Mayor Robert Straz describes, “We have a very heavily wooded area in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. We have some small, independently owned businesses. We’re not a home for a lot of big box stores, but they’re 5 or 10 minutes away. We have a calm community, and a lot of nice families have come here.” That mix of quiet living and easy accessibility has made Palos Heights a desirable place to call home. Commuters can be in Chicago’s downtown core within half an hour by train, or by car in less than 45 minutes. In addition, Midway Airport is only 15 minutes away, and O’Hare can be reached in under an hour. REVITALIZING DOWNTOWN In the heart of Palos Heights is a downtown undergoing a renewal. Once a classic 1960s suburban shopping district, it has evolved into a vibrant dining and social hub. Downtown’s culinary diversity is a point of pride in the city. Straz shares, “One of the keynote restaurants would be Franklin House. It actually started out in the old days as a Ben Franklin store. He’s taken that and turned it into a very efficient and successful casual restaurant, along with six apartment units above it.” Across the street, Capri Italian Restaurant is a big draw. “People come from all over the south and southwest suburbs to eat there,” Straz portrays. “We’ve got a very diverse ethnic background as far as the types of restaurants. You can go anywhere from Italian to traditional American food. We’ve got a Greek restaurant, even an Ethiopian coffee shop in town.” This transformation has brought life back into the district, as diners linger longer and foot traffic increases. “That creates unique problems that did not exist back in the day of the traditional suburban shopping center where people would come in buy a shirt and leave,” Straz admits. “Now they come for an hour and a half and have dinner and stay around and socialize. The parking needs have changed dramatically over the years, so we’ve addressed some of that.” Economic Development Director Aimee Ingalls shares that the city is planning for the future through a new downtown development plan. She explains, “We’re interviewing consultants to help us with that, just to create a little bit more walkability, give it a facelift.Times have changed, so we just want to make sure that it’s up to what the current market needs.” Plans include additional parking, along with efforts to attract more retail and restaurants.“We’re always looking for niche and unique shops and restaurants 175 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 11 PALOS HEIGHTS, IL
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