Channahon Environmental Scan

One Step at a Time

Retail development may be slow in coming and might need existing buildings to be occupied before new ones are built

Channahon faces a number of challenges when it comes to retail growth within the village. First, they, like many other municipalities, are victims of the economy. "The promise of growth is no longer enough," Tom Jasek said. "Developers need bricks and sticks. "Retail development follows residential development." Jasek reported on the commercial section of the Channahon Environmental Scan. He was one of the students in Professor Robert Nelis' class that took on the analysis as a class project. While being a victim of the economy is shared with surrounding municipalities, one of the challenges that is unique to Channahon is the fact that a portion of the south end of the village is not going to be developed. Developers often will measure …

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Residents Asked if Channahon Can Support Retail Development

A public hearing was held Monday, but residents can fill out an online survey

 Residents in Channahon would like to see more places to shop in town. "I don't think there is a single person in this town who wouldn't want to see a nice place to go shopping right here," Mike Morman said. Morman and about five other residents attended a public hearing Monday night to gauge the interests of residents in economic development within the village. It was the first step in a study by firm Houseal Lavigne Associates, who were hired by the village. Ultimately, Channahon officials would like to create an economic development director position. At the heart of the study is the question; can Channahon support retail? "We don't like to do a plan or a study and then come to a community and say, 'here's what we think or you should…

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