Work on the infrastructure that will support plans for the redevelopment of downtown Mundelein is scheduled to begin next week.
The final plat for the 10.5-acre village hall subdivision, recently approved by the village board, includes plans for a new village hall, a park area, and additional lots for new businesses and restaurants.
“We are on schedule and where we want to be,” said Village Administrator John Lobaito.
Installation of utilities and construction on the sewers, sidewalks and streets is expected to continue until winter and be mostly completed this year.
Work will begin again in the spring.
The new village hall is in the design stage. In November, the village board will consider a $10 million construction proposal. If approved, the village will break ground in Spring 2013. The building is expected to be completed in 2014.
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Mundelein is partnering on the project with Weston Solutions, which is moving its regional office to Mundelein and will lease from the village the building’s second floor.
In addition, Lobaito said, the building is also being funded by development impact fees collected by the village and tax increment finance district revenues.
“We’re not asking the taxpayers for a penny,” Lobaito said.
The new village hall is to be built near the Metra train station near Hawley Street, east of Seymour Avenue. It is projected to be the anchor of a revitalized downtown, Lobaito said.
“We’re not just building the village hall just because we need a new hall, although the (current) building doesn’t meet our needs anymore,” he said. “It just isn’t functional for a community moving forward. We have one entire department that has been (operating out of a) trailer for more than 15 years.
“The reason we’re building it is to entice and encourage additional private investment. The village is saying, ‘We’re putting more skin in the game. We’re making a commitment to be downtown, and we think it’s good for others to be down here, too. We’re creating an entirely new vision for the community.”
Weston’s office in the new village hall will employ 40 full-time employees. The company will have development rights on two parcels of land near the village hall.
Weston Vice President Scott Springer called the arrangement with Mundelein “the sweet spot” for the company.
“We consider ourselves community rebuilders,” he said. “This exactly the kind of project we seek out.”
The company is also in partnership with North Chicago on 40 acres across from the Naval Station Great Lakes, he said.
The economy, Springer said, makes this kind of partnership necessary.
“That said,” he added, “It is (Mundelein’s) vision and careful administration of their resources that is making this possible in this challenging market. They are an incredibly-run municipality and planning for the long term. We have a great partner in Mundelein.”