Dear Grant Applicant:

Oak Park’s Village Board has approved a CPRPP grant budget for 2010.

This letter is for those interested in 2010 grants for first floor commercial building exterior improvements. The Commercial Property Rehabilitation & Preservation Program (CPRPP) is administered by OPDC for the Village of Oak Park.

We will begin accepting applications April 5. Since grant funds are limited, and in order to give all applicants an equal opportunity for the funds, we are unable to accept applications prior to that date.

Grant Applications and Program Guidelines are available for download at www.opdc.net. Click on “financial assistance programs.”

Complete applications are reviewed on a first come, first served basis. Incomplete applications are not eligible for review and will not be accepted until complete. A complete app includes all of the items on the second page of the application listed under “Required for Grant Consideration,” including two LIKE bids for each type of exterior work being considered and design drawings, plans, catalog cuts and/or elevation drawings. Like bids respond to the same set of written specifications you provide to your (sub) contractors, and include substantive details such as sizes, quantities, and materials. An applicant’s review date is determined by the time/date that we have a complete application with all attachments.

Work may not be begun or contracted until you receive a written commitment from the grant review committee. The grant program requires that the low bid prevails. All projects must be begun within 30 days of our commitment to you and must be completed in 2010. Please refer to Program Guidelines for eligible and ineligible expenses. Typical grant eligible expenses include building façade improvement, glass storefront replacement, awnings, signs, exterior building lighting and on glass signage. Ineligible expenses include maintenance or repair, landscaping, patio expenses, parking lot work, and roofing.

If you are aware of other Oak Park businesses needing assistance kindly direct them to me or to our website. I would be happy to answer any questions and I look forward to partnering with you on your project in 2010!

Sincerely,

Michelle J. Uhler

Donna Carroll, President, Dominican University
Bruce Elegant, President & CEO, Rush Oak Park Hospital

This marks the 30th year that we have presented the Nicholas Awards. Tonight, we recognize a company, business owner, developer or property owner that has, in OPDC’s judgment, made a significant commitment to the business community during the past year. Assistance from OPDC, such as a loan or grant, is not a requirement for consideration.

The framed certificate we award pictures the Nicholas Hardware Store on the northwest corner of Westgate and Marion. It was the George Hemingway (uncle of Ernest) Real Estate & Insurance office.

These awards are named to honor Robert E. Nicholas, Oak Park’s pioneer commercial developer during the early 1900s. Mr. Nicholas was an astute business leader, a dedicated director of the former Oak Park Trust and a developer. His developments included Lytton’s, the Fair Department Store and the Westgate area.

The businesses represented by tonight’s recipients invested over $26 Million total and collectively created employment for over 120 people in Oak Park.

The Nicholas Award Recipients for significant investment in 2009 are:

Asian Domestic Authority, 246 Lake Street
Avenue Nail Spa, 129 N. Oak Park Avenue
Barclay’s American Grille, 1120 Pleasant Avenue
The Bleeding Heart Bakery, 1010 North Boulevard
Bruegger’s, 1118 Lake Street
Caroline Rose, 741-45 Madison Street
Compass Eye Care, 603 Madison Street
Divine Consign, 111 N. Oak Park Avenue
Red Hen Bread, 736 Lake Street
Sear’s Pharmacy, 1003 Madison Street
Sen Sushi Bar, 814 S. Oak Park Avenue
Shoe Soko, 111 N. Marion Street
Oak Park Area Visitors Center, 1010 Lake Street
West Suburban Medical Center Emergency Department, 3 Erie Court

Our ongoing thanks and congratulations are extended to each of the 2009 Nicholas Award recipients. Please patronize these and other local businesses and thank them for their continued investment in Oak Park.

July 27, 2009

The Village Board
Village of Oak Park
123 Madison Street
Oak Park, IL 60302

Dear President Pope and Trustees,

At its June 29th Board meeting, the Village Board approved a Redevelopment Agreement with Sertus Capital Partners for the development of the corner of Lake Street and Forest Avenue. Because of Village and OPDC scheduling conflicts the Oak Park Development Corporation did not speak at that meeting nor did it submit a formal public letter regarding the proposed development.

OPDC is well versed on the Lake and Forest development and had a presentation by Sertus Partners’ principal Michael Glazier last fall. We recognize that Lake and Forest is a prime location for development in the central business district of Oak Park. The prospect of 70 additional new residential units, new retail, new restaurant and another hotel will add to the vitality of our entire community.

I am pleased to report that after careful consideration and review at its recent July meeting, the OPDC Board of Directors enthusiastically endorsed the Redevelopment Agreement for the Sertus project at Lake and Forest.

