Friday, February 22, 2013
Metra riders will have to adjust some of their habits, as construction gets underway on Oak Forest's Metra station at 159th and Cicero. Work begins Feb. 25 and is expected to last six months.
Oak Forest commuters, be ready for some changes starting Monday morning. Platform #1 cannot be used during construction, and pedestrians should use the center pedestrian walk located south of 158th, near the station. The two crossings east of the station will be out of service. Parking at the station became a bit trickier in November, as the main lot was shut down. Handicapped spaces were consolidated to the west side of the current station, with a new accessibility ramp near the west stairs. Daily handicapped parking payment can be made at the payment box near the parking area. For all other daily commuters, parking is being moved to lots on Oak Street, 157th Street and Waverly Avenue. The new $3.4 million Metra station was expected to …
Friday, February 1, 2013
Two recently purchased apartment buildings near the Oak Forest Metra station are the first step in a larger plan by the city to revitalize the area around the station. The city council approved the purchase of the buildings Jan. 22.
Two apartment buildings recently purchased by the city of Oak Forest are the first step in the city's broader plan to reestablish interest in the flagging area around the Oak Forest Metra station, officials told Patch. The plan is designed to attract new businesses and residents, according to Director of Community Development, Adam Dotson. “The city's intention is to improve the housing stock around the train station,” Dotson said. During a Jan. 22 meeting, aldermen approved the purchase of a 16-unit building at 15659 S. Lamon Avenue and a 24-unit building at 4820 W. 157th Street for $475,000 and $744,000, respectively. “Today, is the day that we've made the decision, or we will make a decision, whether to go one way or another, is to tell…
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Dotty's, a country-style kitchen restaurant, was approved for a liquor license at the city council's Jan. 8 meeting. The business is currently under review by the building commission and continues to move towards opening soon.
A new restaurant in Oak Forest took another step towards completion at the Oak Forest city council meeting Jan. 8, as the council approved a liquor license for Dotty's, 6070 W. 159th Street. The council approved the move in a unanimous vote, 7–0. According to Community Development Director Adam Dotson, Dotty's is a country-style kitchen with video gambling terminals. He added that the council's approval was only one step in the process towards getting the establishment fully into Oak Forest. “They do have a building permit application in, in the building department,” he said. “They're having their plans reviewed at this moment. But, in order for them to move forward they do need a liquor license approval at this moment.” Dotson added that …
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Despite concerns over patron age, alcohol and security, Oxygen Teen Nite Club passed through the city council, after heated discussion and design of requirements.
A proposed teen and young adult dance club is one step closer to opening in Oak Forest—but not before the owner meets several requirements set by the city. After nearly an hour of discussion, Aldermen Laura Clemons and Dan Ensing were steadfast against the plan, which received nods from the five others present. Patron age, alcohol and security topped the list of concerns, and aldermen established several conditions owner James Marcanio will have to meet before the club for 16- to 22-year-olds can open its doors. Prior to building permit approval, Marcanio must submit a parking agreement between Oxygen Teen Nite Club and neighboring Original Pancake House. Marcanio must submit a standard operational procedure safety manual for police …
Friday, November 2, 2012
The former Community Motors car dealership, 5800 W. 159th Street, might be home to a new business in the near future. The space currently is listed by Groebe Action Real Estate Services for $2.4 million.
Oak Forest could soon have a new business along 159th Street, should things continue moving in a positive direction between the city and a currently unnamed interested business. Community Development Director Adam Dotson and Assistant Community Development Director Dave Newquist have confirmed that the city has an interested party considering the former Community Motors Dealership location, 5800 W. 159th Street. Both Dotson and Newquist said that while talks are still ongoing, a finalized deal could be in the near future. “It's been a long road, but we might have something done soon,” Newquist said. Although neither would go into specifics about the business interested, due to the tentative nature , they were optimistic about the space …
41.602827
-87.761179
5800 W 159th St, Oak Forest, IL
/articles/new-business-circling-former-community-motors-location
/locations/8090457
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Oak Forest officials will break ground at the site of the new Oak Forest Metra Station on Thursday, Oct. 25. The station is scheduled to be completed by the spring of 2013.
