Three discuss future of FRG
By BRETT ROWLAND - browland@nwherald.com
CARY – Candidates for public office in Fox River Grove answered questions from residents and discussed important issues facing the village in the coming years.
The only contested election in Fox River Grove is the three-way race for village president. In that race are village trustee Paulette Pelletier, former village trustee Suzanne Blohm, and Robert Nunamaker, a member of the village’s Planning and Economic Development Committee.
The candidates spoke at a forum Thursday night organized by the Cary-Grove Chamber of Commerce.
All three said they would focus on keeping a balanced budget and encouraging economic development. Their plans for economic development in downtown Fox River Grove included attracting mixed-use retail and residential growth opportunities.
Nunamaker said Fox River Grove offered unique attractions, including the Fox River and a Metra station. He said development of downtown with a combination of commercial space and residential apartments or condos above street level would be a great benefit for the village.
He said there was “a sense of urgency” and that economic development “was a vanishing opportunity.”
Blohm said she also would encourage such mixed-use development but said it would be a challenge to attract developers to the area, especially in a recession.
“It’s crucial to come up with a plan to market Fox River Grove to commercial developers,” she said.
Blohm added that she also wanted to make sure the village retained current business concerns.
Pelletier also noted several of the roadblocks for downtown redevelopment. However, she said she would like to continue some efforts already under way. She suggested that raising enough capital for a facade improvement program might be the path to revitalizing the downtown area. Pelletier also said she would like to organize a monthly street market downtown to attract shoppers and increase local spending.
