Democracy on the Front Lines
City Administrator’s Blog
Walter Denton
June 8, 2007
You may not have noticed, but Monday’s City Council meeting contained several significant items for the future O’Fallon:
O’Fallon Conference Center
The City Council approved the zoning for “Regency Park South,” which contains the Conference Center, Hilton Garden Inn, and Hampton Inn. That means that the concept plan for the development was approved and the developer (Darwin Miles) has approval to begin construction on the project. (The building plans still require building code review, but that is administrative.)
This is significant because the land off of Green Mount Road has been vacant for some time. There were efforts to develop the property three years ago, and the City approved Special Service Area bonds to extend Regency Park Drive and other infrastructure. By the spring of 2006, the only proposed businesses were a fast food restaurant and a dollar discount store. The City Council believes the property is vital to portray a positive image for O’Fallon and felt it was necessary for the area to be developed in an orderly manner. In partnership with Darwin Miles, a hotel and conference center project was proposed where Miles would build two hotels and the City would finance the conference center. The City Council approved a 1% food and beverage tax in 2006 to pay for the conference center (estimated to cost $6 million).
They are busy moving dirt on the site as I write. In order to fit everything on the site, the pond has to be moved. The Hilton Garden Inn should begin construction in July and the Conference Center should begin 30-60 days after that. The City has not spent any money on the project yet and we will not close on the Conference Center property until construction begins on the center.
Plaza Wine & Liquor
The City Council approved an ordinance allowing the Plaza Wine & Liquor store to move from its current location on Hwy. 50 to a storefront a few hundred feet away in Southview Plaza (where Little Caesar’s is now). By itself, this item is not particularly newsworthy. However, the relocation has implications that are huge for the Southview shopping area. When the liquor store moves to their new space, plans are for the building to be demolished (including the ugly LIQUOR billboards) and McDonalds plans to build a new restaurant on the site in its place. With the addition of Ace Hardware, these changes should greatly improve the Southview shopping center. The only question mark is what will happen to the current McDonalds building once they move. McDonalds has said they will work hard to attract a good business, but we shall
see.
Aldi Grocery Store
After two years and three locations, the City Council has finally approved an ordinance for a new Aldi Grocery Store. The store will be on W. Hwy. 50 where Streif Motors is currently located. They will tear down the Streif building and construct their regular Aldi store in its place. Aldi originally wanted to locate on Hartman Lane next to Hardee’s but the traffic was too busy at the corner to allow. Then they proposed the old Green Store site on W. Hwy. 50, which the City Council thought was a good idea, but they could not come to an agreement on cross-access with the property owners next door (occupied by the 17th Street Bar and Grill).
Starbucks
The City Council approved a minor subdivision and drive through window for a new Starbucks coffee shop and restaurant on Central Park Drive in front of the Drury Inn. In addition to the Starbucks, there also will be a small retail center on the site. There is another lot in front of the Drury for a restaurant, but we have heard what will be there yet. After almost ten years of inactivity since the City extended Central Park Drive to Green Mount Road, we are seeing increasing commercial activity. I don’t think we have peaked yet on the amount of commercial growth at the I-64/Central Park Drive corridor.
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