The City of Oak Forest is set to break ground on a long-anticipated, brand new Metra station on Thursday, Oct. 25. The new station will be located in nearly the same spot as the current Oak Forest Metra Station, 4850 W. 159th Street, although it will offer substantially more to commuters upon its completion. “The kiss-and-ride area, where there is a looped drive, that is where the new train station will be,” said Oak Forest Community Development Director Adam Dotson. The new station will feature a warming shelter, bike parking and lockers, bathroom facilities, and indoor and outdoor seating areas for commuters. Construction costs for the new station will total more than $3 million, with the city footing $1.07 million of the bill. The …
Construction has begun on a new dialysis center. The center is set to open in the Spring of 2013, and will be run by Fresenius Medical Care of North America.
Oak Forest is soon going to be home to a new state-of-the-art kidney dialysis center, as part of the redevelopment of the area near 159th Street and Lorel Avenue. The center, which will be run by Fresenius Medical Care of North America and will feature 12 dialysis stations in the facitility, located at 5340A W. 159th Street. “Our plan has always been to redevelop this area and this is the first step in that process,” said Mayor Hank Kuspa in a press release. “It is an effort to increase the tax base in this city.” This facility should do just that, said Oak Forest Community Development Director Adam Dotson. Dotson said that the facility has been more than 18 months in the making and will be a one-of-a-kind addition in the area. “They're …
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Oak Forest Community Development Director Adam Dotson is a newsmaker this week. He is spearheading an effort for the city to look for more ways to reinvest in the business community.
A move by the City of Oak Forest to buy a former pizza restaurant is one of the ways to the city can help boost a community that is still reeling from the recession, said Community Development Director Adam Dotson. The City Council approved the purchase this week of the former Numero Uno site at 15426 S. Cicero Ave. for $165,000. The next step is to improve the property and make it ready to sell in the hopes that another business moves in. "For the city, this is a great opportunity to show the business community as well as the surrounding area that we do believe Cicero Avenue has the opportunity to turn around," Dotson said. Dotson urged the council to continue looking for ways to invest into the business community to increase the …
Friday, May 25, 2012
Officials say the plan is to buy the property and sell it to a new business after some improvements are made.
The City of Oak Forest is buying up property that once served as a pizza restaurant as part of efforts to boost the city's business base. The City Council approved the purchase Tuesday of the former Numero Uno site at 15426 S. Cicero Ave. for $165,000. The action, according to officials, is the first step in improving the property in the hope a new business moves in. For the past few months, the city has looked for ways to reinvest in the community, said Community Development Director Adam Dotson said. The recession has caused properties to "take a big hit." "For the city, this is a great opportunity to show the business community as well as the surrounding area that we do believe Cicero Avenue has the opportunity to turn around," Dotson …
41.611247
-87.756273
City of Oak Forest
15440 Central Ave, Oak Forest, IL
/articles/city-of-oak-forest-buys-old-numero-uno
1354162
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Thursday, April 12, 2012
Following 10 months of negotiations between the city and developer Net3 Real Estate, LLC, the two sides settled on a $270,000 sale of a piece of land known as "the church parcel," located at 5340 W. 159th Street
It's taken a long time to get rolling, but the City of Oak Forest finally looks to have a buyer for the city-owned land at 5340 W. 159th Street—also known as “the church parcel.” After nearly a year of negotiations with Net3 Real Estate, LLC., the two sides arrived at a $270,000 deal—but the sale must still be approved by both sides' legal teams, and the state. “This particular project is up for state review in June,” said Oak Forest Community Development Director Adam Dotson. “This is only part of the process, this is just the contract to purchase.” The sale was approved by the city council meeting at its April 10, meeting. Net3 Real Estate is expected to develop the land into a medical facility, while leaving the frontage portion of the …
41.611247
-87.756273
City of Oak Forest
15440 Central Ave, Oak Forest, IL
/articles/oak-forest-approves-developer-along-159th-street
1354162
/locations/6783143
Rick T
9:49 am on Friday, February 22, 2013
Will there be access from the north lot? more ›