Plainfield mayor talks new businesses, development in State of the Village address

Plainfield Mayor Michael Collins delivered his final State of the Village address on Wednesday and recapped the growth and new projects in Plainfield even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He detailed the new businesses, developments and infrastructure projects the village saw come to fruition or announced in the last year. Collins lauded not just elected leaders and the village staff but also residents and business owners for their resilience during a difficult year.

“I’m proud how this community continued to support one another as we continue to fight the pandemic,” he said. “And I hope that later this year, things will start to look different.”

Collins listed a number of new businesses that came to Plainfield over the last year, including the Costco Wholesale store at Boulevard Place and a new 7-Eleven at Renwick Road at Route 59.

There were also a number of new eating and drinking establishments that opened, including Edge Detroit Style Pizzeria, Juicehead Smoothies in the Sanctuary, El Barrio II Mexican Restaurant and the Taste of Jerusalem.

The mayor also highlighted new housing developments like 248 apartment units on Wallin Drive and the Greenbriar subdivision which the Village Board approved last month.

The Greenbriar subdivision would also push the village boundaries farther west. Officials said this is a positive development because with water services expanding westward, that would encourage more development in the area.

“Going to the west I think is a grand idea for the village of Plainfield,” Collins said.

The mayor also pointed to the extension of 143rd Street to both the west and east as a way to alleviate traffic across the village.

Despite the economic challenges, Collins also touted the village government maintaining a strong fiscal record with high grades from bond credit rating agencies Moody’s and S&P.

Collins also reflected on his 12 years leading the village. He had previously served as a village trustee and as a Plainfield Fire Protection District trustee.

The mayor joked about how his work and leadership over the years has garnered more support from residents and business owners.

“Many people waved at me when I was first elected, but they did not use all their fingers,” he said. “Well, I’m proud to say after 12 years, they’re now using all five fingers to wave. So I’m very, very proud of that.”

Collins declined to run for reelection in April. Village Trustee Margie Bonuchi and local attorney John Argoudelis are running to succeed him.