Mayor Embraced by Rosemont Business Leaders

Administration Report Most Popular Luncheon Program of the Year

A record 158 Rosemont business leaders and employees, labor leaders and government officials gathered at Rosewood Restaurant, on Wednesday, September 14, 2011, to meet the Village of Rosemont’s president, Mayor Brad Stephens, and hear his annual report on the community’s growth and progress.

Mayor Stephens first recognized Bill Sokolis, president and CEO, and Hannah Michael, public relations director, from the Chicago Bandits women’s professional softball organization.  The mayor congratulated the executives on the Bandits’ 2011 NPF championship.  

Even though the village had just broken ground in February, and this area experienced one of the rainiest springs in history, Mayor Stephens and the Village of Rosemont debuted the 2,000-seat Rosemont Field, in time for the Bandits to move into their new home arena and play their opening game.   

The mayor announced, “The village is partnering with the Illinois Baseball Academy and Chicago Bandits softball on an expansion that will add two more turf fields and a youth academy under an air-suspended dome, roughly 500 feet by 250 feet, to be used year-round. Completion is scheduled for early, 2012.

“The creation of Rosemont Field is a great opportunity for us, not only to present an energetic and talented team of champions, but through this expansion, to offer healthful sports options that will benefit young people and youth fitness.”  

Mayor Stephens then quickly changed the focus of his presentation to the current status of the 3.3 acres of projects currently under construction, or soon to be, that will nearly complete the total 8.9-acre, multi-million dollar development:  The Park at Rosemont.  

The mayor used projections and a model (exhibited at the center of the stage) of The Park for his presentation.  The views depicted in the visual aids are from the west, i.e., looking eastward, from the audience’s point of view.

The mayor explained that the Village of Rosemont is acting as its own developer, ensuring quality and control of the development.  He underscored that the new restaurants and attractions are nearly 100 percent firsts-in-market, as he began this portion of the presentation on the northwest corner of the development.  The single- story, 7,000-square-foot building under construction there will become an authentic Irish pub restaurant, from the Lyons Group in Boston.  

East of the pub and across from the second most popular movie theatre complex in Illinois -- Muvico Rosemont 18 -- will be Kings Bowling, a 29,000-square-foot  facility, featuring 20 lanes -- 14 lanes in one section and a six-lane semi-private area.

Mayor Stephens was particularly happy to announce that the Village of Rosemont’s Board of Trustees, at the regular monthly board meeting immediately preceding the luncheon, approved a partnership deal that is no laughing matter with the famous Zanies’ Comedy Club.  The 5,000-square-foot club will be located in the center of the south side of the development, just east of Park Tavern, a 7,000-square-foot facility under construction in the southwest corner of The Park at Rosemont.  

The 7,200-square-foot Taverna Opa Greek restaurant from Miami and Orlando will be located on the first floor of a building in the center of the east side of the development.  The 5,000-square-foot Adobe Gila’s  Mexican restaurant will be will be located on the second floor of the same building and accessed off of the Rosemont Municipal Parking Garage.  

Directly south of Adobe Gilas’s and Taverna Opa, will be Toby Keith’s I Love this Bar and Grill.  This new hot spot, with 35,000 square feet of space, includes a special area for VIPs.  The Toby Keith organization is expected to book some of the most popular names in country music entertainment for their grand opening.  

The 20,000-square-foot Hofbräuhaus will be located in the center of the west side of The Park at Rosemont.

The mayor pointed out the area on the northwest side of The Park, where a huge tent has been installed to present one very scary dwelling:  The brand new SCREAMS at  The Park at Rosemont.  The attraction, which promises to be a truly fright-filled experience, opens Sunday, October 1st and runs through Monday, October 31st.  It is expected to attract 20,000 Halloween fans.  Magician-illusionist Mark Kaschube and his Mischievous Tricksters will perform their hilarious, fun-filled show at the Rosemont Theatre, at 2 PM, on Sunday, October 30th.  100 percent of the proceeds from that show will benefit Salute Inc., an organization that helps military personnel returning from combat.  

Thousands of skaters glided onto our new rink last season.  The permanent ice skating venue is significantly enlarged this year to regulation NHL size, and is being moved to its new permanent location in time for this year’s ice-skating season.  It will be the centerpiece of the development.  

The biggest news of all is that Chicago Fashion Outlets / Rosemont-- the $250 million,
550,000-square-foot, designer-direct shopping mall -- will break ground in the next few weeks on its 120-store center, with a 2,600-car indoor parking deck.  It will occupy space south end of Balmoral Avenue and west of the Rosemont Theatre.  

