Local News

Homewood board to consider preliminary step in new downtown economic development project

Homewood trustees will have an opportunity on Tuesday to take a preliminary step toward redeveloping the village hall parking lot.

The move comes two weeks after trustees approved the purchase of another downtown site at 2066 Ridge Road to make it available for redevelopment.

At the regular meeting Tuesday, May 24, trustees will consider a measure to invite alternate bids and proposals for the sale and development of the parking lot property at 2024 Chestnut Road, a required step before entering into an agreement with developer HCF Homewood.

The firm has expressed interest in building a five-story, 59-unit building on what has been a village operated commuter parking lot. The firm currently is overseeing the construction of the Hartford Building at Ridge Road and Martin Avenue in downtown Homewood.

The property currently is tax exempt, so selling it for commercial development will return it to the property tax rolls and contribute to the village’s goal of increasing population density in the downtown area, according to village officials.

The board also will consider whether to allow the Homewood Science Center to sublease portions of its space. The science center has received a one-year sublease request from the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana.

There will be two presentations at the meeting — one from the Homewood-Flossmoor High School’s The Inside Out Project and another introducing new Homewood Farmers Market Manager Nicole Fisher. 

In other business, the board will consider:

  • A parking variance for a barbershop at 18159 Dixie Highway.
  • Granting a class 4A liquor license to Culture, a restaurant and entertainment establishment at 18031 Dixie Highway. The business was closed for several months to build out a kitchen. Culture plans to reopen Friday, May 27.

The meeting will start at 7 p.m. in the village hall board room, 2020 Chestnut Road.

The meeting also can be attended remotely by visiting https://zoom.us. Select: “join a meeting” from the menu at the top right of the page. Use meeting ID 980 4907 6232 and password 830183. To listen to the meeting via phone, dial 312-626-6799 and login with the above ID and password followed by #.

In addition to public comment opportunities during the meeting, residents can send their views to [email protected] or by placing written comments in the drop box outside village hall. Any comments submitted before 4 p.m. on the meeting date will be distributed to all trustees prior to the meeting.

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