Unidentified Robber Steals $70 Jordans Off Victim's Feet: Police

An unknown suspect pressed a 'hard object' against the back of a 20-year-old Oak Forest man's head near the Metra station at 159th Street and Cicero Avenue before taking off with the victim's Nike shoes and $200 in cash, police report.

An Oak Forest man who said he was held up by what he thought was a gun near the 159th Street and Cicero Avenue Metra station annex parking lot was robbed of his shoes, according to a report. The 20-year-old told Oak Forest police he got off the 9:55 p.m. train Friday, April 26, and was walking north on the sidewalk between 157th and 158th streets when he felt a hard object pressed against the back of his head. READ: Patch Looks at Oak Forest Police Calls in March, Ward by Ward The suspect told the man to "give that s--- up," according to the report. The victim told police he believed the object against the back of his head was a gun and gave the suspect $200 in cash. The suspect then asked the man to lay down, while he removed the victim's…

•  8 Comments
• Photos (1)

Heads Up, Commuters: Construction on Metra Station Begins Monday

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 …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

City Aims for Revitalization, Beginning with Apartment Buildings

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…

•  6 Comments
• Photos (1)

Richard Simon

12:44 am on Saturday, February 2, 2013

I will not support rental housing. Condos or Town Houses es.   more ›

Careful! Parking at Metra Lot Changed for Construction

Construction on the new Oak Forest Metra Station is going to cause parking at the current Metra Station to change drastically starting Nov. 26. The main lot will be mostly closed, with parking moved to three adjacent lots.

Parking Changes Coming to Oak Forest Metra Station

Construction on the new Oak Forest Metra Station is going to cause parking at the current Metra Station to change drastically on Monday, Nov. 26. The main lot will be mostly closed, with parking moved to three adjacent lots.

Parking at the Metra station on 159th Street in Oak Forest will be a bit trickier starting Nov. 26, as the main lot is shut down due to the construction of the new Metra station at the location. The new station, which broke ground on Oct. 25, is expected to be completed in the Spring of 2013. In the meantime, commuters who take the train are going to have to deal with parking in new spots in three adjacent lots to the station. Handicapped commuters will have spaces 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 …

• Photos (1)

City to Break Ground on New Metra Station Thursday

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 …

•  7 Comments
• Photos (1)

Local 'Morning Bartender' Makes Commuters' Days

If you ride the Metra on weekday mornings, you've most likely met Randy Nicklaus. And he's probably had your coffee ready and waiting. Patch caught up with the guy most Oak Forest residents say makes the best cup of coffee in town.

Randy Nicklaus has a remarkable memory. Give him a week of making your coffee, and on the eighth time, he'll hand you what want, no order necessary. Customers say it's what makes him the best around, and what keeps people coming back to his truck parked outside the Metra station at 159th and Cicero. "He knows his customers, many of them by name," said customer of 20 years Angelo Luciano, an Oak Forest resident who commutes to the city for work. "I complain to him all the time that he's underpaid." A cup of Nicklaus's creation goes for $1. A breakfast sandwich might cost $2 or $2.50. Starting the day off on the right foot is worth it to commuters. "We can depend on Randy better than the trains," said Bev Smith, Tinley Park resident. After …

•  15 Comments
• Photos (2)

Construction on New Metra Station Expected to Begin in Spring

The new, $3-million station will include a warming shelter, bike racks and more and will be made possible by two grants.

Commuters can expect to see the beginnings of a new Metra station this spring, according to the City of Oak Forest.  The new train station will have significant architectural details and elongated canopies with prominent columns and integrated landscaping. It will include a warming shelter, bike parking, restroom facilities, indoor/outdoor seated waiting areas, and a geothermal heating system—one of many environmentally friendly features.  The city received $1 million from the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association as part of a 50/50 Surface Transportation Program grant and $1.3 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation to build the train station.

•  5 Comments
• Photos (1)

Oak Forest Plans for $3 Million Metra Station

With a recent $1.3 million grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation, Oak Forest has acquired $2 million of the $3.4 million needed to complete the new Metra station at 159th and Cicero.

With the help of a $1.3 million grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation, Oak Forest is now $2 million closer to a new and improved Metra station. The U.S. Department of Transportation announced last week that it awarded the City of Oak Forest $1.3 million to build a new Metra train station at 159th Street and Cicero Avenue. The city said it will need $3.4 million to complete the project. Administrators will apply for additional grants for the remaining funds. “We are extremely grateful for the widespread support we have received for this project,” said Community Development Director Adam Dotson. “Several legislators and regional organizations have been working diligently on our behalf.” As part of its grant application to the …

• Photos (1)

Oak Forest Metra Station to Benefit from $1.3 Million Grant

The U.S. Department of Transportation will dole out the funds to the Illinois Department of Transportation, for improvements to the 50-year-old station at 159th and Cicero Avenue.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced Saturday that the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded the Illinois Department of Transportation a $1.3 million grant for the modernization of the Oak Forest Metra Rail Station.   “Today’s funding for the [Oak] Forest Metra Station will increase the appeal of public transit as an affordable, reliable, environmentally friendly alternative to car travel,” said Durbin. “Bringing these changes to the station will spur economic development in [Oak] Forest and surrounding communities.”   Metra’s Oak Forest Station, located on two highways, Route 50 (Cicero Ave.) and Route 6 (159th St.), is the second busiest Rock Island District Line stop. Nearly 1,500 commuters use the station every day, and 23 …

•  3 Comments
• Photos (1)