Letter to the Editor: Prairie View Plaza TIF

Thanks to Morton Grove’s administration and staff for holding a community meeting about the proposed redevelopment of the Dempster/Waukegan area for us who wanted to hear about the proposed changes to Prairie View Plaza. 

Information was presented by Village staff, TIF specialist and the shopping center’s leasing agent. Residents learned that the 40-plus year old deteriorating buildings have accounted for excessive vacancies and lack of growth and the owners feel major changes must take place to draw new retailers and more customers. The owners would like to demolish and rebuild the center in stages; raising the elevation of the property and moving the buildings back 30 feet to make room for more parking. Metropolitan Water Reclamation District rules mean a retention pond would have to be added on the site to collect storm water now running off into the forest preserve.  

I was happy the presenters took questions from residents and answered them as best they could. The meeting was filmed so those not there will be able to watch it on cable. This shows me that the Village wants input from residents because a project of this size affects so many. Developing this much land has huge implications for all residents of our village. This is an opportunity to take a center that has seen better days and fix it for the future. It could be a “showplace” that benefits all our residents with new places to shop and bring additional sales tax revenue. The intersection of Dempster and Waukegan is one of the busiest in Illinois. New customers driving by a renewed center on a daily basis would bring new vitality to this area – something that has not been seen in decades.  

Dale Senensky

Morton Grove Resident