The Village of Deerfield Board of Trustees on Oct. 20, 2025, approved staff recommendations to award business facade rebates for two commercial centers: Deerfield Commons (Newcastle Properties) and Marshall Mall (owner Ronnie Ran).

The village's economic development coordinator presented the two applications at the meeting and recommended both projects for funding under the Business Facade Rebate Program, which the village began in 2022. "We started the program in 2022. And so far, we have had 3 projects that received funding from the village," the presenter said, listing earlier recipients.

Ilya Pod, who identified himself as representing Newcastle Properties at Deerfield Commons, described planned storefront work for the buildings that house Fleet Feet and Aligned Health. Pod said the work will include storefront fabrication, gutters and a concrete pad between two buildings; he estimated fabrication and installation timelines of roughly 30 days each and said businesses would remain open during work. "I represent, Newcastle Properties in Deerfield Commons, the asset manager for the assignment," Pod said.

Ronnie Ran, owner of Upper Crust Bagels and owner of Marshall Mall at 833–845 Waukegan Road, presented his building's improvements, including power washing, replacement of rotten wood, new signage, new roof, gutters and parking-lot sealing. Ran said the projects had been completed in stages over the last two years and that the work aimed to improve uniformity and visibility for tenants. "These improvements that you've done make it look much better," a trustee commented; Ran replied, "Absolutely. That's the whole idea."

Trustees asked operational questions about staging and dumpster placement for the Deerfield Commons work; Pod said logistics would be coordinated with onsite staff and the village. For Deerfield Commons, Pod said the team elected not to change awnings and would retain existing mullions and colors where possible to preserve the center's appearance.

The board voted to accept staff recommendations for both properties. The Deerfield Commons rebate was approved by roll call (Trustee Greenberg: Yes; Trustee Jacoby: Yes; Trustee Appenheim: Yes; Trustee Benton: Yes; Trustee Berg: Yes; Trustee Goldstone: Yes). The Marshall Mall recommendation passed by roll call (Trustee Jacoby: Yes; Trustee Appenheim: Yes; Trustee Benton: Yes; Trustee Goldstone: Yes; Trustee Greenberg: Yes; Trustee Berg: Yes). The village indicated a formal resolution confirming the awards will appear on a future agenda for adoption.

The Business Facade Rebate Program was described as a continuation of the village's 2022 effort to support storefront improvements; staff said three prior projects had received funding, naming addresses that include 827–829 Waukegan Road and 728 Waukegan Road.

The board's approvals allow the two projects to proceed to permitting and construction coordination with village staff; the Deerfield Commons presentation estimated some fabrication work and concrete work could begin within about 30 days, with storefront fabrication taking about six to seven weeks in a best-case schedule.

A formal resolution confirming the awards will return to the board for adoption at a future meeting.