Road. In our Industrial North TIF, Little DebbieSnack Cakes has completed construction of their new distribution center on Holbrook Road as the industrial area continues to expand.

We have successfully completed a process to reinstate an Economic Development Grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce that will reimburse us for the regional detention pond and roadway improvements in the Industrial Park. This was a very complex process that included State and Federal parameters that had to be met. While the award has been granted, we are working closely with the US DOC to initiate payment.

The completion of the Hickory Glen Park renovation has provided us all with a park to be truly proud of, a park for all seasons, a park for everyone! Staff is currently working on a plan that will allow us to rehabilitate the Estates Park and Callahan-Strand Park in the spring. Once I have all the details I will be asking for citizen input to complete the design.

In closing, I would like to wish you a most joyous holiday season. Please take advantage of all that Glenwood has to offer you! I stand ready to serve you as we “Move Glenwood Forward”!