St. Charles Mayor highlights development, new businesses in State of the City address

St. Charles Mayor Lora Vitek highlighted new development, businesses and infrastructure accomplishments over the past year and looked ahead to future growth during the State of the City address May 16 at the Royal Fox Country Club.

There were about 100 people in attendance including alderpersons, city officials, the police and fire chiefs, residents and local business owners.

The newly constructed First Street Plaza, which is open to pedestrians, was one of the major accomplishments Vitek highlighted in the address. She also touted more than 1,000 residential units under construction or in planning, the expansive street rehabilitation program and the bicycle and pedestrian plan.

Other achievements included securing a development agreement to bring a Whole Foods Market into the former Blue Goose site and the development of the Pheasant Run Industrial Park, which is being constructed on the former golf course site. The Whole Foods Market is expected to be operational by next spring.

Vitek also talked about the Dam Task Force, a joint initiative with the St. Charles Park District. It is tasked with exploring the impacts that removing the dam would have on the city in order to help City Council members make a well-informed decision. The task force has met twice and next will meet June 6.

The city also is working on improving the online experience for residents with a new website under development that is expected to launch this year.

Vitek highlighted nearly 20 new businesses that have opened in the past year, as well as several that are expected to open soon including Chick-fil-A, McGrath Kia and a Thorntons gas station.

Another major endeavor of the city is the redevelopment of the Charlestowne Mall, which Vitek said likely will become a mix of residential and commercial real estate. She said redevelopment of the site poses major challenges. It is not city owned and some of the retailers want to stay open. The city expects the owners will submit concept plans for review this summer.

After the mayor’s presentation, she opened the floor to questions. Vitek, City Administrator Heather McGuire, Police Chief James Keegan and Economic Development Director Derek Conley fielded the majority of the questions.

Multiple people raised questions and concerns about traffic and pedestrian safety on Main Street in the downtown and on Route 31, downtown parking and the future of the Charlestowne Mall and the former police department site.

Officials assured those in attendance that the city and police department are working to address pedestrian safety concerns downtown and money has been budgeted to implement additional wayfinding signage for downtown parking. They also detailed the challenges associated with the redevelopment of the former police station site and Charlestowne Mall.