Thank you, Skokie!

Good things come to those who wait. That entire side of the street has been failing for decades and now it's all going to be redeveloped. A brilliant location capturing the tax dollars from Lincolnwood, Evanston and Chicago. Good job to the Village for getting Walmart, X-Sport and Mariano's in and finding a blighted area to make it all happen. After the development of Lincolnwood Town Center and subsequent development to its south it was only a matter of time for this parcel to fall into play. Very excited for the community. Good work!

Mariano's is a great store - I patronize them often. But reading these comments make my head explode. A quote from the Review article: " Had Mariano’s moved to downtown Skokie, Rigoni said, it would have needed incentives paid for from Skokie’s downtown tax increment finance zone. "

I thought that was the point of the TIF. That would have been TIF money well spent.

Another quote - "The village’s mission, he said, is to keep property taxes down, which depends on economic development and generating healthy sales tax revenue."

The vilage's mission is to do that exact thing for ALL Skokie residents.

So Mariano's can manage to put a store near Millenium Park but somehow we can't get a deal in downtown Skokie because of space? There needs to be a sense of urgency to get an anchor in this district. All the cosmetic changes in the world don't change that fact. Residents here pay the highest property tax in the village and make the biggest sacrifices to try offer our children the same educational opportunites as their peers in Skokie. This TIF has been around for over two decades. Still the Desiree sits.

I look forward to the renovations for downtown. But if that's all we can accomplish by the end of this TIF, what kind of results can we expect when there is no TIF in play? I want focus and I want to see results. We have earned the right to expect results.

This is Good News! Thank you to both Marianos and George!

Great news! Let's capture those tax revenue dollars. All we need now is a few high-tech incubators.

I LOVE MARIANO'S!! This will be my only grocery destination - Jewel and all the others are pathetic and gross. Downtown Skokie? really? where would you park? Downtown Skokie is a ghost town and the village planners have themselves to blame; they drove businesses out - sending them to Old Orchard and Village Crossing and now they whine they want them back. The days of downtown Skokie being a shopping venue are OVER. Drive down Oakton after 6 and what's open? Subway and Walgreen's. Its a looooong, dark, unsafe walk. What ARE open however are the bars which is about the only thing that can survive so how about some more?

Another blow to the good families/residents of District 69!

An excellent move and addition to the economy of Skokie. It takes a dead piece of property and adds it to the property and sales tax roles.

This was a response to an email I sent to Mariano's this morning. They appear to say it is not a done deal yet.

Mr. Shimberg,

Thank you for taking the time to contact us. While I saw an article in the Sun Times referencing the Village of Skokie announcing a new Mariano's, the article also stated that the Village thought a signing of the lease was imminent. Our policy is not to comment on specific locations unless or until a formal agreement has been reached. In the event we do move forward on the Klein Tool location, I will certainly keep in mind your thought about Hungatizn Kosher.

Thanks for reaching out to us.

Sincerely,

Max Dickman, Real Estate Development Manager

Too bad ALL schools will not benefit from this addition. We still have a "dead piece of property" in downtown that is draining a school district and its residents. The Village of Skokie has to make the Downtown area a priority at some point. Lots of very colorful brochures and plans but no tenants. This reinventing Skokie has been in the works for over 20 years. Why did it take two years to figure out that space was not big enough for Mariano's? Mariano's has a store on Randolph St. in the heart of the loop. They seem to be very creative in how and where they make their stores successful. Maybe Skokie should try getting a little creative and seal a deal for the sake of our schools.
What's up with the Skokie Theater?????

They should put Marianos where village hall is... thats a "dead piece of property"

Skokie needs creative minds running this town. Empty Best Buy why not a bowling alley in that space, micro brewry in Chase bank building, half of that building is empty. Where is the Economic Development Committee? We need people in village hall with a fresh approach not sitting on their hands. No other towns want a Tilted kilt, well Skokie go and and get them

Vote out ALL caucus party candidates this election, please!!!!!!!

VOTE INDEPENDENT

Skokie theater would benefit from the downtown Reno because right now, no one knows it exists. No one knows downtown Skokie exists! I, for one, am excited for all the changes. Finally bring Skokie to the modern age. Businesses will be lining up to be part of this Skokie renaissance. Its not gonna happen overnight but at least the wheels are turning. Mariano's decision to break ground here is HUGE. It may not be downtown, but its still Skokie and will do alot to change the perception of Skokie moving forward.

Very happy that Mariano's may open at Touhy & McCormick; however, it would be REALLY smart and nice for shoppers if Skokie puts an access road in from Howard Street. St. Louis Ave. would be perfect! Hey, Skokie Village planners -- what do you think of extending St. Louis Ave. into the shopping center property?