The Orland Park Village Board, with the assistance of a consultant, examined strategies to encourage development in four selected areas as part of a comprehensive plan review. These areas include the Old Orland Historic District, Gateway to LaGrange District, Harlem Avenue Corridor, and I-80 Employment Corridor, along with plans for a new downtown.
Mayor Jim Dodge emphasized the long-term vision, stating, “This is Orland’s destiny. It’ll take 20 years, but it’s Orland’s destiny.” The urban planning and design firm Houseal Levigne will gather feedback from board members, local businesses, and residents through community meetings and an online survey. The village aims to finalize the plan by next summer.
Board members were tasked with identifying issues for each area. For the Old Orland Historic District, the priorities included updating properties and balancing preservation with development. The district’s strengths, such as its central location and unique atmosphere, were also noted.
“It has a charm that’s lacking in other subdivisions, because of the age of the structures,” board member Cynthia Katsenes commented.
Regarding the I-80 Employment and Harlem Avenue corridors, board members expressed interests in attracting different types of development. Michael Milani reflected on past failures to attract corporate offices to I-80, suggesting a new identity for the area amidst the rise in remote working.
Discussion occurred around the potential for a data center in the area, with differing opinions from Katsenes and Milani. Katsenes expressed concerns about proximity to housing, while Milani viewed data centers as beneficial for tax revenue compared to warehouses.
“We have a lot of key areas where we could have one where no one would ever hear it,” Milani proposed.
Dodge anticipated further input on development ideas, particularly for the downtown triangle. The village plans to present its proposal, part of a tax increment financing district, at an upcoming board meeting.
“I’m thrilled for the process, because it forced the board in a nonformal way to share ideas,” Dodge remarked. “And then it’ll be interesting to see what kind of feedback we get from the residents.”