[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6544381,"mediaKeyId","3731100-c6f40928e5c5199339b06e0d8f25c584","parentId",3731100,"title","Oswego EDC report: new leases, boardwalk concept and multiple downtown openings advance","audioSeconds",545,"startMs",4827000,"endMs",5372000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3731100-c6f40928e5c5199339b06e0d8f25c584&start=4827&end=5372","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3731100-c6f40928e5c5199339b06e0d8f25c584/thumbnail_4827000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6544381/Oswego/Kendall-County/Illinois/Oswego-EDC-report-new-leases-boardwalk-concept-and-multiple-downtown-openings-advance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6544381-6c252767c0fe338f1a51124704bc0c55/orig.mp4?Expires=1776624740&Signature=bW--c5ZbQGzPUvgctMpfum0hmWfgo-pYja5tNB~WwiYdHCQdoVjFT7Wj92ucIh80J-yHXyw8OIWuTH70SR1ocayeu--vawTyEbPR1imr9zTsSO92A-Jzv2Q77yQHR6N-EAf2UcA8LKX7nZqQCQmnSKc8Bp8tbVv7TlUf1TI6BJTwNst697AGptTo2UH9uYQNlLzu2A-nQDC42unoc~YVzvNLf8eHiPDzn8nZ7gdsoO1X~7T3UCBCkD8gJAje-TtvhPn6dRoeENvdpM13Qah2opNsfO0foDbj0ovgEZAEIwhdH3WG05rNwEgyCMPSOWaoxBJnZbjln9rrTIJVKIqX9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oswego","date","2025-06-09T18:02:00Z","article","Economic development staff told the Oswego Economic Development Commission that several downtown and corridor projects are advancing, including a signed lease for a full-service restaurant at the former Tap House location and multiple buildouts and openings planned across the village.

A staff member told commissioners, “I received confirmation from the landlord today that they have a signed lease with a full service restaurant,” for the Tap House site. The tenant’s name and exact build-out scope remained under wraps at the meeting; staff said they expect to meet with the new operator next week.

174 Harrison and Barkville Buddies

Staff said a concept plan for 174 Harrison — described as a boardwalk‑style cluster of shops with outdoor seating and food trucks — will be presented to the village board at the next meeting as a nonbinding concept. The property owner is also bringing a special-use application to repurpose an existing industrial-oriented building into retail space; plan commission recommended the application unanimously. One potential tenant identified in documents and leasing discussions is Barkville Buddies, a dog-focused social bar and dog park concept; staff said the project requires additional approvals, including site-plan and floodplain items.

Other projects and openings

- Duncan: Received Illinois Department of Transportation approval for right-of-way work and is expected to begin construction this summer on an 800-square-foot drive-through-only location.
- Benderson development (Route 34 corridor): Site work and fencing are underway for a grocery anchor and a 10,000-square-foot retail building; developer intends to proceed with ground-up construction later this summer with a goal of opening before year end.
- Skechers and Nori Sushi: Skechers is completing tenant buildout; Nori Sushi recently received liquor-license approval and awaits final inspection.
- Candy Cloud: A specialty beverage operator expected to open between Bibibop and Sherwin-Williams pending signage approvals.
- Gas and Wash: Convenience store and gas station is open; two restaurant tenants on the site (Woody's Wings and Scooters) are expected to open later this summer.
- Danelli's (Danelle's) building: Under contract and moving forward toward a potential closing next month; staff said leasing activity is ongoing.

Staff also reported ongoing leasing activity downtown, business retention visits (Kohl’s and others), and franchise/developer outreach from recent trade shows. A planned real-estate-broker open-house has been postponed to a later date (early winter or spring 2026) to allow more time for coordination; staff indicated budget funds remain for at least one promotional event.

