Background

The Richton Park Town Center area is centered around our busy Metra commuter rail station on the Metra Electric line and our “Main and Main” intersection of Governors Highway and Sauk Trail. This area was first developed in the 1920s. The surrounding area features higher-density neighborhoods and quality apartment complexes.

The Town Center Plan

Our plan for the town center area is to increase the residential density and commercial intensity through substantial new real estate development. The town center was designed to facilitate pedestrian and rail transportation, create and enhance public amenities, and create a memorable and distinct destination. The village has conducted numerous market studies to assist with planning the development.

Infrastructure Improvements

Roadway and infrastructure improvements are key projects to accommodate new development. The village has begun work on an extension of Richton Road, flood mitigation plans, and more.

Land and Real Estate

The village has significant real estate holdings in the town center area. We have 5 TIF districts in Richton Park. The primary Town Center TIF, and the Sauk / Governors TIF help finance improvements, planning, marketing, and redevelopment.

Funding

The village has been successful in obtaining grants and stimulus funds for our Town Center. New sidewalks were installed on Governors Highway in 2010. In the Spring of 2011, a rail line viaduct beautification project was completed. The Illinois EPA assisted with a vital brownfield remediation project at Governors Highway and Sauk Trail. The village received an appropriation which was used to prepare the blueprints for a new Town Center parking garage. The garage is estimated to cost $13 to $15 million to build and will accommodate 600 vehicles.

Much has been done to lay the groundwork for new development including new zoning, revised design guidelines, and comprehensive streetscape improvement guidelines.

Our Next Steps

The village is in the process of engineering an extension of Richton Road south of Sauk Trail to Governors Highway. This will alleviate traffic congestion from the commuter station during rush hours and will allow us to convert Richton Road to a two-way street north of Sauk Trail. The land has been acquired, the Right-of-Way has been platted, and the village hopes to announce construction plans in the near future.