ILLINOIS SITE FIGHT: TINLEY PARK CELEBRATES WAL-MART DEFEAT

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Tinley Park residents rejoice that Wal-Mart backed out [SouthTown Star (Ill.)]

As a public works employee in Sauk Village, Dave Overocker digs ditches, fixes water pipes and makes sure sewers are flowing properly.

Years of hard work helped Overocker and his family save enough cash to buy a home two years ago in Brookside Glen, the largest subdivision in Tinley Park where homes go for nearly $400,000.

A 24-hour Wal-Mart Supercenter was the last thing Overocker wanted near his back door.

“That particular style of retailer ... it’ll bring your property value down,” said Overocker, whose back yard looks out on a sod farm that was slated for massive development. “I’m sorry. It just will. Nothing against (Wal-Mart).”

Overocker was rejoicing Thursday at news that Chicago-based Aetna Development Corp. withdrew its application last week to build a 370,000-square-foot retail center anchored by a 24-hour Wal-Mart.

Also see: Tinley Park, IL. Wal-Mart Gives Up Superstore Dream For Sod Farm [Battle-Mart Blog]

The project, Prairie View Crossings, was to be built on 83 acres of what now is a sod farm at the southwest corner of 191st Street and Harlem Avenue. The project included more than a dozen outlots that would have fronted 191st Street and Harlem Avenue.

A commercial development eventually will be built on that land, maybe even another big-box store, Tinley Park Mayor Ed Zabrocki said.

That’s fine with Overocker, he said. But he envisions a bookstore, such as Borders, or other high-end businesses with quaint architecture.

“I just keep my fingers crossed whatever goes in there will be more classy,” Overocker said, adding that he wants Tinley Park leaders to extend the vintage feel of the community’s downtown area, which is lined with mom-n-pop shops, to the west side of town.

Aetna and Wal-Mart worked for more than two years with Tinley Park to develop their project.

Wal-Mart is the largest retailer in the world. It grossed $374.5 billion in sales last year, according to the company. It’s the type of store where shoppers trying to save a buck or two can buy everything at once, such as spaghetti sauce, clothes and a bouncy ball.

Richard Kavanagh, an attorney representing Aetna, has stressed the project would have generated about $40 million in sales tax revenue and $27 million in property tax revenue for Tinley Park during its first 20 years.

But several Brookside Glen residents wanted no part of it. A few even hired an attorney to fight it.

The main sticking point - Wal-Mart was too close to their back yards and might cause an increase in crime.

Most recently in June, the Tinley Park plan commission did not vote on the project but commended Aetna and Wal-Mart for moving the big-box store toward the center of the property so it would be at least 350 feet from houses. A detention pond would have buffered homes from the back of the store.

Commissioners said they still were concerned about the eight entrances and exits proposed for the shopping center. Brookside Marketplace, a bustling outdoor mall across 191st Street, has two, they emphasized.

“The village can’t always do whatever everybody wants, but I think if they do have contact with residents ... they’re more likely to understand what we’re looking for,” said Steve Reed, who created http://www.tinleypark1st.wordpress.com in March to rally against Aetna’s proposal.

Aetna president George Hanus still plans to develop some land along Harlem Avenue. He’s submitted a petition to Tinley Park asking the village to rezone about five acres around Harlem and Oak Park avenues and north of 194th Street from single-family residential to general business and commercial, village manager Scott Niehaus said.

The plan commission likely won’t review Hanus’ newest proposal until late November or early December, planning director Amy Connolly said. The village board would have to approve the zoning change.

If approved, Hanus could build a bed and breakfast, a frozen food locker or a performing arts theater on the site, according to a list of uses permitted in a Tinley Park general business and commercial district. Hanus did not return a phone call for comment.

Posted by Luke West on Friday, September 26, 2008