“Recently I’ve told many friends and colleagues that the Illinois Gaming Board doesn’t know what a gift they gave Rosemont by awarding the casino license to Des Plaines,” the mayor said.  He explained that if the new mall sells as much merchandise as the mall in Aurora, more tax revenues may be generated for Rosemont than would have been generated by the operation of a casino in Rosemont.  

Mayor Stephens moved on to the subject of commercial real estate in Rosemont, commenting that there is more potential than ever for increased office development.  There are 15 acres that will be available just south of Balmoral.  The village continues to work with a management company of the property on the northwest corner of River and Higgins Roads, to encourage development there.  

The mayor completed his presentation with an explanation of the transportation plan, including the Balmoral access ramp, which is currently under construction.

Before taking questions, Mayor Stephens concluded: “We continue to work with the Illinois and Chicago Departments of Transportation on the Balmoral extension to southbound Mannheim, as well as the connection to O' Hare. We are currently working with PACE on defining a bus transportation system that will move people within the community more efficiently. We hope to have the first loop of that system operational in the spring of 2012.”

Bandits Bring NPF Championship to Rosemont

In thrilling fashion, the Chicago Bandits claimed their second NPF Cowles Cup Championship in late August, earning their second World Championship in team history, with a 10-3 victory over the USSSA Florida Pride.

The Bandits swept the USSSA Pride in the NPF Championship Series in Sulphur, La. with stellar pitching from the pitcher, Monica Abbott, and a burst of offense from rookie Megan Wiggins.

With the 2011 season in the books, the Bandits have already set their sights on the 2012 season and look forward to defending the Championship in Rosemont, Ill. The excitement and interaction with players at a Bandits game is unmatched in the Rosemont area. This affordable entertainment can be yours all season long for as little as $8 a game for the best seats in the ballpark.

The 2012 schedule will be released in early February and Single game tickets will be available for sale on April 2.

For more information about the Bandits, or to order tickets, visit www.chicagobandits.com or call 877-7BANDIT (877-722-6348).

Exciting New Venues Coming to Rosemont in June 2012!

The Park at Rosemont opening in 2012, is a new development that will feature lively bars and restaurants with live music, casual dining, bowling, and outdoor patios. A seasonal courtyard will be in the center of it all perfect for farmers markets, movies under the stars & ice skating. Located in the heart of the entertainment district, The Park at Rosemont is only a block from the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center and is anchored by Muvico 18- Movie Theater, a number of hotels and the vibrant Rosemont Theatre.

Congratulations to our 2011 Scholarship Winners

• Andrew Bourke
  Chamber Member Company: Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd.
• Daniel Simpson
  Chamber Member Company: Airport Accommodations

The two winners and their families will be honored at the Chamber's Annual Golf Outing dinner at Chevy Chase in Wheeling on June 27th.

Thanks to all who participated — look for the Scholarship award again next year!

Rosemont Corporate Center Awarded LEED Gold Certification;

Ryan’s Class A Office Building Noted for Energy Efficiency, Sustainability

Ryan Companies US, Inc.’s newly constructed Rosemont Corporate Center has achieved LEED-CS 2.0 Gold certification. The Class A office building was cited for its energy-saving under floor air distribution (UFAD) system, indoor air quality, erosion and sediment control plans, and use of regionally-collected building materials.

"As a company, we are focused on sustainability, looking at the various ways we can incorporate it into our commercial developments,” said Tim Hennelly, vice president of development, Ryan Companies US, Inc. "We're proud to carry the LEED Gold certification because of what it means for our tenants and the overall environment."

The LEED Gold certification, issued by the U.S. Green Building Council, was given to this building based on a wide range of construction, energy usage and transportation factors. Ryan, whose Midwest Division is based  in Naperville, Ill., optimized the energy performance on the building to achieve a 22.7 percent cost savings; created a parking plan that allows for 56 percent of the vehicles to be under cover; and was able to obtain 23.92 percent of the project materials from within a 500-mile radius of the Rosemont location.

The building, located at 9501 Technology Blvd. in Rosemont, Ill., is on a three-acre site south of Balmoral Avenue, between River Road and Interstate 294. The site is immediately south of the Rosemont Theatre and adjacent to the Village’s Entertainment District consisting of restaurants, hotels and other retail amenities.

The 119,000-square-foot building also is located close to public transportation and has five percent of its parking spaces set aside for low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles. The landscaping is watered through an efficient system that reduces water usage.

