Elmwood Park officials are moving forward on their next big project — a planned streetscape improvement to the village’s Circle area — in a move they believe will pay off with enhanced economic development.
At the March 6 village board meeting, trustees approved several contracts related to the streetscape project, awarding a contract of nearly $260,000 with Copenhaver Construction and $525,454 to Burke LLC.
Copenhaver’s work is to include removal and replacement of sidewalks, concrete curb and gutters, Village Manager Paul Volpe said in his manager’s report. Under the contract, the firm is also responsible for installation of drainage structures and decorative pavers, Volpe noted.
The village received a Community Development Block Grant from Cook County that will cover roughly half the cost of the streetscape, continuing a trend of last year with the village aggressively pursuing grants and outside funding, meaning less of the cost would be borne by taxpayers.
The contract with Burke is for an amount not to exceed $265,522. The contract covers the landscape and pavement restoration, planters, and the electrical and masonry work needed to complete the planned streetscape improvements, as well as all design and engineering costs, Volpe said in his report.
Officials are hoping that the funds they are devoting to the area will eventually produce benefits — a move that may have already begun, Volpe noted. Baciami Restaurant, located off the Circle at 18 Conti Parkway, recently closed for improvements, with the owners essentially “gutting” the restaurant and rebuilding it, noted Volpe. Plans call for the establishment to reopen with “a new, fresh concept,” Volpe said.
“This requires a significant investment on their part,” Volpe said, “and it is the precise type of private investment we hope to see when we invest public funds into the revitalization of an area. It is a great example of how public investment leads to private investment — they go hand-in-hand.”
He said the village hopes to encourage even more investment in the Circle as officials work toward bringing more people to the area.
“This summer, we will host nightly leagues on the new bocce courts,” he said. In addition, “we will bring even more concerts into the Circle, we will again host our very popular Circle Car Show, and we will complete the streetscape of the Avenue of Flags and Conti Parkway [between Westwood and Sunset.]'”
The village is also adding a sports memorabilia show to the area, at the Parks & Recreation Center on the same night as the Circle Car Show. Officials are still firming up details.
“We think this will be very popular,” Volpe said about the plans for the area.
