This destination strategy is already shaping commercial development. Loves Park is actively courting restaurants, entertainment uses, and hotels to strengthen hospitality options for visitors while also benefiting residents.The city has seen multiple hotel projects move forward, including major national brands such as Home2 Suites, WoodSpring Suites, and a Radisson-affiliated development, with additional lodging interest in the pipeline. In Loves Park’s model, hotel growth is not just an amenity— it is an extension of the revenue ecosystem that supports city services and continues to attract private investment. Infrastructure planning is another key component of making Riverside Commons truly “shovel ready.” Leadership notes that major utilities and core servicing—roads, water, sewer, and fiber access— are largely in place, which reduces barriers for development. One area requiring focused planning, however, is stormwater. Rather than requiring each individual lot to build separate detention, Loves Park is working on a regional stormwater plan that supports the development area as a unified system. This approach preserves developable land for commercial and mixed-use opportunity while allowing stormwater infrastructure to be integrated more thoughtfully into the environment. The city is also designing stormwater components to feel less concrete and more natural, incorporating walking paths and aesthetic considerations that align with the broader goal of creating a high-quality district experience. Housing is a central part of Riverside Commons as well, with plans for a mixed residential strategy that transitions from multi-family units within the core toward single-family living as the site connects to an adjacent high-end subdivision. A particularly distinctive element in that transition is the concept of an “agrihood,” featuring larger lots and communal agricultural space where residents can grow food, share outdoor amenities, and support experiences such as farm-to-table programming and farmers markets. While still new to many communities, Loves Park views this model as a compelling way 75 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 07, ISSUE 02 LOVES PARK, IL
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