Romeoville signs deal for downtown redevelopment
By Brock A. Stein For The Herald-News October 18, 2012 4:10PM
Updated: October 18, 2012 9:38PM
ROMEOVILLE — Village officials have hired a firm to launch the first phase of the downtown redevelopment.
Village administrator Steve Gulden said Harbour Contractors Inc. will oversee pre-construction services for the first phase of the redevelopment of the Spartan Square retail site near Illinois 53 on the village’s east side.
Under the terms of the agreement the village will pay the firm $14,000 per month, up to $70,000. An additional 4.25 percent fee will be paid for onsite supervision and other services, Gulden said.
Gulden said the deal was similar to the agreement the village had with the contractor for the new village hall.
The first phase of the redevelopment of the nearly 10-acre site will be the construction of a 23,000-square-foot sports and community center. Future plans for the area include a 65,000-square-foot grocery store and other retail outlots.
After nearly 10 years of planning, Mayor John Noak said that it was heartening to see construction set to begin soon on the area.
“This is the first real construction phase for the downtown reconstruction,” he said, noting that funding for the work would come from the area’s tax increment financing district.
“It’s a very exciting time,” he said.
The recreation center will feature two basketball courts, classroom space, an open area with artificial turf, and concession areas. Under the agreement with the developer, the village will get to program three days of use at the center each week.
In other business, the village approved an economic development agreement with the developer of a proposed Sam’s Club near an existing Wal-Mart at Airport and Weber Roads.
Under the agreement with Sam’s West Inc., the village will refund a total of $4.5 million in sales taxes to the retailer.
Sam’s would begin receiving yearly payments from the village totaling less than $400,000 per year or 50 percent of the total sales tax revenue once the store opens. Under the agreement, the store must open between December 1, 2013, and May 10, 2014, in order to qualify for the incentive.
