Barricades and construction horses are not up yet, but preliminary work on expanding the intersection of 143rd Street and La Grange Road in Orland Park has begun.
Davis Street Land Co. of Evanston and Opus North Corp. of Rosemont, the developers of the new Main Place retail development on the northeast corner, are working with the village and its consultants on final engineering plans for submission to the Illinois Department of Transportation, said Kurt Bailey, director of real estate for Opus North.
“We are now working on final engineering and expect that to be completed within the next 60 days,” Bailey said.
In addition, Orland Park awarded two contracts this week in connection with the improvement project.
The village hired Mathewson and Mathewson of Olympia Fields for $56,400 to conduct and review appraisals and negotiate for 12 parcels at the intersection.
“We would need rights of way from 12 properties in order to [improve] the whole intersection. It isn’t just the corners that we have to deal with,” said Village Manager Rick Boehm.
The board also hired McDonough Associates Inc. of Chicago for engineering services and program management of the improvements at the intersection. Under the $50,000 contract, the firm will prepare plats and legal descriptions for rights of way acquisitions and monitor the appraisal and negotiation process at the intersection.
The village is working with the developers of Main Place who have agreed to pay for a portion of the improvements to the intersection. The road will be widened to six lanes with two left-turn lanes at La Grange and 143rd. The developers also will construct two traffic signals at 142nd Street on La Grange and another signal at the development’s entrance off 143rd between La Grange and Humphrey Drive.
Bailey said the village, Opus North and Davis Street have come to an agreement on the cost breakdown between the village and the developers but would not elaborate. Boehm said the numbers will not be released until a development agreement outlining 20 different conditions between the developer and the village is approved. The agreement is expected to come before the board in November.
Construction on the Main Place development is expected to begin April 1, Bailey said.
The 460,000-square-foot shopping center will be on the northeast corner of La Grange and 143rd on 66 acres.
The proposal calls for 30 retailers, including a 120,000-square-foot Von Maur department store and a 12-screen movie theater.
The development will include another retail anchor, restaurants, five free-standing buildings and 35,000 square feet of office space.
