Morton Grove is gussying up public space near the town’s Metra commuter train station to provide a more welcoming “gateway” to the community, Village President Dan DiMaria said.
The Village Board voted unanimously on July 23 to spend up to $284,582 to convert a grassy triangle into Gateway Plaza, a public plaza spanning 10,000 square feet at Ferris and Lincoln avenues, by the end of the year.
“We used to call it the triangle,” DiMaria said. “It’s a little area over by the train station. I’ve been wanting to develop it. It’s one of my objectives for the last few years. I want to make it a welcoming spot for when people get off the train and come into town.”
In January, Morton Grove received a $300,000 grant from Metra to help rebuild the town’s commuter train station, which one village official called an “embarrassment,” and the adjacent parking lot for $2.5 million.
“That whole train station is going to be awesome,” DiMaria said. “I can’t wait.”
The triangle-shaped Gateway Plaza will sit just east of the Metra Milwaukee District North Line. The property is currently used for grassy open space, an emergency accessway serving the Woodlands subdivision and public bicycle parking, Trustee John Thill said.
“To enhance use of the property and the appearance of the transit-oriented district, the village plans to construct a public plaza at the property that includes bicycle parking, bench seating, and landscape areas, and maintains the existing emergency accessway,” Thill said.
DiMaria said the plaza will welcome visitors to Morton Grove and residents who use the Metra train.
“It’s a great spot,” he said. “You have to do more than have a little triangle of grass.”
On June 4, the Public Works Department advertised for bids for the project, Thill said. Alliance Contractors Inc. was the lowest of two bidders for $244,582, he said.
The board authorized Village Administrator Chuck Meyer to approve change orders for excavation and project design of up to $40,000 to make sure work is completed this year.
“Staff considers it practical to authorize the village administrator to issue contract change orders not to exceed $40,000 to be prepared to accommodate extra costs including, but limited to, costs of excavation and removal of material and design changes to keep construction on schedule and completed in 2024,” Thill said.
Morton Grove will pay for the project with funds from the Lincoln and LeHigh Tax Increment Financing District, Meyer said.
The board voted unanimously on Jan. 9 to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with Metra to build a new commuter station and reconfigure the parking lot at 8501 Lehigh Ave.
Morton Grove plans to use funds from the Lincoln and Lehigh TIF district to pay the remaining $2.2 million cost of the project. The intergovernmental agreement is required to receive the $300,000 grant, Trustee Janine Witko said.
RM Swanson Architects of Lake Forest, the same firm that recently handled the redesign of the Libertyville Metra station, is providing architectural services for the Morton Grove station.
DiMaria said a new train station was one of his final goals in his first election as mayor in 2013.
“I’m very pleased,” DiMaria said. “This is one area I wanted to turn around. I’m sick of other communities getting nice train stations and Morton Grove getting left in the cold. I’m thrilled to change the entrance to the village and for all the passersby to get to see what Morton Grove really is.”