This project is ten years late. Ten years ago, upscale condos would have worked. In this economy it will turn into subsidized housing to pay the bill.

Our elected officials should concentrate on bringing jobs to Orland Park. We should be using incentives to attract major corporations that will provide jobs. Issuing bonds to be used for a private company and private cause is wrong. Furthermore, the state of Illinois is losing businesses to Indiana every week and here we have our local officials giving the business to an Indiana based company. I am certaIn that an Illinois developer would gladly construct this project. I pray that the elected officials vote no to this project.

There are Hundreds who believe in this project and believe in our future!! Please do an article on those who support it !! .. WE WANT INVESTMENT IN OUR CITY.. WE WANT GROWTH IN OUR CITY!! HELP THIS CITY GET THE IMAGE IT DESERVES!!

Our local government has no business getting involved in this type of project. If this idea gets approved does that mean any developer can expect the village to help fund their project? It is obvious that the reason the elected officials are trying to push this crazy idea thru is because of all the time and money that has already been wasted on the Main Street Triangle project. Enough is enough. I am sure the angered residents will not forget this come election day.

Shouldn't we attract larger businesses with better paying jobs first so that we actually create a populace who will rent these expensive apartments to be closer to work? The strengths of the other villages listed (Schaumburg, Naperville etc) is that they have a huge base of large corporate businesses that keep all those employed people in their towns to shop, eat and live! Jobs first, housing will follow naturally!

"The village board is scheduled to RUBBER STAMP financing the apartment complex during the Sept. 19 meeting." .... What residents want and don't want doesn't matter. Alll that matters is McLaughin's "legacy".

Why not let the people of Orland Park vote on whether or not they want the Mc Laughlin Triangle? The Village Board has the job of running Village and should not
be involved in loaning companies money. Everyone knows if the Village Board wants
it, they will get it. But let the people decide for once! With a failing economy, this is
not the time for a project like this. Like the lady above said, maybe 10 years ago,
but certainly not now. They have driven so many good businesses out of town
already instead of trying to work with the businesses who are the backbone of Orland Park. They want everyone to be upscale and screw the other people.

Will this development create enough jobs to offset the jobs that were lost by tearing down the existing businesses?

I am not an Orland Park resident. However, those writing about this or that at the next ballot box chance need to ask your mayor and the Flaherty people what the construction time frame on the project will be. If MM James is wrong, and ground is broken end of this September, how long will it take for it to be built, plus how many months after an occupancy permit is issued, to know the vacancy/occupancy rates that actually happen, never mind uncertain forecasts by project proponents.

In short, how will you know success from failure, by the times you get to vote? Will you, or does delay cut against having that timely knowledge?

It is worth a thought. I am certain that Flaherty, who had an arson experience in Indiana on that Cosmopolitan project and had to restart, but stuck with it, can give you the timeline - if you ask.

I agree with most of those above who have negative feelings about the Metra Traingle project. This Village's job is to provide the best village services (which the Board does) and to promote private investment which will bring jobs and revenue. It is NOT to be the major investor is a rental housing project. I do not believe than any of our Board Members have any real estate development background. Why should we believe they know what they are doing? If it is such a great idea, why aren't any local developers jumping at the opportunity? In the end, if it fails, we are on the hook. I still have never seen an exact to date total of our Village investment in that corner despite the claim that all the 'facts' are transparent.

I like Megan's comments @Paul - "For every 100 supporting this...THERE ARE A THOUSAND WHO DO NOT BUT STILL BELIEVE IN OP TOO!"

It makes it sound like a horde... and that Paul's gizzards will be over run by it if he doesnt relent LOL.

Anyway, I just want to make an observation: snow birds. I saw lots of seniors in attendance. I dont see why or how that could be representative of the wider population. We all know that seniors tend to be more politically active. We all know that seniors have the time to show up. But, I think that if most younger residents were indeed upset with this project, they would come too-- especially in this economy. Something tells me, though, that Generation Xers and Generation Yers are probably in favor of this project. National trends and market studies support this type of development and why would we be any different?

I'd like to thank those on the Village Staff for their time, effort, and professionalism in the preparation of the materials, the work with the proposed developer, and their attendance at the recent public meetings. I would like to thank the residents for taking the time to have their voices heard. While helpful in cases like these, it is always more helpful to have your voices heard on election day, regardless of each person's view of the outcome, perceived or actual. I would also like to admonish residents to afford The Board and the Village Staff the respect that anyone would otherwise expect for themselves. I watched the above video and was not surprised, but rather disappointed, at the actions and comments from some residents who spoke at the meeting. It looked more like a circus at times rather than a Village Board Meeting. Laughing, cheering, and talking down others is neither funny nor appropriate. I speak from experience when I say that it is nearly impossible to have an intelligent discourse when so many show little regard for the process.

