Residents, Neighbors Still Split on New Outdoor Mall Development

The room capacity was nearly breached at , when several residents and neighbors showed up to oppose the already-approved outdoor mall development on the property of the former Evergreen Country Club.

In June, The village purchased the other section of the former golf course through a state grant and will preserve it for recreational green space. Plans include a sledding hill, dog park, dog wading pools, agricultural area, putting area and a gazebo.

Many of the concerns expressed by the audience, which included residents of Evergreen Park and neighbors from across the street in Beverly, revolved around traffic issues, safety of children walking near the development, jobs, green space and existing vacant retail space in the village.

The project boasts bringing some 300 jobs to the village. “We need these jobs,” said Tom Ryan, who is president of a Chicago union and lives near Evergreen Park. “We fully endorse it.”  Mayor James Sexton reinforced, saying, “there are too many union people out of work.”

One resident argued that although the project would bring much-needed jobs to the village in a bad economy with a high unemployment rate, most of those jobs are “not living wage jobs,” and are temporary. He noted that many of the jobs would only last as long as the construction. The Evergreen Park resident insisted that the village is “giving up a tremendous asset by doing what we’re doing.”

A Beverly resident opposed to the project questioned whether the plan was realistic, “given the economic climate for the last two years,” and whether or not the shopping center project would have a long-term impact on the village. Dan Lynch insisted that the project “doesn’t affect Evergreen Park directly, because it’s on (the village’s) borders.” He said that the development is less than 200 yards from his front door. “The long term impact is ill-born and ill-willed,” said Lynch.

Even though the deal has been done for almost four months, other opponents asked Sexton why he and the board didn’t redirect that attention to existing vacant spaces, more specifically, the 60 percent vacant Evergreen Plaza and the lot that’s been bare for almost three years. While according to Sexton, a “group is trying to buy The Plaza’s foreclosure note.” He also said that there are plans on the table for the Webb Ford lot, but declined to share those plans.

There were a few residents, however, who proudly showed support for the development. , an District 321 board of education member,  thanked Trustees for approving the development. Because about 90 percent of the village’s school districts' funding comes from local sources, Trecziak said the development would be a win-win. “I think that’s fantastic…thank you.”

Phillip Rizzo, a lifelong Evergreen Park resident and Evergreen Park police officer also showed support for the development. “I think it’s very beneficial to the community,” said Rizzo. He thanked Sexton and trustees for “keeping taxes down and keeping safety in the community.”

Crews have already began to prepare the land. Sexton said construction should start in full force in 2012.

What do you think? Take our poll.

Although the deal is done, do you think the new mall development and plan for recreational green space will be good for the village?

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