Within the business community of Oak Park, many investments have occurred during the past year or so: the expansions of Maya del Sol, Marion Street Cheese Market, and The Book Table; the opening of three new businesses on Marion Street; the opening of Trattoria 225 and Fitness Formula Club; the re-opening of Cucina Paradiso; and the re-modeling of Papaspiros.
Within the next year we should see the much-anticipated Trader Joe’s opening, changes at Forest & Lake, the building of the Soho residences [South Blvd. and Home Ave.], and various Madison Street, North Avenue, and Harrison Street developments. In addition, many of us are putting in money to upgrade our commercial buildings to not only create a better place for our employees, but to restore some very attractive historic buildings.
One of the keys in moving our business community along (both retail and commercial) is to have a village board that has the vision and passion to see the value of development and how that development provides not only better services and lifestyles for our community, but a significant tax base for all.
I want to personally thank the current Oak Park Board of Trustees for their many hours spent in study, planning, listening, and discussing the various options that will be the greatest benefit to our community. With over 30 business building vacancies, the current economic climate, and the shortage of $1.3 million in tax revenues (versus forecast), we must continue to have a strong, broad-minded, supportive village board
As a “large” cheerleader for Oak Park, a board member of the Village Manager Association (VMA), and a local business person, I want to personally encourage many of you who are “on the fence” about local government to participate in our VMA selection process. Whether you are interested in running for one of the five positions open next year or are interested in joining the Selection Committee (a group of citizens like yourself who will help interview applicants starting in early September for the open positions and choose the best candidates to run for village president, clerk, and trustee with VMA endorsement), you can learn more by coming to our Marion Street Cheese Market event on Tuesday, Aug. 26, beginning at 7 p.m. You can also contact Bob Tucker via www.vma-oakpark.org/selections.html or rvsbtucker@comcast.net.
Volunteering for the VMA selection process could be a very rewarding experience for you-and also very important for our great community.
Paul Beckwith
VMA board member, 2007 Dominican “Entreprenur of the Year,” president of The Sachem Company