Folks, some of you keep talking about the corporate offices in Schaumburg and Naperville. First, Schaumburg is near an airport, Orland is not. This has been the arguement that Rep Jackson has been making for a third airport.Second,Naperville is not in Cook County where property taxes are higher for businesses, but in a county where taxes are less. Why is it so critical to have these types of jobs in the village limits of Orland Park, when Orland residents can easily comute to these jobs downtown? Its location and demographics make Orland Park a prime retail center.

This issue is very easy to solve, put it to vote and let the tax payers decide. If the elected officials are so confident in their decision they would have no problem letting the residents vote on this.

No one or group of elected officials should ever deprive the people their right to vote.

The residents of Orland Park did an excellent job selecting two very astute businessmen to serve on their village board - Jim Dodge and Brad O'Halloran. Where are they in all of this? They know better! Jim went to one of the best business schools in the country - he knows this is a rotten egg. Brad has been wildly successful in his own ventures - he knows this is not a recipe for success.
To Jim and Brad: Why are you two letting our mayor, your longtime friend, walk off the edge of this cliff? By supporting this project you are essentially giving him and our village the final shove....why??? Gentlemen, please step-up to the task the residents asked you to do and lead us out of/away from this potentially crippling financial mess. We voted for you because of the unique set of skills you bring to the table, please use them.

This conversation (not just this article, but the ongoing conversation) has become very convoluted and I don't think it needs to be. I don't care that this is a risky real estate venture that Orland Park is getting into. I care that they are getting into a real estate venture in the first place. I don't care (even though I asked above) whether or not the jobs that were lost by tearing down Randy's and the others will be replaced. I care that the government used a controversial measure to remove successful businesses. It seems to me that the conversation has shifted from outrage over how the village did this to whether or not it will work out in the end. Probably because of the inevitability of it.

If there was an open field at the northwest corner of 143rd and LaGrange that some developer came in, bought, and had the plan and financing that the village is offering, I would say its a great idea. I've said before that the plans look very nice. For me, my outrage is aimed at how we got here. Millions and millions of dollars spent at a time when the village is crying poor. Increased fees and high sales tax. Employees were laid off.

If there is a demand for $1500 a month apartments, and I'm sure that's a conservative estimate since they are still selling the idea to us, then that is wonderful. Personally I'd rather save for a few months before dropping $1500-$2000 a month on an apartment to then sit on a train for an hour, but to each his own.

This “debate” between taxpaying citizens and “Leadership” (i.e., the Mayor, the City Manager, the Trustees, etc.) regarding completion of the Main Street Triangle Project (the Project”) is becoming tiresome.

Leadership needs to grasp the obvious fact that village citizens today do not want to risk $60+ million of additional taxpayer money in a risky real estate development. Leadership needs to stop trying to sell its “vision” that may have been on point 10 years ago, but is too risky in today’s troubled economy.

The $44 invested in the Project to date is a sunk cost which was generally made during rosier times. Today is more troubled and much less certain. Please don’t try to save face for investing the $44 million by committing an additional $60 million of taxpayer funds to the deal. At a minimum, table the investment and revisit it during a more prosperous time in the future.

Leadership comes with a duty to listen to its citizens and to act in their best interests. Village citizens have clearly spoken. When will Leadership begin to listen?

I posted this as a comment in Response to Trustee O'Halloran's editorial. It is appropriate here as well
Sorry to say that while loyalty and appreciation are due to someone who has helped your career, i feel there are too many Trustees that feel they owe an allegience to the Mayor. I suggest that those people look up the definition of Trustee, I am sure you owe your allegience to the People of Orland Park. I also suggest that you all read the Kane McKenna report carefully, and pay close attention to the Summary of Recommendations starting on Page viii and especially the paragraph following item g) " ...the market studies....still suggest that the apartment market is thin. As a result, the initial absorption and pricing could be affected. In particular, as projected rents are below $2.00/s/f, the Project value is less than total cost."

FYI- the Miroballi family has decided to stay in OP. we just recommended to approve their redevelopment petition for the vacant Shell station @ 144th pl and LaGrange road. thanks for staying in OP.

Megan, i was just trying to state a positive. with all the negativity surrounding the 9750 project, i just thought that i'd share a little bit of good news.

I support the project.

Tim, can you explain why you support the project?