OPDC supports the Village Board’s decision on this project for several reasons:

1. We believe that this, like other significant investments, will serve as a catalyst for further development and an expanded tax base in Oak Park. In these uncertain and difficult economic times, it is laudable that an enterprise like Sertus Capital Partners would commit to invest in and build an estimated $85 million development.
2. It is appropriate and forward-thinking that the Village Board invests in a project of this magnitude. We have reviewed the break-even projections of the public investment and project financial analyses and find them to reasonably state the expected return within the time assumed. Of course, the longer return on investment will benefit all taxing authorities for years to come.
3. The structure of the redevelopment agreement requires performance by the developer and mitigates the Village’s risk. If the project scope is changed, by necessity or market, the Village has the ability to renegotiate or cancel its participation. Further, OPDC commends the Village Board for restricting the contribution of its funds until the conclusion of construction.
4. OPDC has long been a proponent for an additional hotel with meeting space to be located in the central business district and therefore supports the inclusion of a hotel as a key element in the development. It is not unusual to provide some level of incentive for new business. The use of subsidy to assist the hotel in its first two years of operation should be supported by a specific use tax on that hotel which would be used to repay the subsidy.
5. It is a private-public partnership. By including the Village-owned land as a credit to the larger development and sharing its proportional cost of constructing new public spaces, the Village investment brings substantially more benefit for nearly the same cost as replacing the existing deck. This is a parking structure that has been determined to need expensive repair or total replacement within the next 3-5 years; its cost would be borne in any event. This agreement allows for the deck to be rebuilt and with a development around it, while retaining control of the public parking, even in the event of sale of the development.
6. We believe that with good management the parking in the Lake and Forest development is sufficient to market the project, including the 28,000 s.f. of new retail. This development has raised the issue of better utilizing existing parking to meet the needs of customers and employees in downtown Oak Park. We recognize that concerns have been raised about the amount of parking provided in this development. More parking at this site would be preferable but the substantial cost may not support its construction. We understand that the deck at Lake and Forest is not the only new parking being considered in downtown Oak Park.
7. The proposed plan is a bold design with massing that intends to be respectful of long-standing institutions. It is exciting to contemplate a dramatic design on the corner of Lake and Forest. As the plan proceeds through the various commissions and hearings, we trust that architectural decisions will be made that are not only economically feasible for the developer but also enhance the overall architectural experience of the Village. We encourage the Village to provide strict oversight during review and construction to keep the architectural outcome as close to the approved plan as possible.

It is encouraging to see continued interest in Oak Park from developers. They, like we, understand the potential that exists in our vibrant community. The Board should be proud to be contemplating, negotiating and announcing a structure of this size and complexity, particularly at this time in a difficult economic environment. This development needs our attention and support, and, most importantly, our understanding that it is a valuable public-private partnership.

Finally, OPDC appreciates the opportunity to provide counsel on any developments contemplated by the Village. The company welcomes the opportunity to work together for the betterment of our community.

Thank you for your leadership and your thoughtful deliberations on behalf of Oak Park.

Sincerely,

Sara J.R. Faust
President

River Forest, IL – Dominican University’s Brennan School of Business presented the James W. Haugh Award for Entrepreneurship and Ethics in Business to Martin J. Noll, chairman, chief executive officer and founding shareholder of Oak Park River Forest Bankshares, Inc., the holding company for the Community Bank of Oak Park River Forest. Noll was honored during the 2009 Entrepreneurship Breakfast on Tuesday, March 10 in the university’s Parmer Hall.

Marty and his wife, Mary Lou, have been mainstays of the Oak Park/River Forest community for 30 years. He organized Community Bank of Oak Park River Forest in 1996 as a locally-owned and managed financial services institution meeting the needs of individuals, professionals, owners of closely-held businesses and not-for-profit organizations. He began his career in banking in 1965 with American National Bank and Trust Company Chicago (now JP Morgan Chase). He has also served as president and chief executive officer of Avenue Bank of Oak Park (now US Bank), vice president of The First National Bank of Chicago (now JP Morgan Chase), and president and chairman of First Chicago Bank of Oak Park (formerly the Oak Park Trust and Savings Bank).

Mr. Noll has been an active member of many local business organizations and nonprofit boards, serving as a former trustee of the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation and past-president of the Oak Park Education Foundation. He is chairman of the Oak Park Development Corporation, a founding member of the Business and Civic Council of Oak Park and a board member of the Bankers Club of Chicago. Noll also serves as president of the board of West Suburban Sentinel Corporation and is a member of the boards of Dominican University and Resurrection Health Care Foundation. He has also been a member of the board of directors of the Illinois Bankers Association.

The Brennan School of Business created the annual James W. Haugh Award to honor an entrepreneur or other principal in a family-owned business whose achievements reflect the business acumen, dedication to community and personal integrity that marked James Haugh, a member of the Dominican University Board of Trustees for 10 years and a former chairman of the board for three years.

Founded in 1977, the Brennan School of Business has developed a reputation for its focus on global business and international study, its dedication to developing students’ knowledge of entrepreneurial business practices and its commitment to business ethics. The school was named in 2006 in honor of Edward A. Brennan, the late chairman and chief executive officer of Sears, Roebuck and Co., and his wife Lois L. Brennan, an alumna of the university.

Marion Street Cheese Market moved from its original location and expanded in October, 100 S. Marion, 725-7200; the finest in wine, cheese, farm fresh ingredients and microbrews; open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Eastgate Cafe/Gifts & Books 102 Harrison, 660-9091; open for all dining needs, whether early morning coffee or breakfast, lunch or light dinner, including beer or wine. OPDC’s grant covered improvements to the building facade.