Features of Rosemont Corporate Center include space divisible to 2,200 square feet, food service in the building, covered parking and hotel shuttle service to and from the River Road "L" stop and O'Hare International Airport. The building is adjacent to the newly developed 556-room Intercontinental Hotel and within minutes of nearby restaurants including The Capital Grille, McCormick & Schmick's, Gibsons Steakhouse, Cafe Nucci's and Maria's Mexican Restaurant. Location benefits include proximity to O’Hare International Airport and tollway/expressway systems providing access to downtown Chicago and the suburban markets.

Rosemont Corporate Center, a four-story building, is approximately 85% leased, with major tenant Cisco Systems occupying 82,000 square feet. In designing its space, Cisco also focused on sustainable design and construction elements. The company awaits certification notification of its space.

Other tenants of the building include Skyline Advanced Technology Services, which occupies 7,000 square feet; and The Harp Group/Portfolio Hotels & Resorts, which occupies 10,000 square feet. The building was developed, starting in December of 2008, through a joint venture between Ryan and The Harp Group.  

In addition to its role developing and constructing the Rosemont Corporate Center, Ryan is also the property manager for the building.  Other project team members include:  Wright Heerema Architects, base building architect and interior architect for The Harp Group/Portfolio Hotels and Skyline Advanced Technology Services; SPACECO, Inc., civil engineer; CS Associates, Inc., structural engineer; O’Hare Engineering, mechanical consultant; Lyons & Pinner Electric Companies, electrical consultant; Adler Plumbing & Heating, Inc., plumbing consultant; David R. McCallum Associates, Inc., landscape architect; Jones Lang LaSalle, broker; and HOK, interior architect for Cisco Systems. 

Rosemont Corporate Center is being leased by Francis Prock and Steve Kling, principals with the Chicago office of Colliers International. Prock and Kling may be reached at 847-698-8257 and 847-698-8256, respectively.

About Ryan Companies US, Inc.
Ryan Companies US, Inc., a nationally recognized builder, developer, designer and real estate manager, has specialized in providing fully integrated solutions for more than 70 years.  In its first 10 years of operation, Ryan’s Midwest Division (based in Chicago) has completed over $1 Billion in projects for customers such as Deere & Company, Isle of Capri, Target Corporation, Dominick’s, C. H. Robinson and Froedtert & Community Health.  In addition to its Chicago office, Ryan has offices in Minneapolis, San Diego, Tampa, Phoenix and Cedar Rapids, Davenport and Des Moines, Iowa.

A Downtown for Rosemont Becomes Reality

By TODD WESSELL Journal & Topics Editor

Excavation activity on a prime piece of real estate in Rosemont will begin this month where a new multi-million dollar entertainment district complete with restaurants, at least one pub and an upscale bowling alley, will be built.

Rosemont Village Board members on Sept. 1 approved two lease agreements that will bring in King’s Bowl and Lansdowne Irish Pub to the acreage that’s located along the east side of the Tri-State Tollway south of the Muvico Theater and north of Balmoral Avenue. The work scheduled to begin this month calls for the filling of a huge 16 to 18-ft. deep hole on the site where Rosemont officials had hoped to one day locate the state’s 10th casino. Instead, nearly two years ago, the Illinois Gaming Board chose a site just a half-mile to the north in Des Plaines as the site of the new casino. That decision set the stage for Rosemont to set into motion its plans for a new entertainment district “We’re finally going to bury this thing,” said Rosemont Mayor Bradley Stephens at the Sept. 1 village board meeting. “No longer will the property be called the former casino site. Its new name is The Park at Rosemont.”

Stephens gave a presentation of the entertainment district plan and other developments in Rosemont to local business leaders at a Rosemont Chamber of Commerce luncheon later that day. He explained that the entertainment district cost will run around $40 million and consist of 350,000 sq. ft. Planned for the district is construction of an outdoor plaza area where festivals, farmer’s markets, Christmas tree lighting ceremonies and even a skating rink will be located.“This will become the downtown area that the late Rosemont Mayor Don Stephens and the current mayor (his son) envisioned not only for Rosemont but the O’Hare market,” said Marc Offit, the village’s realty advisor, during the same luncheon.

