While Facebook
posts about the Wild Buffalo, the new restaurant at the Buffalo Grove Golf
Course seem to dominate, if not captivate, many people, it’s not the most
significant event in the village.
While it is a
welcome addition to the village’s restaurant scene, Buffalo Grove officials
continue to examine future retail development.
Which is why
tonight’s open house on the Lake Cook Corridor Market Study and Plan is an
important event. It will run from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Community Arts Center, 255
McHenry Road.
It’s the second
opportunity for residents to learn about plans for development of the Lake
Corridor. The first, held in February,
was a SRO event during which residents had the chance to hear from village
staff about economic development in Buffalo Grove.
What’s different
about tonight’s meeting is that there will not
be formal presentations. Instead,
residents will have the opportunity to ask village staff about the current
status of economic development plans and what lies ahead.
Make a note – you
probably won’t learn about what’s going into the old Dominick’s at Arlington
Heights and Lake-Cook roads, nor will you get a definitive answer about the
future of the concrete open space known as Town Center. That’s because the village does not control
those sites, nor is it in the leasing business.
Like so many other
people, village officials can only hope
there will be some movement on both fronts.
Tonight’s soiree focuses
on future development. Lake-Cook Road takes front and center because in many
ways it is the heart of the village. That does not diminish the importance of
other areas, including the Dundee Road corridor or Milwaukee Avenue. Both are
on the village’s radar for economic development. Information on the Lake Cook
Corridor Market Study and other economic development information can be found
at Lake Cook Corridor Market Study.
It’s also
important to realize that economic development extends beyond retail. Buffalo
Grove has one of the highest rates of industrial and office usage in Lake
County. In fact, an estimated 20,000 people work in Buffalo Grove. A goal, say
village economic development staff members, is to capture some of those 20,000
so they shop and eat in the village.
Needless to say,
it’s an ongoing challenge, and one which will not be developed and/or resolved
overnight.
Which is why input
from residents at events like tonight is so important.
