Related Midwest, based in Chicago, had been chosen approximately three years ago by the village to develop the triangle, but pulled out of the project in April, Friling says. The village had a request for proposals, which was initially due in May and then pushed back until last month. "We had suspended it before we received any bids," she says. The village halted the request because many of the interested developers had questions that village officials could not answer yet, she says.

Potential developers had questions as to the fate of Orland Plaza Center, located on seven acres at the northwest corner of 143rd Street and LaGrange Road, and questions on the timing of roadway improvements at the intersection in addition to whether Ravinia Avenue would be extended through the development, Friling says. "Those are really critical questions that have to be answered," she says. "We also need to analyze what our options are at the corner." The village expects to re-solicit proposals in the fall. Work on the intersection improvements is expected to begin at the end of the year, she says.

The development is expected to have 240 residential units and at least 155,000 sf of retail and office space. The development will also have parks and open spaces, with the triangle becoming the village's downtown, she says. The village wants to "create what Orland Park does not have. We have a lot of great things in Orland Park. What we do not have is a traditional downtown," Friling says.

The area is in a TIF district, which was created in 2004 and expanded in 2007 to include the 7-acre Orland Plaza Center. The village has already spent more than $30 million on public improvements to the area, Friling says. A new $10 million Metra station opened last year, and improvements to Southwest Highway have been completed, Friling says.

Related Midwest was able to reach a tentative agreement with the property owner at Orland Plaza Center to acquire the property, but was not able to reach agreements with the tenants, Friling says. Due to the difficulty reaching an agreement for the 7-acre parcel and the floundering residential market, the developer wanted to renegotiate its agreement with the village, she says. The village did not think new terms were acceptable, and chose instead, to go out for proposals.

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