Friends and neighbors,

I trust everyone had a wonderful holiday season with family and friends, and are off to a great start in 2019.  As this newsletter is being drafted, Oak Brook is still harboring freezing temperatures with snow and ice. It is difficult to be thinking spring at this time but hopefully, before this newsletter reaches your home, that snow/cold will be gone and some signs of spring will be appearing.

I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the superb efforts of our Public Works Department. They  have done a great job keeping our roadways clear of snow and ice. I wish to also thank the tireless efforts of our Police, Fire and Public Works personnel as they keep our roads and community safe through the last several months.

Looking ahead at 2019, the Village Board has signed an agreement with Pineoak Partners to once again host Polo for the 2019 season keeping the Polo tradition alive in Oak Brook. As the program grows so does the popularity of the sport. Make plans now to spend a spectacular Sunday afternoon at Oak Brook Polo which kicks off its season on June 9, 2019.

The annual Taste of Oak Brook will see some changes this year. With the departure of the McDonald’s Corporation from Oak Brook, the Village has lost a major co-sponsorship for our annual community event. As such, now is a good time to reevaluate the event and make some adjustments. Some of the changes being considered is the elimination of live entertainment and instead have a DJ, as well as increasing the parking fees. Also, new this year, Village will no longer allow event goers to bring in their own alcoholic beverages. Beverages will be sold at the event. If you or someone you know is willing to partner with the Village for the Taste of Oak Brook event, there are many sponsorship opportunities that will assist the Village in defraying some of the expenses involved in hosting this event. Please contact the Village Manager’s office at 630-368-5026 for any leads you may have.

The Village Board recently approved the formation of a Long Term Strategic Planning Advisory Committee. This Committee shall provide advice and recommendations to the Village President and Board of Trustees concerning economic development in the Village, including, without limitation, housing and school district matters; Village finances, including, without limitation, Sports Core finances; and any other issues referred to the Committee by the Village President and Board of Trustees. Residents who serve on this Committee will serve for one year at which time the Committee’s responsibilities will end unless extended by the Village President and the Board.

Oak Brook today is at a crossroads. With last year’s departure of McDonald’s Corporation, we are left with a large hole in our commercial corridor and several large vacant properties will need to be repositioned or redeveloped. Moving forward, we need to carefully look at high-end luxury developments within our commercial district. However, it is imperative that these developments are well thought out, meaningfully structured, and consistent with the unique Oak Brook brand. We also need to bring in more revenue-generating businesses including newer stores, hotels, and restaurants. I am happy to inform you that after the Board recently approved the high-end 90-condominium Jupiter project on Spring Road, another major developer with an international reputation (Hines) will be investing  around 500 million dollars on a phenomenal mixed use project including office, residential, retail, a boutique hotel, and a beautifully landscaped dynamic town center. This Hines conceptual project will soon be going to our Plan Commission for further deliberations. I am also happy to report to you that  a single major corporation is currently very closely looking at securing the McDonald’s main campus, and as I understand they intend to leave the beautiful open space untouched. Additionally, the Hub group headquartered in Oak Brook, has been growing rapidly and has just secured financing to build an additional twin building. Needless to say, we are on the right track on our path to meaningful economic development. Of course, standing still and doing nothing is not an option for us. Let us continue the progress, continue to remain business friendly so as to grow our economic base, without the necessity of any new taxation of any kind.

One last item is a reminder to vote in our local municipal election on April 2nd. Residents will be voting for the Village President, three Village Trustees, Park Board members and School Board members for both elementary and high school districts. Absentee ballots can be requested at the Village Hall. Early voting starts on March 18^th at the Village Hall.

As always, the Trustees, the staff, and I are available to you at all times. Feel free to call, email or meet any of us if you have any thoughts or concerns. We are here to serve you. At the end of the day, life isn’t about just “showing up”, but it is about service.  Mahatma Gandhi said it so aptly: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”.

With kind regards,

Gopal Lalmalani, MD, MBA.

Village President