Burger King, Sparx Hair Studio, 7-Eleven and several other multi-tenant commercial buildings dot the major intersection at Routes 52 and 59. The Crossroads Plaza on the northwest corner of the intersection, with undeveloped land and the outline of a demolished restaurant, isn’t particularly pleasing to the eye.
But members of the Anderson family, who have owned the property for three generations, have broken through on plans to redevelop the lot, getting approval from the Village Board last week.
“It’s a real exciting time,” said David Anderson, one of three brothers who has tried to finalize plans for the past several years. “It’s taken a couple years to get the engineering and design approved. The state was our biggest obstacle.”
Anderson said plans to construct a one-story structure at the corner, reface the north and west buildings, and build an addition with a drive-thru were stalled because the family had to deal with a laborious approval process through the Illinois Department of Transportation. The recession also was an obstacle.
Plans include leveling the nearby hill into a parking lot. The intersection is close to the DuPage River, Hammel Woods County Forest Preserve and residential areas.
“Now we’re hoping to attract major retail, business and a fast food [restaurant] of some type,” Anderson said. “There was lots of discussion over the last couple of years. Nobody committed because of the length of the process. But we’re now reaching back out to previous interested parties.”
One of those parties is Starbucks, which signed a letter of intent with the family a year ago. Anderson said that letter isn’t valid anymore, and the family is talking with several coffee shops and other commercial businesses, and continuing discussions with Starbucks, about locating in Crossroads Plaza.
Anderson said construction is expected to start in the spring, and will likely take about 18 months.
The intersection of Toutes 52 and 59 is important to the village, Mayor Rick Chapman said, noting that the intersection and the DuPage River inspired the village’s logo.
“That entire corner and area is in our master plan for redevelopment,” Chapman said. “The Anderson family is the first one to step up to the plate and do some rebuilding.”
Chapman said there wasn’t any other redevelopment going on along the corridor, so he’s hoping the Crossroads Plaza will lead to more businesses setting up shop in Shorewood.
