Tinley Park trustees hear proposal for 2 new hotels on 94th Avenue
Also: Orland Park updates status of parks, recreation areas after modifications made to stay-at-home order

TINLEY PARK, Ill.
A project involving the construction of two hotels may be coming to Tinley Park.
The plan – brought forward by Haresh Jethani, on behalf of Top Hospitality – was discussed Tuesday, May 5, at both the Village of Tinley Park Board of Trustees’ Committee of the Whole (COTW) meeting and the regularly scheduled board meeting.
Trustees showed support for the project in a series of 6-0 affirmative first-reading votes. The project will be put up for formal adoption at a future meeting.
The hotel proposal calls for the Village to annex approximately 8.7 acres of unincorporated land located at 9599 94th Avenue. Tinley Park Planning Manager Paula Wallrich said the site has “been vacant for some time.”
“The annexation agreement provides for the rezoning of the property to the B-3 [General Business and Commercial] zoning district to allow for the construction of two Marriott-branded hotels,” said Trustee Michael Mueller during the discussion at the Village Board meeting. “The agreement also provides for a recapture of costs to the benefit of the Village for the extension of utilities to the proposed development.”
The plan – which asks for 10 variations, including to lot size, layout, building height, parking, signage and exterior materials – will subdivide the property into two parcels separated by a detention pond.
Wallrich said the project will be completed in phases, with a Marriott Courtyard hotel being constructed first. Wallrich said that four-story, 125-room hotel – which will be located on the northwest side of the parcel – represents a $17.8 million investment from the petitioner.
The second hotel will be a four-story, 118-room Residence Inn, which Wallrich said is designed with longer-stay clients in mind.
The overall investment for that hotel is approximately $17.6 million, Wallrich said.
Top Hospitality also is requesting Cook County 7B reclassification for both hotels – an incentive that reduces the tax assessment ratio for the property from 25% to 10% of the market value for 10 years.
“The unique part of this one that we haven’t done in the past and was recommended by our attorney is that we provide an incentive agreement that is a part of this resolution,” Wallrich said. “The benefit of that is that it provides the Village with some more assurances that what we are approving and the project that is being proposed for our consideration will indeed happen.
“In the incentive agreement … we will make sure that all real estate taxes have been paid and that the property is developed in accordance with the plans as presented.”
Wallrich said the agreement also requires that the project is completed by Dec. 31, 2022.
“Even in light of [COVID-19], we worked back and forth on these deadlines,” she said. “This is one both parties were comfortable with.”
The trustees voiced support for the project during the COTW meeting.
“Without reforecasting the revenue side of the budget, I still would like to move forward with this idea,” Trustee Cynthia Berg said. “Hopefully, it will all work out.”
Trustee Michael Glotz also was on board with the project.
“It’s long overdue, and I’m glad to see that area of Tinley start to build up,” he said.
Orland Park updates status of parks, recreation areas after modifications made to stay-at-home order
ORLAND PARK, Ill.
On May 6, a press release detailing updates on programs and services was published by the Village of Orland Park.
Per the release, as part of the Restore Illinois plan released by Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office and modifications made to his stay-at-home order, the Village announced:
Boating, fishing, parks and trails are open provided users follow social distancing, avoid gathering in groups, and use the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The disc golf course at Doogan Park has reopened. Those who use the course should limit groups to two people and spread out start times by 15 minutes.
Tennis and pickleball courts now are open for singles games. Doubles matches are not permitted at this time.
The dog park at Centennial Park is open. A face covering should be worn by dog park members when a 6-foot distance cannot be maintained by the users.
However, the press release stated that all playgrounds continue to be closed per the governor’s orders.
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