Mt. Prospect, Wheeling show off

Officials from Prospect Heights and Wheeling touted their town's accomplishments during a luncheon Tuesday sponsored by the Wheeling-Prospect Heights Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

"Many of you have provided needed advice and assistance -- whether I asked for it or not," Prospect Heights Acting Mayor Patrick Ludvigsen told the audience of about 100 gathered at Tuscany restaurant in Wheeling.

City accomplishments include road improvements and a decline in serious crime for the fifth straight year, he said. Serious crime declined 14.4 percent last year, he said.

Hotel occupancy has been rising in recent years and several hotels have undertaken major upgrades, he said.

The city has sold most of the land in its east-side tax increment financing district and expects to close soon on sale of the rest of the land for redevelopment, he said. Disposing of the land has been a priority since plans for a sports arena fell through.

Wheeling Acting Village President Pat Horcher used the chamber event to promote the idea of smaller businesses located in tax increment financing areas applying for financial help for improvement projects.

Too often, businessmen assume such districts are only meant to aid big developers, said Horcher, himself a small businessman with a flower shop in town. People wanting more information should contact James Lang at village hall, he said.

Horcher said he expects the village to continue to draw development because of its access to major highways and Chicago Executive Airport.

"The reason Wheeling has been so fortunate economically through the years is an accident of geography," he said.

Judy Abruscato, who was Wheeling's acting president much of last year, talked about new retailers and restaurants that moved to town, awards and honors won by staff and the sale of $35 million in bonds to finance a new village hall, two fire stations and a public works building.

"The village continues to go forward," she said. "We're happy that we can give back to you, the businesses and residents, what you deserve."