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Lincolnwood, which saw its District 1860 development start coming to fruition in 2023, may turn its attention to the Lincolnwood Town Center in 2024, especially after Mayor Jesal Patel revealed a key development for the mall. Here are the mayor’s thoughts on what could happen this year.

Lincolnwood Town Center

More than two years after the Lincolnwood Town Center went into foreclosure in the midst of the pandemic, Patel said the mall has a potential buyer that could close on the sale of the mall in 2024.

Lincolnwood Town Center.
Lincolnwood Town Center.

The two million square foot mall went into foreclosure in 2021, according to previous reporting.

In 2022, the Village Board and an advisory committee, which is made up of various Village Board and commission members, plus representatives of the mall’s ownership and management group charged with re-envisioning the future of the property, gave input for three concept plans for a mixed-use mall.

All three concepts offer possibilities for a mixed-use site and commercial uses plus some residential use, but trustees at that time indicated they preferred a small residential component, according to previous reporting.

Parks

In 2023, Lincolnwood floated ideas for its village’s Park and Recreation department to develop a full-fledged community center with sports courts, fitness programming, meeting rooms, and event space.

According to the minutes of the November Park and Recreation Board Meeting, the department is also considering adding dog parks in which dogs would be allowed to run and play without a leash. The Lincolnwood staff evaluated Arthur M. Goebelt Park, Charles L. O’Brien Park, Drake Park and G.G. Rowell Park to consider them for dog parks between 318 square feet and 566 square feet.

Centennial Park emerged as the preferred location for a proposed dog park for a majority of the attendees at a May 1 meeting.
Centennial Park emerged as the preferred location for a proposed dog park for a majority of the attendees at a May 1 meeting.

Staff recommended that dog owners who use the dog-friendly areas pay an additional fee, separate from a $4 and $8 dog license, to help pay for the installation, upkeep and maintenance for those areas.

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Before the start of the 2024 season at Proesel Park Family Aquatic Center, three new diving boards and fulcrums will be installed at the pool, according to an annual report of the aquatic center.

District 1860

In November, Fat Rosie’s Taco and Tequila Bar was the first of three restaurants to open its doors at District 1860, a mixed-use development on the site of the former Purple Hotel near Touhy and Lincoln Avenues in Lincolnwood. LensCrafters became the first retail space to set up shop at the development.

At Lincolnwood's District 1860 development, some residents have begun moving in and one restaurant has opened.
At Lincolnwood’s District 1860 development, some residents have begun moving in and one restaurant has opened.

Plans also call for District 1860 to host hundreds of apartments, two hotels and a grocery store. Patel said he expects the development to be at full occupancy in 2025.

Roads

In 2024, Lincolnwood will also have its fair share of road improvement projects around the village’s main roads, according to Patel.

Devon Avenue. Most of the traffic on Devon between Crawford and Cicero Avenues will be limited to one lane each way while construction takes place.

Devon Avenue will also get streetlights and added landscaping between Lincoln Avenue and McCormick Avenue and a pedestrian refuge for crossings at the post office.

Touhy and Cicero Avenues. The intersection of Touhy and Cicero will be widened to ease eastbound traffic congestion for drivers exiting I-94.