Ending

Staff closed by saying several of these projects will appear before the village board in coming weeks for concept presentations, special-use approvals or permits and that the EDC would be kept informed as tenants finalize leases and construction schedules.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Oswego - Special Economic Development Commission Meeting - Jun 09, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Economic development staff told the Oswego Economic Development Commission that several downtown and corridor projects are advancing, including a signed lease for a full-service restaurant at the former Tap House location and multiple buildouts and openings planned across the village.","taxTitle","Oswego, Kendall County, Illinois","taxId",58385,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6544386,"Oswego EDC seeks clearer rules for downtown incentive grants, signals support for limited parking-lot funding",2760,440000,3200000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3731100-c6f40928e5c5199339b06e0d8f25c584&start=440&end=3200","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3731100-c6f40928e5c5199339b06e0d8f25c584/thumbnail_440000.jpg","/articles/6544386/Oswego/Kendall-County/Illinois/Oswego-EDC-seeks-clearer-rules-for-downtown-incentive-grants-signals-support-for-limited-parking-lot-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6544386-4577ac0fb878f8d29a7a35c9a0e284ab/orig.mp4?Expires=1776624740&Signature=LYn93wPz7IBJt1VJxt0sRHCvcquDvK9uNjmTV3ttMuFZkgTyuxy83SwQJtz4g4hcLPXOoR2kRs2JGcJld3UNOiqRlHFS1RqrbHCaIMLLtVW~eXxLd2-Mk73RmS4jnPr8GP-Z2qHJrykvyoCLJVH83lUJtssKcGOOaOZVNnDjfI-Ux5~BUpOD7MaBkK25dG5UJf33wwyfgBlIaHE3UDpQOfqXSHf-Ctqd7ub56Vz00Nw8AE8qNuA5dMgKX~3q3Cu43Y30kEg7k6h7xzulQSTlKax9UXHOPLoz8qQFO87vSVkC8L55i6AUaqdy1Hfd5YLi-p4twsaNJd4YMzmtf3gDKw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Oswego Economic Development Commission on Thursday reviewed its downtown economic development incentive program and asked staff to draft clearer eligibility rules for the village board’s consideration.

Commissioners and staff traced the program’s history — created in 2014 as a façade improvement program and broadened in 2018 — and discussed which property work should be considered permanent, market-enhancing investments and which should remain the responsibility of property owners as maintenance.

“The two big purposes of the program is to 1, enhance the value of downtown real estate, which in turn positively impacts the TIF district…and then number 2…improve the overall marketability of our spaces,” Commission member Carrie Hansen said, describing the program’s intended outcomes.

Why it matters: The commission’s guidance will shape how roughly $77,000 currently available in the fund is spent this calendar year and inform how the village board uses an additional $100,000 it allocated earlier in the year. Clarifying eligible work affects whether grants are used for visible, permanent improvements that attract tenants (for example, grease traps, kitchen hood systems and ADA accessibility upgrades) or for routine maintenance (for example, roof repairs) that staff says should generally remain the owner’s responsibility.

Discussion and staff recommendations

Staff outlined examples that the program currently funds — new awnings and signage, tuckpointing and brick repair, grease-trap fees tied to kitchen work, ADA restroom upgrades and tenant-fit infrastructure that remains with the property. Commissioners raised a recurring concern: the program’s language creates a “gray area” around maintenance items such as parking-lot repairs and roofs.

One property owner who spoke during the packet preparation stage had asked to include parking-lot work; staff noted that precedent has treated parking lots as ineligible while tuckpointing and certain brickwork have been allowed. A staff member summarized the commission’s emerging view: “So it sounds like we have a consensus to allow for parking-lot items,” while also recommending limits or caps so the grant fund is not consumed quickly.

Budget and precedent

Commissioners reviewed recent program funding: the grant fund historically had a $40,000 annual baseline, was increased to $80,000 after strong interest, exhausted by February this year, and the village board subsequently allocated another $100,000. Staff reported about $77,000 remains available now.

Several commissioners urged clearer language and caps for high-cost items. Suggestions included allowing parking-lot work but with per-project or per-grantee maximums (examples discussed in the meeting included partial cost shares and per-project dollar caps), and treating roofs consistently with parking lots (i.e., typically maintenance and therefore ineligible for full funding).

No formal policy change was made at the meeting. Instead, the commission asked staff to draft specific policy language and recommended limits and conditions — including possible maximums for roof or structural work — before the village board considers amendments.

Other program notes

Commissioners and staff noted that the program’s stated priorities target eating-and-drinking establishments, specialty food, general retail and commercial services, and that the village board specifically asked the EDC to prioritize new restaurants when it provided the additional $100,000 earlier this year. Staff also described recent uses of the fund, including a $5,000 grant the village board approved last month to help My Sister’s Little Donut Shop install a new awning (the business also invested in parking repairs, painting and bollards as part of the match).

Ending

Staff said it will prepare a memo with recommended eligibility clarifications, proposed caps or percentage limits for higher-cost items, and draft language for the village board to consider. The commission’s feedback will be included in that report and returned to the village board for final action.","Oswego Economic Development Commission discussed clarifying which property improvements qualify for its downtown incentive program, reviewed program history and budgets, and indicated a consensus to allow parking-lot improvements with limits while treating roofs as maintenance ineligible for full funding.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Oswego EDC report: new leases, boardwalk concept and multiple downtown openings advance

Oswego EDC seeks clearer rules for downtown incentive grants, signals support for limited parking-lot funding