The parking areas and roadway on the north and east sides of the train station will be closed, except to construction traffic, until further notice. The roadway that runs through the middle of the development will remain open at all times. Commuters should note that parking spaces one through 20 have been eliminated and spaces 27 through 32 are now handicapped spaces six through 10. Parking space 21 is now for Metra personnel only.
The city operates four other parking areas for commuters. The Waverly Avenue lot, located northeast of the train station, contains 154 daily fee spaces. The 157th Street lot, which is located immediately north of the train station, has 294 daily fee spaces. There also are 24 daily fee spaces along the south side of 158th Street – immediately east and west of Lamon Avenue. Finally, the Arbor commuter lot at the southwest corner of 159th Street and Oak Avenue has 481 spaces.
June 23, 2009
The Oak Forest City Council has approved a request by RSC & Associates, the master developer of the Gateway Project, to amend its special use permit to build one retail building instead of two near the rear of the property at the northwest corner of 159th Street and Cicero Avenue. The 9,558-square-foot building will accommodate multiple tenants, including a sit-down restaurant and a coffee shop with a drive-thru.
"Originally, we planned to have four commercial outlots, now we'll have three," said Community Development Director Adam Dotson. "Overall, this new plan will be more efficient and increase our square footage."
Construction of the retail building is expected to begin this year. Once complete, the Gateway Development will include more than 50,000 square feet of new retail and restaurant space and 78 residential units.
April 30, 2009
CVS will open on Sunday, May 3.
April 16, 2009
CVS is on target to open in early May. Store employees are currently stocking the shelves, installing displays, and putting the finishing touches on the inside of the store.
February 19, 2009
With construction completed on the new CVS building, the contractor has turned over the property to the drug store company. Currently, CVS is working on the internal components of the store, including installing shelving, stocking products and hiring employees. CVS plans to open the store this spring.
National City bank opens in the Gateway
On December 8, National City bank in the Gateway Development opened for business. The bank will hold a grand opening event in the spring. In other Gateway news, phase one of the project is complete. Phase one included the installation of sanitary sewers, water mains, roads, lighting elements, and landscaping. Construction of the new CVS Pharmacy continues at a steady pace. The store is on schedule to open early next year.
City celebrates Cicero Avenue street lights
A cold but cheerful group of elected officials, city staff and business owners huddled together in the Waverly Avenue Parking Lot on Wednesday, December 3 to celebrate the official debut of the new, decorative street lights along Cicero Avenue, from 155th Street to the viaduct. The street lights, adorned with festive Christmas wreaths, lights and garland, are part of a larger plan to enhance the city's commercial corridor.
"Cicero Avenue is the gateway to our city," said Community Development Director Adam Dotson. "These lights are just the first step in our plan to support and encourage economic development and redevelopment in this part of town."
In addition to the street lights, the first phase of the Cicero Avenue makeover includes new sidewalks, concrete parkways and furniture. The enhancements are expected to be completed this spring. Phase two of the project will begin in 2009 and will include similar enhancements from the viaduct on Cicero Avenue to the viaduct on 159th Street. The streetscape project was funded by a $500,000 grant from the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program.
The Cicero Avenue Streetscape Makeover would not have been possible with the support of:
Senator Maggie Crotty
ComEd
H&H Electric
Oak Forest Public Works Department
Gateway Updates
October 30, 2008
Late last week, PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. purchased National City Corporation in a government-supported $5.6 billion deal to create the fifth largest U.S. bank by deposits. National City branches, including the one opening in the Gateway Development, will assume the PNC name. Read more.
October 7, 2008
Construction on the National City Bank building (right) should be finished within the next four weeks. The contractor plans to turn over the property to National City Bank on November 1. National City Bank has announced that its grand opening will be before the end of the year.
The roads within the Gateway project will be paved this week and landscaping also will be installed. Construction is expected to start soon on CVS Pharmacy, which is due to open early next year.
September 23, 2008
Construction of the new CVS store began today. Leopardo Construction, the general contractor, expects the nearly 15,000-square-foot building to be completed by early 2009. Along with the CVS and National City Bank construction, residents will see the road, lighting elements and landscaping begin to take shape. In addition, the developer will continue to refine the construction drawings as additional retailers commit to the development.
April 10, 2008
The first phase of demolition at the Gateway Development site is nearly complete. The sanitary sewers have been installed and the water mains are being installed on the east half of the project. In addition, the contractor has started digging to make way for the first storm water detention box, which will be installed next week. Shortly, the contractor will complete a temporary drive off Cicero Avenue, close the 159th Street exit/entrance and reopen the Cicero exit/entrance. The general contractor plans to have the site ready for the CVS builder by May 1. 
Gateway groundbreaking makes way for CVS, National City
On February 28, the chilly weather did not deter city leaders, community members, developers, and construction crews from "breaking ground" on the long-awaited Gateway Development at the northwest corner of Cicero Avenue and 159th Street. The mixed-use development will bring more than 50,000 square feet of new retail and restaurant space and 80 residential units to the city. (see site plan below).
Prior to the groundbreaking ceremony, the city announced that CVS, the nation's largest pharmacy chain, and National City, one of the nation's largest banking institutions, will open retail facilities as part of the Gateway Development.
"The services provided by CVS and National City will be of great value to our residents and commuters," said Community Development Director Adam Dotson. "Also, restaurant and other name brand retailers thrive on the consumer traffic generated by businesses like CVS and National City, creating a successful development."
With approximately 50 percent of the commercial square footage leased, HSA Commercial Real Estate has turned its focus on restaurants and niche retailers to fill the remaining space.
RSC & Associates, the master developer of the Gateway Development, has named Knightsbridge Design and Build, LLC as the general contractor. Construction is expected to be completed and the retailers open for business in mid August 2008.
Arbor Commuter Lot
In December, the former Arbor Park School site, along 159th Street near Oak Avenue, was transformed by the city into a safe, efficient and attractive commuter parking facility. The new lot accommodates Metra commuters from the previous permit lot. Ownership of the permit lot was transferred to RSC & Associates, the development firm in charge of the Gateway Development, so that construction could begin at the northwest corner of Cicero Avenue and 159th Street.
Veterans' Memorial
As part of the Gateway Development, the city plans to relocate and replace the War Memorial near the Metra train station. Now called a Veterans' Memorial, the new monument (see sketch below) will be located at City Hall near the gazebo. The city hopes to have the memorial completed in time for its annual Memorial Day service on Monday, May 26, 2008.
