As signatures to a petition to “Save the Marion Street Mall” accumulated to more than 900 as of Monday, one Downtown Oak Park merchant is preaching the other side–and says he’s winning converts.
Jason Smith, who owns and operates The Book Table with his wife, Rachel Weaver, said he’s talked with 30 to 40 of his customers about the planned $5 million mall redo. All of those customers have changed their minds, Smith said, after hearing more information and looking at drawings of what the mall will look like after construction is finished.
Smith brings up pictures of the new mall on the flat-screen computer monitor in his bookshop and turns the screen around for customers to view.
“I’ve found that when people see what the actual design is,” they change their minds, Smith said. “It will be one of the most beautiful blocks in all the western suburbs.”
The Book Table is at 1045 Lake St., near the northern end of the mall.
Drawings of what the mall will look like have also been posted in windows of Marion Street businesses and can be viewed by clicking the link at the end of this page.
The project will open Marion Street between Lake Street and North Boulevard to two-way auto traffic, open Westgate to westbound auto traffic, and redesign the intersection of Lake and Marion. A major portion of the cost involves water and sewer improvements.
Smith said parts of life that opponents fear will be lost–such as having a place to sit, relax or meet friends on Marion Street–will actually be better after reconstruction.
“Every event Downtown Oak Park will have is going to be better,” Smith said, because the new design will create a clear visual path down the street while improving aesthetics.
Meanwhile, opponents to the project have scheduled a demonstration for noon on March 10 at the intersection of Lake and Marion streets. Roughly one of every 11 who sign the petition have done so anonymously.