An anchor of the entertainment district will be a 27,000 sq. ft. Toby Keith’s restaurant, a popular venue that will feature not only food but also live entertainment where as many as 2,000 people can enjoy. Opening of the district at this time is anticipated to occur in the spring of 2012. The two lease agreements inked call for King’s Bowl, based in the Boston area, to occupy 27,000 sq. ft. and feature 20 lanes. The annual rent generated for the landlord of the new development, the village, will total $725,000. The Irish pub will occupy 6,000 sq. ft. and generate $259,000 for the village in rent. Additional sales and food and beverage tax revenue will be generated as well. “This has been four years in the planning,” said Mayor Stephens after the Sept. 1 village board meeting. “What the entertainment district means is there will be a new destination for folks to come to and have a nice time. It’s another element of what we do here." Stephens pointed to other recent developments in the village including the opening earlier this year of the Cisco Systems building on Balmoral Avenue and the purchase of a large office building north of Balmoral along I-294 by Lifesource. Both companies will each bring in as many as 400 new employees to the area.

In addition, Rosemont recently announced that it will build a new 1,500-permanent seat stadium for the Chicago Bandits professional women’s softball team that will be located on the west side of I-294 near Balmoral Avenue.

Job Fair with Congressman Peter J. Roskam (IL-06)

Download the application to be an exhibitor.

Monday, July 26th
9:00am - 1:00pm

Medinah Banquets
550 Shriners Drive
Addison, Il. 60101

Questions: Alex Smith 630.893.9670
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Congratulations, Mayor Bradley Stephens!

MAYOR BRADLEY A. STEPHENS DECISIVE VICTOR

Mandate with 92 Percent of the Vote

Mayor Bradley A. Stephens was appointed Mayor of Rosemont by the Village of Rosemont Board of Trustees, on May 1, 2007, two weeks after his father, Mayor Donald E. Stephens, passed away while serving his 14th consecutive term in the same office.  Mayor Don Stephens was one of the longest serving incumbents in the nation.

Throughout the past two years, those fortunate enough to know Mayor Brad Stephens were aware that:  1) he works extremely hard  for the Village of Rosemont; and 2) he was very much looking forward to the election in April, 2009, when the residents of Rosemont would have the opportunity to voice their opinion of the appointed mayor.

With wife Suzi, his mother, Pat, and other Stephens family members present, Mayor Stephens took the oath of office, which was administered by Illinois Court of Claims Judge Donald Storino, a long-time family friend.  Both gentlemen fought back emotion as the ceremony proceeded.   Following the mayor’s swearing in, the Judge administered additional oaths of office to Debbie Drehobl for the office of Village Clerk, and Roger Minale, Ralph DiMatteo and Sharon Pappas for the offices of Trustee.  The mayor thanked retiring Clerk Rosalie Lennstrom and congratulated new Trustee Roger MInale.

"It was a very special honor for me to swear in the Hon. Bradley A. Stephens on May 6, 2009,” Judge Storino said.

He continued:  “It was a meaningful experience not only for me, but for everyone in my family.  Our families have known each other since 1978. I had the pleasure and honor to serve Mayor Brad Stephens’ father, Donald E. Stephens, and it was with a great deal of pride that I administered the oath of office to Brad.  I’ve watched Brad develop and grow as a person, and as an elected official in the town his father founded. Brad possesses all the attributes to lead Rosemont in the future. Rosemont is fortunate to have Mayor Bradley Stephens as its President.  Congratulations to all citizens in the Village of Rosemont and to Mayor Stephens."

“The huge margin and the record turn-out are the expression of confidence the people of Rosemont have in his leadership,” added Peter Rosenthal, village attorney from Rosenthal, Murphy, Coblentz and Donahue.

“Bradley was an outstanding mayor prior to his election and the best is yet to come,” said Robert Stephenson, an attorney at Locke, Lord Bissell and Liddell, who has advised the current mayor and his father for decades.

Mr. Stephenson continued:  “People who don’t know the Stephens family don’t realize that Mayor Don Stephens devoted his entire life to public service.   He was dedicated to governing Rosemont.  He couldn’t do enough for his town and his neighbors.  Up until the day he passed away, there was always an urgency to do more and more, and to give of himself to the community.

“He raised his children and his grandchildren with the same beliefs and strong sense of responsibility.    Just look at Mayor Brad’s performance already. With less than two years in office, the village’s bond rating already has increased.  That increase is a huge accomplishment because the rating was good from the start.    Additionally, to increase a municipality’s bond

rating during the second largest economic downturn in modern history is absolutely unique to all other municipalities.”

Mayor Stephens thanked everyone in attendance, and the entire Village of Rosemont for the victory:  “I thank everyone for the support.  I speak for my wife, Suzi and my entire family, when I say we are thrilled and will do the best job possible for the people of Rosemont, Illinois.”