Planning Programs and Projects

The Plan was completed and adopted by the Itasca Village Board in March 2022, and can be found under "Related Reports". 

In the spring of 2024 a developer was in permitting stages of a Village approved 5 story, 88 unit mixed-use residential building within the core of downtown Itasca, IL.  Situated on a 0.86 acre corner site just north of the Itasca Metra Rail Station, the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) will serve as a catalyst for redevelopment of Itasca’s historic downtown.  The building’s design blends a contemporary aesthetic while paying tribute to Itasca’s historic downtown through building materials and massing.  The U-shaped building consists of a residential Lobby and amenities, 116 indoor residential parking spaces, and approximately 4,600 s.f. of retail space at the ground floor.

The plan was adopted by the City Council in November 2009. The plan recommends locating the station near the existing 17th Street Crossing and closing the 17th Street Crossing to provide for safe access to the station. Redevelopment of the area around the station includes mixed-use and condo and townhouse style housing.

In 2010, Metra completed the Alternatives Analysis for the proposed SouthEast Service Line and on March 7, 2011, then Governor Quinn signed into law House Bill 1644 which established the Southeast Commuter Rail Transit District which now has authority to acquire rights to use the freight rail line, buy land to build train stations and purchase rail cars. However, in 2015 Metra put a hold on further development of the line due to limited funding resources.

The study was completed in June, 2006. The Village is currently exploring technical assistance opportunities to update their village-wide comprehensive plan. Once this is accomplished, rezoning the TOD area is the next step. Wood Dale Station, a mixed-use condo building, was built across from the station in 2006 and additional condos were built along Irving Park Road in the TOD area. 

Wood Dale was chosen as part of the 2011 RTA Community Planning Program of Projects for assistance with developer recruitment and solicitation of opportunities in the TOD study area. A panel of development experts met in July 2012 to discuss potential redevelopment opportunities on City-owned land across from the Metra station. A summary of this discussion can be found below under Related Reports.

The new Cermak-McCormick Place Green Line Station, funded with $50 million in City TIF funds, opened for service in February 2015. A new entertainment district between McCormick Place and the station has been developing since 2015, including the new Wintrust Arena and four new hotels, three of which provide a connection via a skybridge to McCormick Place's west building.

A 24-story, 275-unit building in the McCormick Square area and one block from the station wasa completed in 2020 and the same developer is seeking zoning approval to construct a 12-story apartment building immediately south of it, at Wabash and Cermak.

The Chicago Housing Authority has engaged a developer to redevelop the site of the former Harold Icks Homes at State and Cermak, directly across State Street from the green line station. The new development, named Southbridge, will be mixed-income, mixed-use and will include retail space as well as up to 900 rental and for-sale housing units. Phase I, which includes two mixed-use residential buildings, was completed in 2022.

The Village Board unanimously adopted the Romeoville East Side Plan on April 18, 2012 as an amendment to the Village's Comprehensive plan. In 2013 Metra included this new station/stop as part of the 2013-2017 Capital Projects Program and is currently exploring ways to obtain the necessary funding to move forward.

In May 2017 the Village broke ground construction of the new station with funding provided from the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program. More information can be found reading the Romeoville Press Release

Within the development area identified in the Clarendon Hills TOD plan, In 2018 two mixed-use developments were constructed within the development area identified in the Clarendon Hills TOD plan, a four-story development with 42 apartment units with 900 square feet of street level commercial at the corner of Park and Walker Avenue, and at the corner of Park and Prospect Avenues, 88 Park Avenue was completed as a three story 8-unit apartment building. Both of these projects are within a two to three block walk of the Metra station and the adjoining Pace Bus stop in downtown Clarendon Hills.

In May of 2018 Clarendon Hills received an Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) grant for new railroad crossings gates at Prospect Avenue; improved pedestrian crossings and corner bump out enhancements at Prospect Avenue, Burlington Avenue, and Eastern Avenue/Anne Streets; installation/enhancement of bicycle lockup areas and shelters north and south of BNSF; development of a defined kiss-and-ride north of BNSF; and other streetscape improvements including plaza development, benches and street landscaping.

Reconstruction of the Clarendon Hills commuter station was completed in 2022. In addition to station improvements, the Village incorportated streetscape improvements that created a shared vehicle/bike lane, and reduced the distance pedestrians must walk to cross the street.

Orland Park constructed and opened a new Metra station at 143rd Street in April 2007. Service was also doubled on the SW Service line at the same time and saw a 20% increase in ridership. The Village also updated their zoning ordinance to include transit-supportive regulations.

Ninety 7 Fifty on the Park, a 295-unit luxury apartment complex & commercial development built near the 143rd Street Metra station, broke ground in March 2012 and is now fully occupied. 

In October 2014 the Residences of Orland Park Crossing, a 231‐unit rental apartment, rowhome and townhome development broke ground across the street from the 143rd Metra station at 143rd and La Grange Road and the first residential units have been delivered for occupancy. A Mariano's grocery store has also opened in the commercial area adjacent to this site.

In 2014, the University of Chicago announced that they will be developing a 120,000SF outpatient medical facility at the northwest corner of 143rd Street and LaGrange Road which opened in December 2016. In conjunction with this project, the Village constructed a parking structure at the northeast corner of 143rd Street and Ravinia Avenue which opened in October 2016. This project adds 520+ spaces on roughly two acres of currently vacant municipal-owned land and includes a 12,000 square foot restaurant space.

In March 2017 the next development for the station area was announced by the Village for the 1.6-acre, triangle-shaped property it owns just west of the Ninety 7 Fifty on the Park apartment building and south of the 143rd Street Metra station, which is a two story, 80,000 sq. ft. mixed used building. This newest development is anchored by a luxury cinema on the second floor with first floor specialty retail and restaurant tenants.