Oak Park Development Corp. presented Wanda and Roland Cornelius with its Arthur S. Replogle Community Merit Award Monday night, and gave 18 Nicholas awards to business and property owners.
Oak Parkers for more than 30 years, Wanda and Roland Cornelius have lent their leadership and commitment to many organizations, according to an OPDC statement.
“They are two of the nicest, most genuine people in the community,” said former state Sen. Phil Rock at OPDC’s Annual Meeting, where he and Mike Kelly presented the award. “Thankfully for all of us they followed their kids to Oak Park in 1976.”
Rock and Kelly, the president of Park National Bank, are former Replogle winners, in 2001 and 2003 respectively.
Wanda Cornelius served on the Oak Park and River Forest High School Board of Education from 1983 to 1990. From 1987-88 she was board president. She was a member of the West Suburban Hospital Medical Center’s board of directors from 1999-2002, and was active on other boards at the hospital in the early 1990s.
Roland Cornelius served on the OPDC board, on the village’s Community Relations Commission, as trustee at First United Methodist Church, and as co-chair of several of the Oak Park Exchange Congresses.
The Replogle Award, given only when suitable recipients are found, honors those who have had “a long-term commitment [to] and far-reaching influence on the economic well-being of Oak Park,” according to the statement.
At the meeting, OPDC leaders emphasized changes that the organization is adapting to, including its new strategic plan, three new board members and two new member banks.
OPDC President John Eckenroad said the organization gave nine grants in 2006 for facade or accessibility projects worth more than $94,000, which leveraged private investments of nearly $615,000. It also helped with the sale or lease of more than 55,000 square feet of space.
A new sushi restaurant, Sushi House, is coming to Downtown Oak Park, while two shops, “Botanica” and “Olive & Well” are coming to The Avenue, in part thanks to OPDC, its leaders said. The organization also worked to keep businesses in Oak Park last year, including the Sachem Co. and Talaske, which were looking to expand and were able to by buying space in the South Marion district, and Purple Monkey Studios, which bought its South Marion building.
The Nicholas award, which honors business and property owners who “have made significant commitments to the economic well-being of the community,” was given to the following:
â–ªLane Bryant, 1120 Lake St.
â–ªMcDonald’s Restaurant, 111 Madison St.
â–ªThe Gilchrist family for their renovation of 226 Lake St., and their tenant, AfriWare
â–ªThe Oak Park Residence Corp. for its renovation of 21 Harrison St. and its tenant, Ridge Art
â–ªThe Filarski family for their renovation of 126-138 Harrison St., and their tenants, Sister 2 Sister Salon, Roots to Wings Barber Shop, GaBelle Designs by GAB, Slim & Tone, and Careful Peach Boutique
â–ªH2Go Scuba, 262 Chicago Ave.
â–ªSalerno’s Pizza, 7128 Roosevelt Road
â–ªThe Tower at Volvo of Oak Park, 1140 Garfield
â–ªLaBella Restaurant, 1103 South Blvd.