Issue Rundown: Orland Park Village Board Candidates on the Main Street Triangle

The following answers are taken from issue-focused questionnaires, where candidates for Orland Park Village Board were given the option to reply in writing, sit down for an in-person interview or participate in a phone interview. Answers are posted in the order questionnaires were returned or interviews were held.

The Main Street Triangle project—and eminent domain lawsuit—has divided many residents. Is it a worthwhile use of taxpayers’ money? How can the village help these businesses get started?

John Brudnak (phone interview)

Forty million has been spent, and not one house or townhome has been built. We evicted a cement company, a lumber company, Ace Hardware, a carpet place, and now we’re getting rid of the one fully-occupied mall in the village. Well, it was fully occupied until about a week or two ago. They want to build a residential community. Then why in god’s name would you not make the plaza part of the development? People living there could walk to the train, walk to the super market, walk to the video store, the bank. They used eminent domain to get land, and there’s no explanation why. They want to extend Jefferson, and who the hell even knows where Jefferson is?

Stop the lawsuits. Stop spending on lawyers’ fees. I would be for that from minute one. Do some remodeling and incorporate it into a housing development. Now they are talking about apartments on that development. What do you think will happen if this doesn’t take off? There will come pressure to make it into section 8 housing. Then what happens? This may not have been the intention, but the same developer did the same in Chicago Heights in 1970s and the rest is history. I don’t mean to knock Chicago Heights, as it is a great place. But I can assure you people in this area do not want that to happen.

(written submission)

The Triangle area was blighted and in need of redevelopment. The concept is to construct a transit oriented development (TOD) that will create a vibrant downtown area for Orland Park. The funds spent so far have been used to buy land, build a train station, build parking lots, build part of the road network, build a lake/water detention area and install sanitary and storm sewers. Businesses that have to relocate from the Orland Plaza Center once court proceedings are concluded will receive a relocation allowance, and some of them, depending on the terms of their leases, will receive part of the sale proceeds.

John Fotopoulos (written submission)

I believe that tax increment financing works as a developmental tool. For example, look at how the TIF transformed the once shuttered Orland Park Place into a retail force for the community and created jobs. I do not support apartments in the Metra triangle. I have proposed that we seek a developer for the triangle that is willing to develop the area with a mix use of retail combined with affordable condos or townhomes to market to our seniors in the community who are looking to downsize and continue to live in Orland Park. 

I believe, however, that we need TIF reform in that we need to do a better job of providing the community with the TIF decision-making information. I propose that all financial and spending information together with proposed redevelopment contracts and maps be posted online in an easy to use format. The information that is available now online for the Metra triangle that I can find lacks any information on the proposed apartments that have been the subject of board discussions and tours to Indiana.

I also propose that we appoint a TIF panel separate and apart from the planning commission. The TIF panel would be responsible to conduct meeting with residents and businesses weighing the pros and cons, transparency with information and making recommendations to the Mayor and Board before a particular area becomes a TIF district.

(written submission)

Orland Plaza at 143rd and LaGrange Road with successful businesses such as Randy’s Market, Orland Bakery, Lang Lee, Bloomingfields, Miroballi, and many more are planned to be razed. I feel that these businesses were not treated properly in the planning of this redevelopment project. We need these businesses to stay in Orland Park, not chase them away. The more businesses we have in Orland Park the less property tax dollars homeowners will have to pay.

Orland Park Village must be aggressive in attracting new businesses. This will have a dual effect, creating more jobs and lowering the property tax bill.

(written submission)

No. First, eminent domain should never be used to take property from one individual and transfer it to another individual, whether that transfer is through a sale or other type of transaction. I’ll just have to disagree with the Supreme Court on that point. I can agree with using eminent domain for governmental uses, for example building roads, but only when time is of the essence. Otherwise, market forces will find a resolution.

Second, the millions of dollars spent on the triangle project would have been much better used to attract or retain companies that create substantive jobs that enable people to live and work here in Orland Park. If you listen to other candidates for village trustee they will tell you that traffic congestion is the biggest problem here in Orland Park. What they don’t tell you is that they created the problem by focusing so heavily on retail as the primary revenue source for the village. Clearly you need a diversified revenue stream that doesn’t burden the taxpayers too much. However, the village has tilted it too far and it is now driving the inherent infrastructure spending cycle that we see in the capital expenditure budget.

(written submission)

There are many misconceptions about the Metra Triangle.  The village is planning to develop a pedestrian oriented, vibrant city center where a blighted development once stood.  Eminent Domain pertains only to the section of the property where Ravinia and also Jefferson streets will extend north across 143rd St.  The property owner has requested we purchase the entire property. The challenge is to come to a resolution with the property owner, who is a willing seller. We are not willing to pay more than market price for property.

The village has invested in land, roads, a commuter station, infrastructure and parking to serve the train station.   The Plaza was invited to reorient to the development, but clearly within their right to decline. High end housing will be offered as rentals but designed so that they can be sold as single units should the housing market change. The village has been working with the tenants of the plaza to determine their moving expenses, which are the villages’ responsibility. Staff has also worked to provide these businesses with alternative locations within the village that would meet their needs. The village is working with the tenants and we hope to have resolution soon.

(written submission)

I believe this project will significantly enhance and revitalize our downtown area, and therefore, I support it. I have family members who moved to Orland Park from downtown Chicago with their newborn child to live close to this area because of the amenities it offers,  i.e. shopping and restaurants within walking distance, bike paths, access to Metra. We need to continue to make our community a desirable destination for families. The Village does need to make sure that the tenants, as well as the owners, are treated fairly when it comes to compensation.

(written submission)

I think the Main Street Triangle project is a very costly and disturbing situation that is tearing our community apart. I oppose the project and will make every effort to bring it to a sound resolution. The thriving businesses in the Main Street Mall are being run out while vacant store fronts remain throughout Orland Park. This is an appalling waste of taxpayers’ money and as litigation continues, it will become even more costly. The answer is not an easy one but I think the current businesses should become part of the equation.

Tom Cunningham (written submission)

The Orland Park (Bermuda) Triangle! The power of eminent domain is supposed to be for public use like roads and bridges that have to be build and the land is in the way.  The corner of 143rd and Lagrange Road has sucked over $40 million taxpayer dollars to date. The attorney fees being racked up are over $300,000.00. Can you say nightmare on the Triangle!