Sam Rakestraw

Chicago

Reporter at Journal & Topics

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Articles

New Gateway Plaza Concept, Clocktower Plans Presented To Village Board

1 week ago | journal-topics.com | Sam Rakestraw

Mount Prospect Public Works presented a concept, cost estimate and construction schedule for a new gateway plaza at Northwest Highway and Central Road at Tuesday’s (April 8) village board meeting. The proposed plaza with green space, six parking spaces, and a centerpiece clocktower, along with soil remediation, would cost a total of $1,095,503 and be funded by the village’s Prospect and Main tax increment financial (TIF) fund.
Village Board Narrows Down Gateway Signage Options

1 week ago | journal-topics.com | Sam Rakestraw

At the Jan. 7 Committee as a Whole meeting, Mount Prospect’s Community Development Department presented options for new signage at the southern entrance to Mount Prospect off Busse Road north of I-90, and at the entrance to the Kensington Business Center. At this week’s (April 8) committee as a whole meeting, Community Development presented the proposed chosen designs based on feedback.
$1 Million Approved For Maine East Track Replacement

2 weeks ago | journal-topics.com | Sam Rakestraw

The Maine Township High School Dist. 207 Board of Education approved $1,020,270 for a full outdoor track replacement at Maine East High School during this month’s board meeting Monday (April 7). The last time there was any kind of replacement of the track at the Park Ridge school was over 30 years ago. The proposed budget was set at $800,000. “A core sample showed a wet subgrade.
Wheeling Renews Contract With Non-Sworn Police Employees

2 weeks ago | journal-topics.com | Sam Rakestraw

Wheeling trustees approved renewal of a contract with the Metropolitan Alliance of Police for three years, with increased wages, changes to insurance, and more. Chapter 786 of the Metropolitan Alliance of Police covers non-sworn police department employees under the new agreement from May 1 to April 30, 2028. These include community services officers and records clerks.
Sankyu Sushi Gets Liquor License Under New Management

2 weeks ago | journal-topics.com | Sam Rakestraw

A new Class F-3 liquor license was approved for Sankyu Sushi, 1178 Elmhurst Rd., during the April 2 Mount Prospect Village Board meeting as the Japanese restaurant comes under new ownership. The license allows full alcoholic beverage service in a lounge setting. Sandy Yang recently acquired Sankyu Sushi from the original owner who had run it since 1997 — both are family friends. Yang is a restaurateur with 22 years of experience and operates Omakase Shoji and Lawrence Fish Chinatown in Chicago.
Village Will Assist With CoCo & Maple Build-Out

2 weeks ago | journal-topics.com | Sam Rakestraw

CoCo & Maple, a sister location to CoCo & Blu in downtown Arlington Heights, has been given the green light to open in downtown Mount Prospect at 130 E. Northwest Hwy. The owners, members of the Brown family, are investing around $880,547 in the new location. During Wednesday’s (April 2) regular village board meeting, the Mount Prospect trustees approved a $250,000 redevelopment agreement with the family to help complete their new restaurant in a timelier manner.
Wheeling Approves Agreements For Buffalo Creek Stabilization Project

3 weeks ago | journal-topics.com | Sam Rakestraw

A resolution approving 21 landowner agreements and easement grants for the Buffalo Creek Streambank Stabilization Project was approved by Wheeling trustees. The stabilization project, between Northgate Parkway and Dundee Road, will repair areas of Buffalo Creek’s banks that have eroded away. It will also “provide a native habitat with a native vegetated buffer to the creek — which will improve water quality throughout the Buffalo Creek watershed,” the village states on its website.
Mount Prospect Mulls Renewing Valet Services For One Year

1 month ago | journal-topics.com | Sam Rakestraw

Mount Prospect Village Board members discussed renewing services with FiveStar Valet for service to businesses in the downtown triangle during Tuesday’s (March 10) board workshop meeting. The triangle is loosely bounded by Main Street (Elmhurst Road) to the east, Northwest Highway to the south, Wille Street to the west, and a public alley. This includes valet services for seven businesses, three of which are restaurants, on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings from 5 p.m. to midnight.
Residents Lean Toward Green Space For 111 E. Busse

1 month ago | journal-topics.com | Sam Rakestraw

In February, the village of Mount Prospect finalized the judicial purchase of 111 E. Busse Ave. downtown for $5 million — a site that has remained vacant in recent years with ongoing litigation between its two owners. The village board wasted no time gathering public opinions on the future of the property and its six-story office building during a workshop meeting on Tuesday, March 10. Several community members who spoke that evening advocated for a green park-like space or a community plaza.
Name Appearing On Mailer Irks Village Board Candidate

1 month ago | journal-topics.com | Sam Rakestraw

The Mount Prospect Village Board, with Trustee Terri Gens among candidates running for reelection April 1, reiterated the importance of nonpartisanship in village elections during the regular village board meeting March 4. Her comments came after a Wheeling Township Democrats flyer was mailed with voting recommendations that included Gens. “I did not ask to be placed on this flyer. Nor was I given the courtesy of being notified.