Yorkville's `front door' will get a makeover

YORKVILLE -- A key intersection in the city is about to get a makeover.Demolition crews were on the site early this week of the former Mobil gas station at routes 34 and 47. A developer hopes to have new life on the corner within the next several weeks.

Plans include a bank, gas station and a commercial center on what is the busiest corner in Kendall County. Nearly 70,000 cars pass through the crossing on an average day. Wade Joyner, attorney representing Progressive Holdings, told the Yorkville City Council the group wants to transform the parcel into a commercial gateway into the city."We're taking that entire corner and cleaning it up and making it look like it should," he said.

Joyner did not name any of the potential businesses or tenants at the site, noting that negotiations were ongoing.

City leaders say they hope whatever ends up on the corner will be aesthetically pleasing.

"I can't stress enough, this is the front door to Yorkville," Mayor Art Prochaska said.

Prochaska suggested that some kind of covenants on design standards be included in the development agreement.

The plan takes into consideration the Illinois Department of Transportation's eventual plans to widen the intersection, Joyner said.

Alderman Larry Kot noted that businesses on two of the other corners of the intersection have a significant amount of green space between the roadway and the parking lots, and he said he would like to see that continued on the new development.

Joyner said there is a landscape plan pending review with the city's planning consultant.

"I think you'll be happy with how that looks," Joyner said.

As planned, the bank building would be on the corner, with drive-through lanes facing Route 34.

The gas station, which would include a convenience store and a car wash, also would face Route 34 east of the bank.

The 9,650 square-foot commercial building would be south of the bank building, according to the plan.

Developers were able to work with a 3-acre site after the city annexed some additional land on the corner earlier this fall. The parcel is large enough to handle three freestanding structures, along with parking spaces at each of the buildings.

Both the bank and gas station would have right-in, right-out only turn lanes off routes 47 and 34.

The developers are planning to meet with the owners of the Yorkville Marketplace shopping center to attain an access point that would connect the new development with the Jewel-Osco parking lot, Joyner said.