Park Forest, IL—(ENEWSPF)— The 211th Street Metra Station and surrounding area may undergo large renovations, pending the finalization of the planning process. Members of the Village Board, Plan Commission, and Economic Development Advisory Group met last week with representatives from HNTB Companies and Metra to discuss the 211th Street Metra Station Transit-Oriented Development Study.
The station, located at Lincoln Highway and Olympian Way, is on the border of Matteson, Park Forest, and Olympia Fields, with each municipality responsible for their section.
The current draft of the plan for the Park Forest side would include an area of retail, condominiums and office space along the corner of Lincoln Highway and Indiana Street. The plan also includes improvements to the design of the station, landscaping and a two level parking structure. The total proposed price of redeveloping the area is $34.7 million.
The Village of Park Forest is hosting a funding partnership summit on Thursday, July 26 from 8 – 10 a.m. in Freedom Hall. The main purpose is to present the final concept development plan to elected officials, political representatives, funding agencies, and potential developers to spark discussion and direction for the project's funding and implementation opportunities.
Plan Commission Chairman Doug Price said the area around the station is underused and an opportunity for the village.
“We are always looking for new sources of commercial development and the sales taxes that come from it,” Price said.
Price described the potential commercial area currently as 2/3 underused and 1/3 empty.
Joe Clemens, senior planner with HNTB said the planning process is about 95 percent finished, and the next step will be plan adoption. Economic development coordinator Sandra Zoellner said the plan may be up for vote in about eight weeks.
The final public meeting for Park Forest was held July 17. There will be additional meetings in Olympia Fields and Matteson.
The full plan can be found on the Village of Park Forest website.
Proposed area of redevelopment. (Graphic: VOPF)
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